A woman in a green shirt undergoing a vision screening. The optometrist uses a large phoropter device to determine the woman's prescription.

Grant Seekers

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Funding Criteria and Limitations

The Lavelle Fund for the Blind provides financial support to organizations with U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or verifiable non-U.S. charitable status (in the case of foreign-based, non-profit organizations without a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) fiscal intermediary). Most Fund-supported grants are designated for specific projects, focusing on the creation, expansion or enhancement of programs. While priority for direct service grants generally is given to programs in the New York Tri-State Area, the Fund also considers grant requests with wider impact both nationally and internationally.

Funding Limitations

The Fund does not make grants to any of the following:

  • Individuals
  • Medical research programs
  • Advocacy efforts to influence legislation or elections
  • Organizations seeking support for deficit reduction

Domestic funding outside of the New York Tri-State area is generally reserved for programs with wider, national reach, or potential to address systemic problems.

While the Fund has a limited presence in Asia and Africa, the majority of our new projects are focused in Latin America.

A group of children in bright neon green shirts and counselors stand on a dock with the Boston city skyline in the background. They are holding white canes and some children are making peace signs or playful gestures.

Photo courtesy of The Carroll Center for the Blind

Primary Program Areas

A woman receives an eye screening in Guatemala.

Medical Eye Care

Capacity building of ophthalmic personnel, provision of ophthalmic treatment and surgery for cataracts and other common eye disorders, vision screenings and refractive error correction, and wide-scale systems strengthening for delivery of accessible and affordable primary eye care.

Photo by Julie Nestingen, 2015

Vision Rehabilitation & Resources

Direct services that provide people who are blind or visually impaired with access to adaptive skills and assistive technology training, low vision rehab services, vocational support and certain recreational activities.

Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Guild

A man is holding a portable electronic magnifier with text written on the screen. A doctor in a white lab coat is standing next to him, smiling.
A diverse group of 13 people are positioned around a large table filled with colorful plastic shapes, cutting mats, glue guns, and craft materials in the process of creating communications cards.

Education Support Services

K-12, university and graduate-level educational services for students who are blind or visually impaired and training for teachers, para-professionals, and other professionals who serve and support them.

Photo courtesy of Adaptive Design Association, Inc.

How to Apply

All grant submissions must be made through our online grants management system (Temelio). We do not accept funding requests, proposals, or grant reports via mail, email, or phone. Current or former grantees should contact us before submitting an application to confirm their program/project aligns within our current funding priorities. If eligible, we will invite you to submit a 1–2-page concept note and a high-level budget through Temelio.

Due to an unprecedented volume of funding requests, we are placing a temporary pause on Letters of Inquiry from organizations that are new to the Fund. Please check our website periodically for updates. We appreciate your understanding.

A man in a green shirt is wearing an assistive technology device that looks like a pair of goggles. He is holding up a sheet of paper with text on it.

Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Guild

Staff members from the FUNDAL School in Guatemala and select Board members and staff from the Lavelle Fund in a group shot outdoors with hands raised and lots of smiles.
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