Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc
New York, NY · EIN 13-1740463. Reported 270 grants totalling $23.7M to 98 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $73,152. Half of everything it gave fell between $13,492 and $124,856; the smallest was $400 and the largest $678,631. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perkins School for the Blind | Watertown, MA | $2,451,046 | 10 | 4 | 2024 |
| Helen Keller International | New York, NY | $1,859,001 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Visionsservices for the Blind and Visually Impaired | New York, NY | $1,162,703 | 10 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lavelle School for the Blind | Bronx, NY | $1,010,000 | 13 | 4 | 2024 |
| Benetech | Palo Alto, CA | $889,325 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Seva Foundation | Berkeley, CA | $675,411 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Research Foundation of City University of New York Hunter College | New York, NY | $667,564 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rutgers Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions | Piscataway, NJ | $667,514 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Fundacion Guatemalteca Para Ninos Con Sordoceguera Alex (fundal) | Guatemala City | $564,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Orbis International | New York, NY | $549,375 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Dominican College of Blauvelt | Orangeburg, NY | $533,200 | 10 | 4 | 2024 |
| Christian Blind Mission International Inc | Wheaton, IL | $437,976 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Printing House for the Blind | Louisville, KY | $429,152 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lighthouse Guild | New York, NY | $389,267 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The New York Public Library | New York, NY | $375,973 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| C L Gupta Eye Institute | Moradabad | $368,196 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind | Cassville, NY | $366,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| City Access New York Inc | Staten Island, NY | $362,803 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Visionserve Alliance | Saint Louis, MO | $359,359 | 6 | 3 | 2024 |
| Goodwill Vision Enterprises | Rochester, NY | $356,182 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Vision Forward Association | Milwaukee, WI | $353,419 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany Inc | Albany, NY | $351,091 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Helen Keller Services | Brooklyn, NY | $347,580 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Research Foundation for SUNY (brockport) | Brockport, NY | $337,178 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Safe Toddles Inc | Fishkill, NY | $335,544 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital | Delhi | $325,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lutheran Braille Workers | Yucaipa, CA | $319,254 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Fordham University | New York, NY | $311,814 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Filomen M D'agostino Greenberg Music School | New York, NY | $308,500 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Carroll Center for the Blind | Newton, MA | $303,610 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Friends of Aravind Inc Dba Aravind Eye Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $282,534 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cancercare Inc | New York, NY | $266,130 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired | Winnetka, IL | $225,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kings Bay Ym-Ywha | Brooklyn, NY | $205,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| SUNY College of Optometry Foundation (formerly Known As Optometric Center O | New York, NY | $203,681 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| St John's University | Queens, NY | $203,008 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Association for the Multiple Impaired Blind | Brick, NJ | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Betances Health Center | New York, NY | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Learning Ally | Princeton, NJ | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Neighborhood Health Center of Wny Inc | Buffalo, NY | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Fred Hollows Foundation USA | New York, NY | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Visionspring | New York, NY | $195,392 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ | $179,780 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Success Beyond Sight | Tucson, AZ | $171,073 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Sense International Peru | San Isidro, Lima | $168,625 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Queens College Foundation | Queens, NY | $158,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Core Career | Alexandria, VA | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Guiding Eyes for the Blind | Yorktown Heights, NY | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Marist College | Poughkeepsie, NY | $138,082 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Adaptive Design Association Inc | New York, NY | $133,675 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired | Utica, NY | $127,993 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Seedlings Braille Books for Children | Livonia, MI | $118,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| National Federation of the Blind | Baltimore, MD | $105,606 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lions Clubs International Foundation | Oak Brook, IL | $102,579 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Visually Impaired Advancement | Buffalo, NY | $100,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Salus at Drexel University | Elkins Park, PA | $99,827 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Salus University | Elkins Park, PA | $97,240 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| L V Prasad Eye Institute of the Indo-American Eye Care Society | Rochester, NY | $90,310 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Marymount Manhattan College | New York, NY | $86,533 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Foundation for the Blind | Arlington, VA | $86,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Society to Prevent Blindness | Chicago, IL | $84,391 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of New York | New York, NY | $78,778 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital | New Delhi | $78,186 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Intandem Cycling | New York, NY | $76,655 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | Boston, MA | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vision Loss Alliance of Nj | Morris Plain, NJ | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Himalayan Cataract Project | Waterbury, VT | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Molloy College | Rockville Centre, NY | $63,160 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Manhattanville College | Purchase, NY | $57,849 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Saint Francis De Sales School for the Deaf in Brooklyn | Brooklyn, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ramapo for Children | Rhinebeck, NY | $49,465 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired | Cincinnati, OH | $46,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Braille Press | Boston, MA | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Centro De Estudios Para Invidentes | Chihuahua | $38,642 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chcanys | New York, NY | $34,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment | Binghamton, NY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Le Moyne College | Syracuse, NY | $22,771 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | $15,834 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Mountain Lakes Free Public Library | Mountain Lakes, NJ | $15,600 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| A Closer Look Inc | New York, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sea to See | Fort Collins, CO | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| South East Ct Community Center of the Blind | New London, CT | $10,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Blind Visually Impaired Early Services of Tennessee | Brentwood, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for Disability Services | Albany, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Connecticut Institute for the Blind (aka Oak Hill) | Hartford, CT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Our Space Our Place | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Therapeutic Solutions Outreach Inc | Cary, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Audiobook Ministries Nw | Seattle, WA | $8,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Blind Visually Impaired Early Services of Tennessee Dba Blind Early Servic | Brentwood, TN | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Organisation Prevention De La Cecite | Paris | $5,089 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $4,970 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alphapointe | Kansas City, MO | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Helping Hands for the Disabled of Nyc | Queens, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Research to Prevent Blindness | New York, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lawyers Alliance of New York | New York, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Deafblind and Deaf Disabled Children of Tomorrow | Brooklyn, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sisters of St Dominic of Blauvelt | Blauvelt, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boardstrong | New York, NY | $400 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
54 of 98 (55%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 70%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Perkins School for the Blind
#22-24: EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN: SCALING UP SYSTEMIC CHANGE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN LATIN AMERICA - Seva Foundation
#23-10: ESTABLISHING A WORLD-CLASS EYE CARE TRAINING AND LEARNING CENTER IN GUATEMALA - Helen Keller International
#19-13: CHILDSIGHT NEW YORK - Lavelle School for the Blind
#22-22: ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING TRAINING APARTMENT - Orbis International
#22-23: SITAPUR EYE HOSPITAL - ORBIS COMPREHENSIVE CHILDHOOD BLINDNESS PROJECT (PHASE II) - Christian Blind Mission International Inc
#22-01: HIGH IMPACT SIMULATED OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL TRAINING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 151 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | $5,751,248 | $78,186 |
| 2022 | 64 | $6,483,799 | $80,175 |
| 2023 | 64 | $5,626,214 | $66,064 |
| 2024 | 77 | $5,885,884 | $53,273 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc has 149 of them, worth $30.1M. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins School for the Blind | Watertown, MA | $1,347,520 |
| Perkins School for the Blind | Watertown, MA | $678,631 |
| Seva Foundation | Berkeley, CA | $639,672 |
| St Thomas Aquinas College | Sparkill, NY | $558,401 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | $544,138 |
| Dominican College of Blauvelt | Orangeburg, NY | $533,291 |
| Manhattanville College | Purchase, NY | $530,351 |
| Research Foundation of City University of New York Hunter College | New York, NY | $506,097 |
| Helen Keller International | New York, NY | $500,000 |
| Seva Foundation | Berkeley, CA | $486,662 |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ | $476,721 |
| Dominican College of Blauvelt | Orangeburg, NY | $468,822 |
| Manhattanville College | Purchase, NY | $450,000 |
| Manhattanville College | Purchase, NY | $442,383 |
| Benetech | Palo Alto, CA | $441,694 |
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 55% of this one's giving went to organizations in New York. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $73,152. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in New York.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 307 West 38TH Street Suite 1905, New York, NY, 10018. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 13-1740463 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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