Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc
Accepts applications
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc is a private foundation in New York, New York. In tax year 2025 it gave $5.9 million in 74 grants; the typical grant was $50,000 and the largest $486,137. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$5.9 million
- Number of grants74
- Typical grant$50,000
- Largest grant$486,137
- Assets$174 million
- New grantees29%
Giving in 2025 was up from $5.9 million the year before.
29% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.7 million | 66 | $144 million |
| 2024 | $5.9 million | 77 | $154 million |
| 2025 | $5.9 million | 74 | $174 million |
How to apply
| Contact | Susan G Olivo Executive Director an Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc 307, West 38th St Ste 1905, New York, NY 10018 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (212) 668-9801, solivo@lavellefund.org |
| What to submit | If your organization is seeking a grant, the best place to start is to review grant guidelines. Please refer to www.lavellefund.org/proposal-guidelines for information. If you have questions, contact the fund at www.lavellefund.org/general-inquiries. After reviewing the guidelines, application links can be accessed through the application section of the above referenced website. |
| Deadlines | Please refer to details indicated on www.lavellefund.org/how-to-apply. |
| Restrictions | The lavelle fund for the blind provides funding 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). See www.lavellefund.org/proposal-guidelines/ for additional restrictions. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 10 states, the most to New York. It also paid $680,393 in 7 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 47 | $3.3 million |
| Massachusetts | 5 | $624,479 |
| California | 3 | $485,297 |
| Missouri | 2 | $194,360 |
| New Jersey | 5 | $137,744 |
| Texas | 1 | $119,858 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $115,178 |
| Illinois | 1 | $113,136 |
| Michigan | 1 | $65,000 |
| Arizona | 1 | $50,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins School for the Blind | #25-28: transforming learning for children who are blind and low vision across brazil and mexico | $486,137 |
| Kings Bay Ym-Ywha | #25-03: camp for children who are blind or low vision | $350,000 |
| Helen Keller International | #23-29: new jersey vision program | $250,000 |
| Helen Keller International | #25-17: nobo drishti bochaganj: eliminating cataract blindness in bochaganj upazila, dinajpur, bangladesh | $242,788 |
| Lighthouse Guild International | #25-04: tech training 2.0: expanding assistive tech training in-person and through the remote care network | $209,902 |
| Benetech | #24-10: saksharta (literacy) | $204,578 |
| Suny College of Optometry Foundation (Formerly Known As Optometric Center O | #24-29: suny optometry + syracuse community health center vision partnership | $198,319 |
| Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital | #23-20er: establishing regional training resource centre for allied ophthalmic paramedics (aops) | $175,000 |
| Visionsservices for the Blind and Visually Impaired | #25-19: support for visions services in westchester county, rockland county and the hudson valley (renewal grant) | $175,000 |
| Research Foundation of City University of New York Hunter College | #22-17: vision rehabilitation therapy: supporting graduate programs and preparing for the future of the field at hunter college | $168,699 |
| Fundacion Guatemalteca Para Ninos Con Sordoceguera Alex (Fundal) | #24-27er: multisensory learning centers: promoting an inclusive community in guatemala | $150,000 |
| Lavelle School for the Blind | #25-09: 2025 john caffrey student enhancement discretionary grant | $150,000 |
| Seva Foundation | #23-10: establishing a world-class eye care training and learning center in guatemala | $146,410 |
| Center for Independence of the Disabled New York | #25-16: expanding vision disability services at cidny | $143,276 |
| The New York Public Library | #24-13: heiskell library: translating access project (renewal) | $134,412 |
| Room to Read | #25-10: expanding access to quality childrens storybooks | $134,309 |
| Resources for the Blind Inc (Rbi) | #25-29er: project access | $130,597 |
| Community Healthcare Network | #25-26: expanding primary vision care | $129,598 |
| Visionsservices for the Blind and Visually Impaired | #24-24: lavelle scholars college to career program | $128,602 |
| Visionserve Alliance | #25-30: general operating support | $125,000 |
| Dominican University New York | #21-19: hybrid online learning for teachers of students who are blind or visually impaired (tvis) including those with multiple disabilities, in the greater new york metropolitan area | $124,848 |
| Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impa | #25-01: expanding continuing education training and the community of support for professionals in the field of visual impairment | $119,858 |
| CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission Ev | #25-25er: expansion of simulation-based ophthalmic surgical training at the university of cape town | $118,670 |
| Vision Forward Association | #24-14: technology creates possibilities: a national training program in assistive technology phase 2 | $115,178 |
| Lions Clubs International Foundation | #24-03: comprehensive eye care interventions, western province, zambia | $113,136 |
| Together Achieving Dream Inc Foundation | #25-12: fellowship program | $100,000 |
| Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany Inc | #24-04: youth empowerment | $93,656 |
| The Carroll Center for the Blind | #24-20: carroll interns (renewal) | $90,342 |
| Queens College Foundation | #23-17: new york deafblind collaborative | $79,000 |
| Visionspring | #25-05: expansion of reading glasses program through pharmacy channel in bangladesh | $76,829 |
| Vision Loss Alliance of NJ | #24-06: vlanj@home | $75,000 |
| Intandem Cycling | #24-02: support for and expansion of intandem ride programs, training programs and rider engagement for stokers and captains. | $73,345 |
| Visionserve Alliance | #24-25: vision rehabilitation with occupational therapists: a hub and spoke approach | $69,360 |
| Seedlings Braille Books for Children | #25-11: braille books for children with vision loss and teachers of the visually impaired (renewal) | $65,000 |
| The Filomen M D'agostino Greenberg Music School | #25-08: developing best practice guidelines for accessible music learning in higher education institutions | $58,080 |
| Sense International Peru | #23-09er: promoting a quality and inclusive education experience for students with deafblindness in peru - phase 2. | $54,626 |
| Centro de Estudios Para Invidentes | #25-07er: clinical and educational intervention program for people with visual impairment in chihuahua, mexico "exploring and rising the perceptions". | $50,000 |
| Success Beyond Sight | #22-26: national tsvi recruitment ("trtp") project | $50,000 |
| Lavelle School for the Blind | #24-28: garden of giving | $45,000 |
| St John's University | Sch2019-11: brother kearney scholarship program, phase 4, july 2019 - june 2024 | $45,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Louis D Pizzarello MD MPH
- Hon Kevin B McGrath Jr
- John L Corcoran Cpa
- Jane B O'Connell
- Sister Mary Flood Op MD PHD
- Paul A Sidoti MD
- Sharon McLennon Wier PHD Msed
- Mario M Kranjac
- Alexander G Lunney
- Jose M Roman Dmin JD Ma
- Maria LC Tapia
- Maura J Sweeney Ms Mpa
- Susan G Olivo
Questions people ask
Does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: Please refer to details indicated on www.lavellefund.org/how-to-apply..
How much does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc give?
$5.9 million in tax year 2025, across 74 grants, with a typical grant of $50,000.
Who runs Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc?
Its 2025 filing lists Louis D Pizzarello MD MPH (Board Chair & Director), Hon Kevin B McGrath Jr (Vice Chair & Director), John L Corcoran Cpa (Treasurer & Director) and Jane B O'Connell (Secretary & Director) among 13 officers and trustees.
What does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, disability and international.