Aid Association for the Blind of
The Aid Association for the Blind of the District of Columbia is a Washington, DC-based private foundation that makes grants to nonprofit organizations serving people who are blind or have vision loss in the Washington metropolitan area. The organization says it was founded in 1898 and supports services intended to advance independence, accessibility, and vision health.
Aid Association for the Blind of at a glance
In short: Aid Association for the Blind of gave $245K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in District of Columbia. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $245,050
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,505
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $26,000
- Total assets
- $5,413,131
- +5.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Aid Association for the Blind of
- How to Apply
-
Applicants start with an online screening form on the foundation's website; only selected organizations are invited to submit a full proposal.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists December 31 as the annual application deadline, with grants awarded the following summer.
- Deadline
- The website lists December 31 as the annual application deadline, with grants awarded the following summer.
- Next open deadline
- December 31, 2026 (Community Grants Program)
- Contact
Mailing address: J Dickson 4429 Colorado Ave Nw, Washington, DC 20011
Phone: (202) 244-0649
Website: https://aidassociationdc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Aid Association for the Blind of
Who Aid Association for the Blind of funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Children's National Medical Foundation ($51K). Together the top 10 received $245K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 51 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it supports organizations serving people who are blind or have vision loss in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC, 14% to Maryland, and 8% to Virginia; the filing also lists a New York recipient receiving less than 1% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Aid Association for the Blind of open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 10 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. How we count
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $245K (2025) to $580K (2020). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $245K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's National Medical Foundation Washington, DC | Ophthalmology Services | $51,000 |
| Washington National Eye Center Washington, DC | Operating Expenses | $40,000 |
| Independence Now Silver Spring, MD | Services to Blind/Low Vision DC Area Residents | $34,050 |
| Prevention of Blindness Society of Metro Washington Washington, DC | Operating Expenses | $32,000 |
| Bread for the City Inc Washington, DC | Vision Clinic's Geneal Operations | $30,000 |
| Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs Washington, DC | Advocacy for Blind/Low Vision Services | $22,000 |
| American Council of the Blind Inc Arlington, VA | General Operations in DC Metropolitan Area | $20,000 |
| Iona Senior Services Washington, DC | Programs for Blind Seniors | $10,000 |
| Lisner Louise Dickson Hurt Home Washington, DC | Operating Expenses | $5,000 |
| Omnium Circusense Inc Brooklyn, NY | Operating Expenses | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Aid Association for the Blind of?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,413,131 | $331,442 | $298,378 | $245,050 | 10 | $250,373 | $281,515 | $255,358 |
| 2024 | $5,115,650 | $392,428 | $305,551 | $254,500 | 11 | $257,804 | $344,833 | $241,775 |
| 2023 | $4,897,246 | $309,148 | $371,459 | $321,713 | 14 | $326,989 | $264,642 | $228,797 |
| 2022 | $4,543,402 | $118,040 | $14,474 | — | — | $16 | $101,971 | $52,883 |
| 2021 | $3,710,090 | $523,923 | $589,427 | $544,880 | 16 | — | $485,277 | $241,416 |
| 2020 | $3,775,594 | $536,798 | $619,202 | $580,050 | 16 | — | $317,233 | $243,204 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Aid Association for the Blind of reported a distributable amount of $255K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes three connected areas of support: vision and medical care, social services or independent living, and systemic change. Its grants support nonprofit programs that provide vision care, help people navigate daily life and participate in their communities, or address barriers to accessibility and opportunity.
The grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Washington National Eye Center says it provides community eye care, educates ophthalmology residents, and explores new developments in eye care. Independence Now describes itself as a Center for Independent Living that empowers people with disabilities to live independently and participate in community life. Bread for the City says it provides food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to DC residents with low incomes. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights says it protects civil rights through litigation and legal representation, while the American Council of the Blind says it works to increase independence and equality of opportunity for blind and visually impaired people. Iona Senior Services says it provides community-based services and advocacy to help people age well.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $245,050. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $51,000, with a median grant of $26,000. Its largest awards included $51,000 to Children’s National Medical Foundation for ophthalmology services, $40,000 to Washington National Eye Center for operating expenses, and $34,050 to Independence Now for services to blind and low-vision residents of the DC area. Other awards included $32,000 to Prevention of Blindness Society of Metro Washington, $30,000 to Bread for the City, and $22,000 to Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs.
The website says organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing with federal and local governments, and must operate and serve residents in the DC metropolitan area. Applications are expected to include measurable objectives and demonstrable impact, a detailed project budget, and the most recent year-end profit and loss statement. The website also calls for financial accountability and tracking of grant funds, prefers sustainable outcomes beyond the grant period, and requires a progress report by December 31 of the year funds are issued. Its application page describes an initial screening process, with only selected organizations invited to submit a full proposal.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Harris Rosensweig as president, Anthony Stephens as treasurer, Mary Morgan as vice president, and James Dickson as past president. It also lists Kimberley Alfonso, Patrick Leahy, and Dr. Marie Celeste as directors, and Dr. Wendy Gasch, Betsy Paull, and Dr. Mohamad Jaafar as emeritus.
Aid Association for the Blind of is led by Harris Rosensweig, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 18 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Harris Rosensweig
President
Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betsy Feinberg
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberley Alfonso
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marie Celeste
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katrina Chin Loy
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Leahy
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Callaway
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caren Forsten
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Y. Hahm Od
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Stephens
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Dickson
Past President
Director → President, 2021
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mohamad Jaafar
Emeritus
Secretary → Director, 2022
Director → Emeritus, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stanley Berman
Emeritus
Treasurer → Director, 2022
Director → Emeritus, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Gasch
Emeritus
Director → Past President, 2022
Past President → Emeritus, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Morgan
Vice President
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betsy Paull
Emeritus
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amir Rahimi
Emeritus
Director → Emeritus, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenny Westman-Minnig
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: John F. O'Neil (2022–2024) — Emeritus
- Former: Denise Rozell (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Deepinder Goraya (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Eric Bridges (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Vike Vincente (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Tony Stephens (2021) — Director
- Former: Betsy Paull O'Connell (2020) — President
- Former: Carolyn Post (2020) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Ratigan (2020) — Director
- Former: Mary Reyner (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Aid Association for the Blind of
How much does Aid Association for the Blind of give each year?
Aid Association for the Blind of gave $245K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $255K across 11 grants.
What is Aid Association for the Blind of's typical grant size?
Aid Association for the Blind of's median grant in 2025 was $26,000, and its average grant was $24,505, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Aid Association for the Blind of give grants?
Aid Association for the Blind of gives mostly in District of Columbia: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (14%) and Virginia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants).
Does Aid Association for the Blind of give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Aid Association for the Blind of's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Aid Association for the Blind of's largest grantees?
Aid Association for the Blind of's largest 2025 grantees include Children's National Medical Foundation ($51,000), Washington National Eye Center ($40,000) and Independence Now ($34,050), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Aid Association for the Blind of?
Aid Association for the Blind of reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $250K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $255K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Aid Association for the Blind of fund?
The foundation’s website describes three connected areas of support: vision and medical care, social services or independent living, and systemic change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Aid Association for the Blind of?
Applicants start with an online screening form on the foundation's website; only selected organizations are invited to submit a full proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Aid Association for the Blind of's EIN?
Aid Association for the Blind of's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-0196564. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 3, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 27, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Aid Association for the Blind of's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Alice and Russell True Foundation
Washington, DC
The Alice and Russell True Foundation funds health care, youth programs, education, food assistance, aging services, and civil liberties, primarily in Washington, DC. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $300,000, with a median of $50,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.4M
Grants
17
Total Given
$1.2M
Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc
Washington, DC
The Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation supports U.S.-based community nonprofits working in areas such as arts and culture, education, health, youth, and the environment, and may fund operating costs or specific projects. Typical grants are $1,000–$20,000, with no stated geographic preference within the United States, including its territories. It accepts requests through its application process.
Assets
$63.5M
Grants
269
Total Given
$2.4M
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Washington, DC
PhRMA funds organizations and initiatives related to biopharmaceutical research, patient access and affordability, health care policy, and public education, with grants mainly going to U.S. recipients. Its 2024 grants had a median of $20,000, though awards ranged from $5,250 to more than $6.8 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$349.0M
Grants
461
Total Given
$41.4M
Corina Higginson Trust
Charlotte Hall, MD
The Trust supports nonprofits working in areas including education, youth development, immigrant services, housing, community support, and conservation, primarily in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $31,500, with a median of $15,000. It says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$23K
Grants
54
Total Given
$609K
Ada Harris Maley Memorial Fund
Potomac, MD
The fund supports health care, housing, food, and social services, including organizations serving people experiencing poverty or homelessness, women, and families. Its 2024 grants averaged about $9,500, with awards ranging from $7,000 to $30,000, to organizations in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, Maryland. The filing says giving is not limited to preselected organizations, but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$17K
Grants
39
Total Given
$370K
Venable Foundation Inc
Baltimore, MD
Venable Foundation supports nonprofits working in arts and culture, education, health, human services, legal services, the environment, workforce development, and youth impact, with particular interest in legal assistance and underserved communities. It typically gives about $10,000 per grant, primarily to organizations serving communities where Venable has major offices. Starting in 2027, new applicants may submit a Letter of Interest in Miami, Chicago, and Denver; the available information does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted elsewhere.
Assets
$466K
Grants
198
Total Given
$2.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in District of Columbia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Aid Association for the Blind of funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/aid-association-for-the-blind-of-morg_b1f81a9326ef4be4906feca827166304
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_530196564_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Aid Association for the Blind of funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/aid-association-for-the-blind-of-morg_b1f81a9326ef4be4906feca827166304},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Aid Association for the Blind of's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Aid Association for the Blind of down — hundreds of funders to go?