Aid Association for the Blind of
The Aid Association for the Blind of the District of Columbia (AABDC) is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation established in 1897. The organization seeks to improve the quality of life and foster independence for residents who are blind or have low vision in Washington, DC and its surrounding suburbs in Maryland and Virginia.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.1M
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$255K
-20.9% YoY
Grant Count
11
-21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+0.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Aid Association for the Blind of reported a distributable amount of $242K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
AABDC's mission is to create opportunity for blind and low vision individuals in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) region. The organization provides grants to not-for-profit organizations serving the blind and low vision community.
Grantmaking
AABDC offers grants to not-for-profit organizations serving the blind and low vision community in the DMV region. Grant applications are due on December 31st each year, with grants being awarded each July.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization funds organizations serving the blind and low vision community in Washington, DC and its surrounding suburbs in Maryland and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of the most recent reporting period, AABDC held assets of $4,543,402.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,115,650 | $4,897,246 | $4,425,588 |
| Revenue | $392,428 | $309,148 | $410,282 |
| Expenses | $305,551 | $371,459 | $505,992 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $257,804 | $326,989 | $455,745 |
| Net Investment Income | $344,833 | $264,642 | $364,879 |
| Distributable Amount | $241,775 | $228,797 | $244,009 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Aid Association for the Blind of
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Washington National Eye Center ($47,500), Children's National Medical Foundation ($42,700), Dc Center for Independent Living Inc ($32,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND INC ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL OPERATIONS IN DC METROPOLITAN AREA | $27,000 |
| BREAD FOR THE CITY INC WASHINGTON, DC | VISION CLINIC'S GENEAL OPERATIONS | $16,000 |
| CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | OPHTHALMOLOGY SERVICES | $42,700 |
| DC CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING INC WASHINGTON, DC | SERVICES TO BLIND/LOW VISION DC AREA RESIDENTS | $32,000 |
| INDEPENDENCE NOW SILVER SPRING, MD | SERVICES TO BLIND/LOW VISION DC AREA RESIDENTS | $26,200 |
| IONA SENIOR SERVICES WASHINGTON, DC | PROGRAMS FOR BLIND SENIORS | $13,000 |
| METRO WASHINGTON EAR INC SILVER SPRING, MD | OPERATING EXPENSES | $5,400 |
| OMNIUM CIRCUSENSE INC BROOKLYN, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $7,300 |
| PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS SOCIETY OF METRO WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING EXPENSES | $26,700 |
| SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT WASHINGTON, DC | FOR OPHTHALMOLOGY SERVICES | $10,700 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Betsy O'Connell is listed as a principal officer of the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARRIS ROSENSWEIG | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ANTHONY STEPHENS | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| MARY MORGAN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JAMES DICKSON | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| DR WENDY GASCH | PAST PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| BETSY PAULL | EMERITUS | 0.5 | — |
| DR JOHN O'NEIL | EMERITUS | 0.5 | — |
| KIMBERLEY ALFONSO | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PATRICK LEAHY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR MARIE CELESTE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DR MOHAMAD JAAFAR | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| STANLEY BERMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DR KATRINA CHIN LOY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| AMIR RAHIMI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SHAWN CALLAWAY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BETSY FEINBERG | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 11014 West Ave, Kensington, MD 20895
- Phone: 202-244-0649
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Aid Association for the Blind of fund?
AABDC's mission is to create opportunity for blind and low vision individuals in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) region. The organization provides grants to not-for-profit organizations serving the blind and low vision community.
How do I apply for a grant from Aid Association for the Blind of?
AABDC offers grants to not-for-profit organizations serving the blind and low vision community in the DMV region. Grant applications are due on December 31st each year, with grants being awarded each July.
Where does Aid Association for the Blind of make grants?
The organization funds organizations serving the blind and low vision community in Washington, DC and its surrounding suburbs in Maryland and Virginia.
What size grants does Aid Association for the Blind of award?
In 2024, Aid Association for the Blind of awarded 11 grants totaling $255K — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Aid Association for the Blind of required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Aid Association for the Blind of reported a distributable amount of $242K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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