American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc
The American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Winter Park, Florida. Founded in 1947, it develops and provides financial support for optometric research and education in vision and eye health to improve clinical patient care.
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc gave $225K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), top state California. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $224,750
- -50.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,990
- -56.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $13,244,822
- +20.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (3 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (15% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 925 S Semoran Blvd 120, Winter Park, FL 32792
Phone: (321) 319-4870
Website: https://aaopt.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
12 open opportunities from American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc
AAOF Career Development Award
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
AAOF OD to PhD Fellowship Program
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc
Amount
30000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Allison Summers Pediatric Pilot Grant
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc
Amount
10000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Alabama at Birmingham ($25K). Together the top 10 received $109K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($27,250), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 102 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars went to California and Alabama, each with 15%, followed by Massachusetts and Illinois, each with 7%, and Texas with 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 23 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $8K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $207K (2019) to $457K (2024). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $225K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL | Educational Scholarship | $25,000 |
| Indiana University School of Optometry Bloomington, IN | Educational Scholarship | $12,500 |
| 3 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $27,250 |
| Stanford University Redwood City, CA | Educational Scholarship | $10,000 |
| University of California - Berkeley School of Optometry Berkeley, CA | Educational Scholarship | $10,000 |
| The Ohio State University College of Optometry Columbus, OH | Educational Scholarship | $9,500 |
| Illinois College of Optometry Chicago, IL | Educational Scholarship | $9,000 |
| University of Pikeville Pikeville, KY | Educational Scholarship | $9,000 |
| Marshall B Ketchum University Fullerton, CA | Educational Scholarship | $8,000 |
| Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Worchester, MA | Educational Scholarship | $8,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,244,822 | $3,442,243 | $1,149,363 | $224,750 | 25 | $596,462 |
| 2024 | $10,951,028 | $1,843,288 | $1,438,377 | $457,250 | 22 | $341,359 |
| 2023 | $9,894,013 | $1,724,345 | $1,359,770 | $355,766 | 15 | $211,025 |
| 2022 | $8,602,014 | $1,583,428 | $934,084 | $344,000 | 17 | $488,586 |
| 2021 | $9,392,794 | $1,519,949 | $880,579 | $318,500 | 23 | $498,912 |
| 2020 | $7,646,554 | $1,093,219 | $1,045,344 | $254,500 | 24 | $269,385 |
| 2019 | $7,693,719 | $1,111,928 | $923,153 | $206,750 | 24 | $311,568 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to develop and provide financial support for optometric research and education. Its filing describes fellowships, scholarships, and research grants for graduate students in optometry and vision science. The Foundation’s website also describes support for education, research, and professional development in eye care.
The Foundation says research grants are awarded to an overseeing institution rather than directly to an individual. The institution must sign a contract, and the individual may be asked to provide post-grant reports. Scholarships and fellowships are awarded to students at eligible universities; applicants must agree to the applicable terms. Travel awards are distributed after travel has occurred and attendance is confirmed.
In 2025, the Foundation’s listed grants included educational scholarships to colleges and universities. Examples of supported institutions include the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Indiana University School of Optometry. The grantees describe their missions in their own terms: Illinois College of Optometry says it develops qualified clinical optometrists through optometric education; New England College of Optometry says it combines education and clinical experiences with research to improve patients’ lives; and the University of Pikeville says it prepares students and creates opportunities for Appalachia.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 25 grants totaling $224,750. Grant amounts ranged from $6,500 to $25,000, with a median of $8,000. The largest listed grant was $25,000 to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for an educational scholarship. Other listed grants included $12,500 to Indiana University School of Optometry, $11,000 to SUNY State College of Optometry New York, and $10,000 each to Stanford University and the University of California–Berkeley School of Optometry, all for educational scholarships.
The Foundation’s program listings include a Beta Sigma Kappa Research Fellowship, described as an annual $4,000 fellowship supporting early-career faculty and optometric resident research; an Allison Summers Pediatric Pilot Grant, described as a $10,000 career-development award for mid-career clinicians; and an AAOF Career Development Award for optometric faculty. The Foundation’s website also describes OD-to-PhD fellowships for 2026, including awards payable over two years. The student travel fellowship page refers to applications for Academy 2025 Boston and a submission window opening in July 2026; those dates are past as of October 2, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Valerie Sharpe as president, Loretta Szczotka-Flynn as president-elect, Kerry Giedd as secretary/treasurer, and Rachel Coulter as immediate past president. It also lists Wendy Harrison as immediate past president through October 2024. Board members listed include Sherry Day, April Jasper, Evan Kaplan, A. Mika Moy, and Dave Sattler, with Sattler listed through October 2024.
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc is led by Trish Shomion, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2023; none of the 15 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Trish Shomion
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2023
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Sharpe
President
Secretary-Treasurer → President-Elect, 2023
President-Elect → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danne Ventura
Board Member
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerry Giedd
Secretary & Treasurer
Board Member → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Szczotka-Flynn
President-Elect
Board Member → Secretary-Treasurer, 2023
Secretary-Treasurer → President-Elect, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Jones
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer → Chief Financial Officier, 2022
Chief Financial Officier → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2019
14 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Harrison
Immediate Past President
President → Immediate Past-Pres., 2023
Immediate Past-Pres. → Immediate Past President, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
April Jasper
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
A. Mika Moy
Board Member
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dave Sattler
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsay Sicks
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Coulter
Immediate Past President
President → Immediate Past President, 2025
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Day
Board Member
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evan Kaplan
Board Member
Board Member - → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Yuhas
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Robert Gray (2020–2024) — Vice President & Philanthropy
- Former: Suresh Viswanathan (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kathryn Richdale (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Pete Kollbaum (2019–2023) — Immediate Past-Pres.
- Former: Peter Scott (2019–2023) — Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Stacey Coulter (2019–2022) — President-Elect
- Former: Sara Taylor (2022) — Vice President & Marketing
- Former: David Kirschen (2019–2021) — Board Member · Filing note: Thru 10/2020
- Former: David Sattler (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Helen Viksnins (2019–2020) — Senior Director & Programs
- Former: Jeffrey Walline (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Karla Zadnik (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Kathy Dumbleton (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Lois Schoenbrun (2019) — Executive Director
- Former: Richard Madonna (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Susan Eger (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc
How much does American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc give each year?
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc gave $225K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $457K across 22 grants.
What is American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $8,990, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc that year got $14K on average.
Where does American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc give grants?
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc's top state is California, with 15% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Alabama (15%) and Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Birmingham, AL (2 grants).
Does American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Scholarship" (25 grants).
Who are American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of Alabama at Birmingham ($25,000), Indiana University School of Optometry ($12,500) and Stanford University ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($27,250), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc?
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc reported $13.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What does American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to develop and provide financial support for optometric research and education. Its filing describes fellowships, scholarships, and research grants for graduate students in optometry and vision science. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc?
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check aaopt.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc's EIN?
American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-0768182. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc funds
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/american-academy-of-optometry-foundation-inc-morg_337b1cf366464827815aed72ce9cc0ab
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_430768182_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/american-academy-of-optometry-foundation-inc-morg_337b1cf366464827815aed72ce9cc0ab},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc'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.
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