Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc
The Lavelle Fund for the Blind is a private charitable grant-making foundation headquartered in New York City. Established in 1999 as an outgrowth of the Lavelle School for the Blind (founded in 1904), the organization transitioned to an independent foundation in 2003. The Fund is dedicated primarily to supporting programs that help individuals who are blind or visually impaired live independent and productive lives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$153.7M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.9M
+4.4% YoY
Grant Count
77
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$76K
-10.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Lavelle Fund's mission is rooted in the legacy of the Dominican Sisters and their commitment to human dignity and service to those in need. The organization is committed to using its resources to help ensure equal access and equitable outcomes for people who are blind and visually impaired.
The Fund supports three primary funding areas:
- Medical Eye Care — Supporting ophthalmic and optometric services through training, treatment, vision screenings, and eye care systems strengthening
- Direct Services & Capacity Building — Programs that help blind and visually impaired individuals achieve independence and productivity
- Scholarship Programs — Educational support for blind and visually impaired students
Programs in the Catholic tradition of serving the disadvantaged are of special interest.
Grantmaking
The Fund concentrates support on programs with records of achieving measurable impact on the population served. Both direct service and capacity-building support are prioritized. Recent grants have included awards ranging from $7,500 to $650,000.
Grant Range
$10,000 - $1,500,000
Review Cycle
via online portal (Temeleo)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- Primary focus: Greater New York metropolitan area and New York State
- Secondary focus: National and international programs benefiting the developing world
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $143,652,074
- Total revenues: $5,841,671
- Total expenses: $7,030,730
- Total liabilities: $0
- Annual funding capacity: Approximately $11 million
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) designation
- Tax-exempt since November 1941
- EIN: 13-1740463
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $153,686,675 | $143,652,074 | $128,801,240 |
| Revenue | $2,377,953 | $5,841,671 | $929,745 |
| Expenses | $7,376,724 | $7,030,730 | $7,838,729 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,012,901 | $6,682,226 | $7,472,755 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,262,384 | $5,576,062 | $2,337,588 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,430,524 | $6,832,643 | $6,852,513 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Perkins School for the Blind ($678,631), Helen Keller International ($250,000), Visionserve Alliance ($206,359).
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Staff:
- Andy Fisher — Executive Director
- Louis D Pizzarello, MD, MPH — Board Chair & Director
- Hon Kevin B McGrath Jr — Vice Chair & Director
- John L Corcoran, CPA — Treasurer & Director
- Jane B O'Connell — Secretary & Director
- Margaret Duffy — Director
- Sister Mary Flood, OP, MD, PhD — Director
The organization employs approximately 3-5 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOUIS D PIZZARELLO MD MPH | BOARD CHAIR & DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| HON KEVIN B MCGRATH JR | VICE CHAIR & DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOHN L CORCORAN CPA | TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| JANE B O'CONNELL | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SISTER MARY FLOOD OP MD PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAUL A SIDOTI MD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHARON MCLENNON WIER PHD MSED | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARIO M KRANJAC | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALEXANDER G LUNNEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOSE M ROMAN DMIN JD MA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARIA LC TAPIA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DANIEL M CALLAHAN | FORMER DIRECTOR ENDED 8/15/24 | 2 | — |
| MARGARET DUFFY | FORMER DIRECTOR ENDED 1/24/24 | 1 | — |
| SUSAN G OLIVO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO | 48 | $270,400 |
Contact Information
Address: 307 West 38th Street, Suite 1905 New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-668-9801 or 212-668-9803
Website: lavellefund.org
Email: Available through website
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc fund?
The Lavelle Fund's mission is rooted in the legacy of the Dominican Sisters and their commitment to human dignity and service to those in need. The organization is committed to using its resources to help ensure equal access and equitable outcomes for people who are blind and visually impaired. The Fund supports three primary funding areas: 1. **Medical Eye Care** — Supporting ophthalmic and optometric services through training, treatment, vision screenings, and eye care systems strengthening 2…
How do I apply for a grant from Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc?
**Grant Activity (2023):** • Number of grants: 66 • Total giving: $5,636,214 • Grant range: $10,000 - $1,500,000 • Median grant size: $56,000 **Application Process:** • Rolling deadline via online portal (Temeleo) • The Fund indicates it is possibly open to applications **Grant Focus:** The Fund concentrates support on programs with records of achieving measurable impact on the population served. Both direct service and capacity-building support are prioritized. Recent grants have included awar…
Where does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc make grants?
• **Primary focus:** Greater New York metropolitan area and New York State • **Secondary focus:** National and international programs benefiting the developing world
What size grants does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc award?
In 2024, Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc awarded 77 grants totaling $5.9M — an average of about $76K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's EIN?
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1740463. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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