Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc. is a New York, New York-based private foundation that primarily supports organizations helping people who are blind or visually impaired live independent and productive lives. Its grantmaking includes medical eye care, vision rehabilitation and resources, and education support services.
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc at a glance
In short: Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc gave $5.9M across 74 grants in 2025 (avg $80K), mostly in New York. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,911,208
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 74
- -3.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $79,881
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $173,979,591
- +13.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (13 of 52, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc
- How to Apply
-
The Fund directs organizations to review its grant guidelines and access application links through the application section of its website. Its stated restrictions include no grants to individuals, medical research programs, advocacy efforts to influence legislation or elections, or organizations seeking deficit reduction. The Fund says direct-service grants generally receive priority in the New York Tri-State Area; domestic funding outside that area is generally reserved for programs with wider national reach or potential to address systemic problems. A program listing reports a temporary pause on Letters of Inquiry from organizations new to the Fund.
- Contact
Application contact: Susan G Olivo Executive Director An
Mailing address: Lavelle Fund For The Blind Inc 307, West 38Th St Ste 1905, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 668-9801
Email: solivo@lavellefund.org
Website: https://lavellefund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc
Who Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Helen Keller International ($493K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
348 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 151 grants of 348 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund gives priority to direct-service programs in the New York Tri-State Area and also considers requests with wider national or international impact. It describes its presence in Asia and Africa as limited and says the majority of its new projects are focused in Latin America. In 2025, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 11% to Massachusetts, 8% to California, and 3% to Missouri; another 12% was reported for an unspecified recipient-state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 74 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 52 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $88K; repeat grants $122K. How we count
Medians: $119K first-time, $79K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% 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 $5.0M (2020) to $6.5M (2022). In 2025 it made 74 grants totaling $5.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins School for the Blind Watertown, MA | #25-28: transforming learning for children who are blind and low vision across brazil and mexico | $486,137 |
| Kings Bay Ym-YWHA Brooklyn, NY | #25-03: camp for children who are blind or low vision | $350,000 |
| Helen Keller International New York, NY | #23-29: New Jersey Vision Program | $250,000 |
| Helen Keller International New York, NY | #25-17: nobo drishti bochaganj: eliminating cataract blindness in bochaganj upazila, dinajpur, bangladesh | $242,788 |
| Lighthouse Guild International New York, NY | #25-04: tech training 2.0: expanding assistive tech training in-person and through the remote care network | $209,902 |
| Benetech Palo Alto, CA | #24-10: Saksharta (Literacy) | $204,578 |
| SUNY College of Optometry Foundation (Formerly Known as Optometric Center O New York, NY | #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 New York, NY | #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 New York, NY | #22-17: vision rehabilitation therapy: supporting graduate programs and preparing for the future of the field at hunter college | $168,699 |
Ready to take the next step with Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Fund’s reported grantmaking totals were $5,911,208 in 2025, $5,885,884 in 2024, and $5,636,214 in 2023.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $173,979,591 | $18,728,218 | $7,565,532 | $5,911,208 | 74 | $7,070,606 | $18,438,292 | $7,800,645 |
| 2024 | $153,686,675 | $2,377,953 | $7,376,724 | $5,885,884 | 77 | $7,012,901 | $3,262,384 | $7,430,524 |
| 2023 | $143,652,074 | $5,841,671 | $7,030,730 | $5,636,214 | 66 | $6,682,226 | $5,576,062 | $6,832,643 |
| 2022 | $128,801,240 | $929,745 | $7,838,729 | $6,493,799 | 66 | $7,472,755 | $2,337,588 | $6,852,513 |
| 2021 | $163,250,000 | $53,286,253 | $7,991,855 | $5,751,248 | 65 | $7,029,959 | $52,843,853 | $6,808,229 |
| 2020 | $145,360,122 | $5,145,978 | $6,494,277 | $5,036,617 | 55 | — | $4,664,960 | $6,478,855 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund says it is committed to helping ensure equal access and equitable outcomes for people who are blind or visually impaired. Its stated funding areas are:
- Medical eye care: Training ophthalmic personnel; treatment and surgery for cataracts and other common eye disorders; vision screening and refractive-error correction; and systems strengthening for accessible, affordable primary eye care.
- Vision rehabilitation and resources: Adaptive-skills and assistive-technology training, low-vision rehabilitation, vocational support, and certain recreational activities.
- Education support services: K–12, university, and graduate-level services for students who are blind or visually impaired, along with training for the professionals who support them.
Most grants are for specific projects to create, expand, or enhance programs. The Fund supports organizations with U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or, for foreign-based nonprofits without a U.S. fiscal intermediary, verifiable non-U.S. charitable status.
Examples of grantees’ work include Perkins School for the Blind, which says it serves children and young adults with multiple disabilities, their families, and education professionals through education services, accessibility, professional development, and innovation. Lighthouse Guild International describes its mission as providing services that inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals. Helen Keller International says it partners with communities to address poverty through health, nutrition, and vision.
Grantmaking
The Fund reported 74 grants totaling $5,911,208 in 2025. Individual grants ranged from $45 to $486,137, with a median of $50,000. Recent giving was:
Among its largest 2025 awards were $486,137 to Perkins School for the Blind for work described as transforming learning for children who are blind or have low vision across Brazil and Mexico; $350,000 to Kings Bay YM-YWHA for a camp for children who are blind or have low vision; and two awards to Helen Keller International, for $250,000 for a New Jersey vision program and $242,788 for a cataract-blindness project in Bangladesh. The Fund also awarded $209,902 to Lighthouse Guild International for expanded in-person and remote assistive-technology training, and $204,578 to Benetech for Saksharta (literacy).
The Fund’s direct scholarship activity is separate from grants to organizations: in 2025, it awarded $259,688 in scholarships to support eligible students who are legally blind or visually impaired.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Louis D Pizzarello, MD, MPH, as board chair and director; Hon. Kevin B McGrath Jr. as vice chair and director; John L Corcoran, CPA, as treasurer and director; and Jane B O’Connell as secretary and director. Other listed directors are Sister Mary Flood, OP, MD, PhD; Paul A Sidoti, MD; Sharon McLennon Wier, PhD, MSEd; Mario M Kranjac; Alexander G Lunney; and Jose M Roman, DMin, JD, MA.
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc is led by Susan G. Olivo, Executive Director & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan G. Olivo
Executive Director & CEO
Executive Director → Executive Director & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
48 hrs/week
$218K (2020) → $291K (2025)
Louis D. Pizzarello MD MPH
Board Chair & Director
Vice President & Director → Board Chair & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexander G. Lunney
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane B. O'Connell
Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John L. Corcoran CPA
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jose M. Roman Dmin Jd Ma
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin B. McGrath Jr.
Vice Chair & Director
Secretary & Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mario M. Kranjac
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul A. Sidoti MD
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sister Mary Flood Op MD PhD
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon McLennon Wier Phd Msed
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Lc Tapia
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maura J. Sweeney Ms Mpa
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Daniel M. Callahan (2020–2024) — Former Director
- Former: Margaret Duffy (2020–2024) — Former Director
- Former: John J. Caffrey (2020–2021) — Emeritus
- Former: J. Robert Lunney (2021) — Emeritus
- Former: Victor D. Ziminsky Jr. (2021) — Emeritus
- Former: Andrew S. Fisher PhD (2020) — Fmr Executive Director & 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $291K, to Susan G Olivo (Executive Director & CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc
How much does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc give each year?
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc gave $5.9M across 74 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.9M across 77 grants.
What is Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's typical grant size?
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $79,881, across 74 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc that year got $88K on average.
Where does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc give grants?
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc gives mostly in New York: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (11%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (23 grants), Bronx, NY (5 grants), Orangeburg, NY (4 grants) and Queens, NY (3 grants).
Does Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 74) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's largest grantees?
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Helen Keller International ($492,788 across 2 grants), Perkins School for the Blind ($486,137) and Kings Bay Ym-YWHA ($350,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc?
Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc reported $174.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.8M (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 Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc fund?
The Fund says it is committed to helping ensure equal access and equitable outcomes for people who are blind or visually impaired. Its stated funding areas are: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc?
The Fund directs organizations to review its grant guidelines and access application links through the application section of its website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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 May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lavelle-fund-for-the-blind-inc-morg_8da7fcba4cae4e03b975f9fed1fa2a7d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131740463_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lavelle Fund for the Blind Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lavelle-fund-for-the-blind-inc-morg_8da7fcba4cae4e03b975f9fed1fa2a7d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Lavelle Fund for the Blind 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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