Research to Prevent Blindness Inc
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc (RPB) is a public charity based in New York, NY. Founded in 1960, it supports ophthalmological research through grants to qualified institutions and research-focused departments, as well as grants to individual scientists.
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc at a glance
In short: Research to Prevent Blindness Inc gave $3.3M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $167K), top state California. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,332,000
- -9.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $166,600
- -13.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $120,000
- Total assets
- $27,342,227
- +3.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Research to Prevent Blindness Inc
- How to Apply
-
The website lists Spring and Fall grant cycles. It says Spring applications are due January 10, with nomination forms due December 15, and Fall applications are due July 1, with nomination forms due June 15. Applications for the named awards require prior nomination forms. The listed 2026 January and July 1 deadlines have passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 360 Lexington Avenue 22Nd F, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 752-4333
Website: https://rpbusa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from Research to Prevent Blindness Inc
Catalyst Award for Innovative Research Approaches for AMD Grant
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc
Amount
Up to US $300,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Disney Award for Amblyopia Research
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
International Research Collaborators Award Grant
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc
Amount
Up to US $75,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Research to Prevent Blindness Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harvard Medical School-Meei ($726K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 37 grants of 91 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
RPB was founded to support vision research in the United States. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in California (41%), Massachusetts (22%), New York (10%), Pennsylvania (10%), and Maryland (9%). The filing also lists awards to recipients in other states, including Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Research to Prevent Blindness Inc open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 15 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $150K; repeat grants $227K. How we count
Medians: $150K first-time, $145K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2020) to $3.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Medical School-Meei Boston, MA | Career Development Grant | $350,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst Grant | $300,000 |
| Harvard Medical School-Meei Boston, MA | Physician Scientist Grant | $300,000 |
| The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD | Physician Scientist Grant | $300,000 |
| University of California San Francisco School of Medicine San Francisco, CA | Low Vision Research Grant | $300,000 |
| Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Palo Alto, CA | Catalyst Grant | $300,000 |
| University of California Irvine School of Medicine Irvine, CA | Catalyst Grant | $300,000 |
| University of California Irvine School of Medicine Irvine, CA | Stein Innovation Grant | $300,000 |
| George Washington Universitychildren's National Hospital Washington, DC | Disney Award for Amblyopia Research | $150,000 |
| Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology San Francisco, CA | Special research grant: association of university professors of ophthalmology | $125,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $27,342,227 | $6,824,102 | $6,654,052 | $3,332,000 | 20 | $787,405 |
| 2023 | $26,306,973 | $4,863,019 | $6,651,554 | $3,677,112 | 19 | $718,814 |
| 2022 | $25,282,968 | $16,445,230 | $5,804,455 | $2,940,000 | 18 | $537,439 |
| 2021 | $24,496,612 | $4,438,794 | $6,384,801 | $3,645,000 | 16 | $475,012 |
| 2020 | $25,143,248 | $4,783,150 | $5,127,510 | $2,360,000 | 18 | $652,737 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
RPB’s website states that its mission is to preserve and restore vision by supporting research to develop treatments, preventives, and cures for conditions that damage or destroy sight. Its 2024 filing describes support for a comprehensive eye-research program, including institutional research grants, public and professional information, and relevant scientific meetings.
The 2024 grants included awards for career development, physician-scientist research, low-vision research, innovative research approaches, and amblyopia research. RPB’s programs also include awards focused on age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinal diseases.
The grantees include universities, medical schools, hospitals, and an academic-professional association. For example, the University of Pennsylvania describes its work as including research and patient care; Johns Hopkins describes conducting research across multiple disciplines, including medicine; and Children’s Research Institute describes conducting translational and clinical research to improve understanding, prevention, treatment, and care of childhood diseases. The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology describes its mission as promoting excellence and equity in ophthalmic education, professional development, research, and clinical care.
Grantmaking
In 2024, RPB reported 20 grants totaling $3,332,000. Grant amounts ranged from $30,000 to $350,000, with a median of $120,000.
Among the largest reported 2024 awards were $350,000 to Harvard Medical School-MEEI for a Career Development Grant; $300,000 to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for a Catalyst Grant; and $300,000 each to Harvard Medical School-MEEI and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for Physician Scientist Grants. The University of California San Francisco School of Medicine received $300,000 for a Low Vision Research Grant, and Stanford and the University of California Irvine each received $300,000 for Catalyst Grants. The University of California Irvine also received a separate $300,000 Stein Innovation Grant.
RPB’s program information describes a Career Development Award of $350,000 over four years for junior ophthalmology faculty, with later payments contingent on a progress report. The Catalyst Award for Innovative Research Approaches for Age-Related Macular Degeneration provides up to $300,000 for research on novel approaches to understanding or treating AMD. The RPB / Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative Physician-Scientist Award provides $300,000 for research focused on diabetic retinal diseases. The listed application information for these awards requires nomination forms before applications; the Career Development Award description also specifies a substantive progress report as a condition of later payments. Eligibility differs by award and may include academic rank, institutional department, or citizenship or permanent-resident requirements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Diane S. Swift as chairman; John Tinker as treasurer and assistant secretary; and David H. Brenner as vice president and secretary. Listed trustees are Antonio Gotto, Faye Hunter, Frederick Huntsberry, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Michael Yagemann, Blair Westlake, and Chan-Li Lin.
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc is led by Brian F. Hofland, President on every filing since 2020; 6 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brian F. Hofland
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$337K (2020) → $411K (2024)
Diane S. Swift
Chairman
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Diana Friedman
Director of External Affairs
Director of Communications → Director of External Affairs, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$117K (2020) → $138K (2024)
Patricia Moran
Director of Grants Administrator
Director of Grant Administration → Director of Grants Administration, 2022
Director of Grants Administration → Director of Grants Administrator, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$116K (2020) → $110K (2024)
Elanor Scott
Director of Strategic Partnerships
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$126K (2021) → $144K (2024)
Eric Mohlenhoff
Director of Finance & Operations
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$155K (2022) → $182K (2024)
Antonio M. Gotto
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Faye Hunter
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frederick Huntsberry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katrina Vanden Heuvel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Yagemann
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chan-Li Lin
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen McLeod
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Shiva
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Blair Westlake
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David H. Brenner
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Tinker
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Thomas Wertheimer (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Karyn L. Williams (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: William Vanden Heuvel (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Regina Mincey-Garlin (2021) — Fmr Director of Finance & Operations
- Former: Catherine B. Toolin (2020) — Director of Finance
- Former: Eleonor Scott (2020) — Director of Strategic Partnerships
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $411K, to Brian F Hofland (President). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Research to Prevent Blindness Inc
How much does Research to Prevent Blindness Inc give each year?
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc gave $3.3M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.7M across 19 grants.
What is Research to Prevent Blindness Inc's typical grant size?
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc's median grant in 2024 was $120,000, and its average grant was $166,600, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Research to Prevent Blindness Inc that year got $150K on average.
Where does Research to Prevent Blindness Inc give grants?
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc's top state is California, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Massachusetts (22%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Irvine, CA (2 grants).
Does Research to Prevent Blindness Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 15% of Research to Prevent Blindness Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship Grant" (6 grants) and "Catalyst Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Research to Prevent Blindness Inc's largest grantees?
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Harvard Medical School-Meei ($726,000 across 4 grants), University of California Irvine School of Medicine ($600,000 across 2 grants) and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine ($300,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Research to Prevent Blindness Inc?
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc reported $27.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.8M.
What does Research to Prevent Blindness Inc fund?
RPB’s website states that its mission is to preserve and restore vision by supporting research to develop treatments, preventives, and cures for conditions that damage or destroy sight. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness Inc?
The website lists Spring and Fall grant cycles. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Research to Prevent Blindness Inc's EIN?
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1945117. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Research to Prevent Blindness Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/research-to-prevent-blindness-inc-morg_878e68e484f245df991c42eef7376229
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131945117_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Research to Prevent Blindness Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/research-to-prevent-blindness-inc-morg_878e68e484f245df991c42eef7376229},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Research to Prevent Blindness 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.
Research to Prevent Blindness Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?