Retina Research Foundation
Retina Research Foundation (RRF) is a public charity based in Houston, Texas, founded in 1969. It funds research and education programs with the mission of reducing retinal blindness worldwide.
Retina Research Foundation at a glance
In short: Retina Research Foundation gave $1.9M across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $92K), top state Wisconsin. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,934,287
- +5.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +5.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $92,109
- +0.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $45,000
- Total assets
- $4,795,475
- +15.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (3 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (36% 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 Retina Research Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 3555 Timmons Lane 810, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 797-1925
Website: https://retinaresearchfnd.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Retina Research Foundation
AAO Educational Trust Fund
Retina Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Gillingham Fellowships
Retina Research Foundation
Amount
$10,000 per fellowship
Deadline
Deadline not published
Helmerich International Fellowships
Retina Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Retina Research Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Wisconsin - Madison ($700K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($45,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 84 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
RRF is based in Houston. In 2024, recipients in Wisconsin received 36% of grant dollars, recipients in Texas 20%, Massachusetts 9%, California 7%, and Michigan 5%. Its Helmerich International Fellowships are for young ophthalmologists from developing countries worldwide, while its Gillingham Fellowships are for Latin American ophthalmologists training at institutions in the United States or Canada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Retina Research Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 21 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $62K; repeat grants $97K. How we count
Medians: $45K first-time, $45K repeat.
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 $1.2M (2020) to $1.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI | General Support | $700,000 |
| Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX | General Support | $220,046 |
| University of California - Irvine (UCI) Irvine, CA | General Support | $94,954 |
| Meei Ocular Genomics Institute Harvard Medical School Boston, MA | General Support | $90,000 |
| Univ of Michigan Ann Arbor MI Ann Arbor, MI | General Support | $90,000 |
| University of Kentucky Lexington, KY | General Support | $88,883 |
| Northeastern University Boston, MA | General Support | $45,000 |
| Schepens Eye Research Institute Harvard Medical School Boston, MA | General Support | $45,000 |
| Texas A&M Health Science Center College Station, TX | General Support | $45,000 |
| University of Arizona Tuscon, AZ | General Support | $45,000 |
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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 | $4,795,475 | $3,168,044 | $2,775,106 | $1,934,287 | 21 | $111,132 |
| 2023 | $4,143,419 | $2,441,714 | $2,531,041 | $1,834,000 | 20 | $87,969 |
| 2022 | $3,916,625 | $2,299,919 | $2,293,424 | $1,557,200 | 16 | $108,500 |
| 2021 | $4,418,640 | $2,470,353 | $1,907,404 | $1,451,500 | 15 | $71,582 |
| 2020 | $3,566,043 | $2,064,430 | $2,136,749 | $1,240,000 | 12 | $33,640 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
RRF’s stated mission is to reduce retinal blindness worldwide by funding programs in research and education. Its website says pilot study grants support smaller experimental studies intended to test new research topics or break new ground, with findings that may lead to larger studies.
The 2024 filing’s grants include support for universities and medical and research institutions. Baylor College of Medicine, a recipient, describes its own mission as advancing human health through patient care, research, education, and community services. West Virginia University Research Corporation, another recipient, says it fosters and supports research at West Virginia University and provides services related to inventions by WVU faculty, staff, and students.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, RRF reported 21 grants totaling $1,934,287. Grants ranged from $25,000 to $700,000, with a median of $45,000. The largest grants included $700,000 to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and $220,046 to Baylor College of Medicine, both for general support. Other notable grants were $94,954 to the University of California, Irvine; $90,000 each to the MEEI Ocular Genomics Institute at Harvard Medical School and the University of Michigan; and $88,883 to the University of Kentucky.
RRF’s website says the application period for pilot study grants covering January 1–December 31, 2027, has ended. The listed deadline was August 18, 2026, at 5 p.m.; that deadline has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Arthur Willis, MD, as president; John C. Dawson Jr. as chairman; H. Richard Walton as treasurer; and Bettie Harding Lee as secretary. It also lists Ben Orman, MD; Bruce B. Mack; James E. Key, MD; Joseph W. Royce; Katherine W. Orton; and Lawrence P. Washington as directors.
Retina Research Foundation is led by Virginia Gissel Schwanauer, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 1 of 18 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Virginia Gissel Schwanauer
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$110K (2024)
Arthur Willis MD
President
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C. Dawson Jr.
Chairman
Secretary → Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald G. Girotto
Vice President, Chair & Board of Advisor
Chair & Board of Advisory T → Vice President, Chair & Board of Advisory Trustees, 2023
Vice President, Chair & Board of Advisory Trustees → Vice President, Chair & Board of Advisor, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Orman MD
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce B. Mack
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James E. Key MD
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn A. Bernard Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Petros E. Carvounis MD
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
R. Malcolm Wooley
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine W. Orton
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph W. Royce
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lewis H. Gissel III
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence P. Washington
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
W. Mac Jensen
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bettie Harding Lee
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia K. Boyd
Assistant Secretary
Director → Assistant Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
H. Richard Walton
Treasurer
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Nancy F. Japhet (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Rosanette S. Cullen (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Alice R. McPherson MD (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Diana M. Dede Weil (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Suzanne Miller (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Bernard Hicks MD (2020) — Director
- Former: Frank K. Eggleston DDS (2020) — Chairman
- Former: Jacquelyn M. Royce (2020) — Chair & Board of Advisory T
- Former: L. Henry Gissel Jr. (2020) — Director
- Former: Richard Walton (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Rose Cullen (2020) — Director
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 $110K, to Virginia Gissel Schwanauer (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Retina Research Foundation
How much does Retina Research Foundation give each year?
Retina Research Foundation gave $1.9M across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 20 grants.
What is Retina Research Foundation's typical grant size?
Retina Research Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $45,000, and its average grant was $92,109, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Retina Research Foundation that year got $62K on average.
Where does Retina Research Foundation give grants?
Retina Research Foundation's top state is Wisconsin, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Texas (20%) and Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants).
Does Retina Research Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Retina Research Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Retina Research Foundation's largest grantees?
Retina Research Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Wisconsin - Madison ($700,000), Baylor College of Medicine ($220,046) and University of California - Irvine (UCI) ($94,954), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($45,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Retina Research Foundation?
Retina Research Foundation reported $4.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.2M.
What does Retina Research Foundation fund?
RRF’s stated mission is to reduce retinal blindness worldwide by funding programs in research and education. Its website says pilot study grants support smaller experimental studies intended to test new research topics or break new ground, with findings that may lead to larger studies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Retina Research Foundation?
Retina Research Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check retinaresearchfnd.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Retina Research Foundation's EIN?
Retina Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7087830. 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 November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 22, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Retina Research Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Retina Research Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/retina-research-foundation-morg_38fe168250ee4148a8c76e68eb6279cd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237087830_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Retina Research Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/retina-research-foundation-morg_38fe168250ee4148a8c76e68eb6279cd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Retina Research Foundation'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.
Retina Research Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?