Seva Foundation
Seva Foundation is a public charity based in Berkeley, California, formed in 1978. It partners with organizations around the world on programs that preserve and restore sight, prevent blindness, and build sustainable access to eye care.
Seva Foundation at a glance
In short: Seva Foundation gave $1.1M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $69K), top state California. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,109,907
- +81.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +77.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $69,369
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $48,500
- Total assets
- $31,453,259
- -4.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Seva Foundation
- How to Apply
Seva’s 2025 Innovation Challenge invited proposals from individuals, startups, academic teams, and nonprofit or for-profit entities for scalable, sustainable innovations improving access to eye care in low-resource…
Seva’s 2025 Innovation Challenge invited proposals from individuals, startups, academic teams, and nonprofit or for-profit entities for scalable, sustainable innovations improving access to eye care in low-resource settings. Applicants were asked to provide a problem statement, approach and innovation, market potential, competitive landscape, timeline, and an explanation of Seva’s potential investment impact. Selected projects could receive up to $200,000 in initial funding, structured as a recoverable grant or investment, subject to due diligence and final agreements. Applicants had to be at least 18 or apply through an eligible organization, and submissions had to comply with applicable laws. Seva staff, board members, their families, and individuals and entities in embargoed or sanctioned countries were ineligible.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 Innovation Challenge submission period was November 10–December 31, 2025; this is a past cycle.
- Deadline
- The 2025 Innovation Challenge submission period was November 10–December 31, 2025; this is a past cycle.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1786 Fifth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510) 845-7382
Website: https://seva.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Seva Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology ($343K). Together the top 10 received $960K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 43 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Seva describes programs and partnerships in more than 20 countries and a network of more than 150 partner hospitals worldwide. Its 2024 Call for Ideas for Africa named Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi. Its Native Communities initiative seeks locally applicable eye health programs and research in Native communities in the United States.
In filing year 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to California (38%), Alaska (20%), Utah (14%), Oklahoma (10%), and Washington (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Seva Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $55K; repeat grants $84K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $36K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $492K (2022) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology San Diego, CA | General Support | $343,058 |
| Southcentral Foundation Anchorage, AK | General Support | $110,359 |
| Tundra Health Innitiative Corp Nome, AK | General Support | $108,930 |
| Central Oklahoma American Indian Health Oklahoma City, OK | Increase health equity by improving access to eye care and vision correction | $93,770 |
| Near Vision Institute Bellevue, WA | General Support | $60,000 |
| Camp Winnarainbow Laytonville, CA | Increase access to retinal imaging for patients with diabetic retinopathy | $50,000 |
| Unhs (Utah Navajo Health System Incorporated) Montezuma Creek, UT | General Support | $50,000 |
| Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake Salt Lake City, UT | General Support | $50,000 |
| Cherish Eyesight and Vision Columbus, OH | Expansion of Retinis of Prematurity (ROP) | $47,000 |
| MD5M Lions Kidsight Foundation Stillwater, MN | General Support | $47,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Seva Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Amounts are reported by filing year.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,453,259 | $11,046,870 | $15,446,191 | $1,109,907 | 16 | $892,544 |
| 2024 | $32,922,456 | $10,031,643 | $13,237,872 | $611,566 | 9 | $765,303 |
| 2023 | $34,881,407 | $10,378,969 | $12,573,891 | $713,763 | 7 | $815,182 |
| 2022 | $35,516,078 | $12,363,938 | $10,868,636 | $491,970 | 5 | $634,953 |
| 2021 | $38,769,669 | $7,746,556 | $10,544,567 | $946,705 | 6 | $651,424 |
| 2020 | $38,184,596 | $7,380,983 | $9,364,048 | $528,131 | 6 | $675,982 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Seva states its mission is to partner worldwide to create self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight; its vision is “a world free of avoidable blindness.” Its stated program pillars are self-sustaining vision centers, eye care for children, technology, and training and job creation. The foundation also describes work to strengthen local hospitals and develop sustainable eye care programs.
Its grants show support for organizations working on eye care and related access. For example, Southcentral Foundation, which received $110,359 in 2025, says its objective is to improve the health, educational, cultural, social, and economic conditions of Alaska Natives, primarily by providing health services in Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and other areas of Alaska. Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake, which received $50,000, says its mission is to serve Native people by honoring Native cultures, strengthening health and wellness programs, and cultivating community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Seva reported 16 grants totaling $1,109,907. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $343,058, with a median of $48,500.
Among the largest reported grants were $343,058 to Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology for general support; $110,359 to Southcentral Foundation for general support; $108,930 to Tundra Health Initiative Corp for general support; and $93,770 to Central Oklahoma American Indian Health to improve access to eye care and vision correction. Other listed grants included $60,000 to Near Vision Institute for general support and $50,000 to Camp Winnarainbow to increase access to retinal imaging for patients with diabetic retinopathy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mariano Yee as chair of the board; Claudio M. Privitera as vice chair; Lisa Laird as treasurer; Vaughan Acton as secretary; Wavy Gravy, John Plowright, Dhivya Ravilla Ramasamy, Martin Spencer, and Jacob Wojnas as board members; and Kathleen Moynihan as executive director.
Seva Foundation is led by Kathleen Moynihan, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 7 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathleen Moynihan
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$208K (2020) → $219K (2025)
Mariano Yee
Chair of the Board
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Chair of the Board, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chundak Tenzing
Global Medical Director
Medical Director → Global Medical Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$104K (2021) → $139K (2025)
Giri Sastromihardjo
Finance Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$114K (2021) → $144K (2025)
Kathryn McMillan
Director Technology Solutions
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$122K (2025)
Deborah Moses
CFO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$121K (2020) → $181K (2025)
Heidi Chase
Chief Program Officer
Program Director → Chief Program Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$129K (2020) → $178K (2025)
Julie Nestingen
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Director of Development → Development Director, 2021
Development Director → Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$119K (2020) → $181K (2025)
Claudio M. Privitera
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dhivya Ravilla Ramasamy
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Plowright
Board Member
Co Chair of Board → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Laird
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martin Spencer
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vaughan Acton
Secretary
Co Chair of Board → Secretary Elect, 2023
Secretary Elect → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wavy Gravy
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Wojnas
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Suzanne Gilbert (2020–2024) — Senior Director of Research
- Former: Yvette Joseph (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Neal Shorstein (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Sanjay Rajan (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Vanessa Wolter (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ruth Tamura (2023) — Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
- Former: Karen K. Bullivant (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kevin Clougherty (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Narinda P. Mulani (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Smriti Chadha (2022) — Marketing & Communications Director
- Former: Gary Hahn (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Kerry Kaplan (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Narendra Nulani (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Neal Shorstine (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Prateek Bide (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Vivian Yin (2021) — Board Member
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 $219K, to Kathleen Moynihan (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Seva Foundation
How much does Seva Foundation give each year?
Seva Foundation gave $1.1M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $612K across 9 grants.
What is Seva Foundation's typical grant size?
Seva Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $48,500, and its average grant was $69,369, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Seva Foundation that year got $55K on average.
Where does Seva Foundation give grants?
Seva Foundation's top state is California, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Alaska (20%) and Utah (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Salt Lake City, UT (2 grants).
Does Seva Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of Seva Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Seva Foundation's largest grantees?
Seva Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology ($343,058), Southcentral Foundation ($110,359) and Tundra Health Innitiative Corp ($108,930), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Seva Foundation?
Seva Foundation reported $31.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.0M.
What does Seva Foundation fund?
Seva states its mission is to partner worldwide to create self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight; its vision is “a world free of avoidable blindness.” Its stated program pillars are self-sustaining vision centers, eye care for children, technology, and training and job creation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Seva Foundation?
Seva’s 2025 Innovation Challenge invited proposals from individuals, startups, academic teams, and nonprofit or for-profit entities for scalable, sustainable innovations improving access to eye care in low-resource… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Seva Foundation's EIN?
Seva Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2231279. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Browse active grant opportunities in Seva Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Seva Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/seva-foundation-morg_44748f2ca55646b19829d1f050baec16
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382231279_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Seva Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/seva-foundation-morg_44748f2ca55646b19829d1f050baec16},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Seva 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.
Seva Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?