Southern Eye Bank Foundation
The Southern Eye Bank Foundation supports the greater new orleans foundation (GNOF), a community foundation, and other public charities that promote and achieve the goals of GNOF, which goals include the enrichment of life in the greater new orleans area by serving as a conduit for donations dedicated to improve the community, and particularly, non-profit organizations that work to support the enhancement of vision and eyecare and related services for residents in southeast Louisiana.
Southern Eye Bank Foundation at a glance
In short: Southern Eye Bank Foundation gave $365K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $61K), mostly in Alabama. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $364,612
- -32.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $60,769
- -21.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $28,050
- Total assets
- $11,666,403
- +4.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Alabama (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Southern Eye Bank Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Advancing Sight Network ($230K). Together the top 6 received $365K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 17 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2021) to $543K (2023). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $365K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Advancing Sight Network Birmingham, AL | Eye Diseases, Blindness, & Vision Impairments | $230,000 |
| International Eye Institute Coeur d'Alene, ID | International Relief | $50,000 |
| Ochsner Clinic Foundation New Orleans, LA | General Hospitals | $32,375 |
| St Thomas Community Health Center New Orleans, LA | Community Clinics | $23,725 |
| Children's Hospital New Orleans, LA | Specialty Hospitals | $20,000 |
| Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, LA | Universities | $8,512 |
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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 | $11,666,403 | $404,488 | $501,563 | $364,612 | 6 | $403,488 |
| 2023 | $11,157,646 | $252,392 | $689,327 | $542,810 | 7 | $252,392 |
| 2022 | $10,927,141 | $2,113,011 | $868,619 | $83,910 | 3 | $1,360,925 |
| 2021 | $10,995,375 | $2,880,299 | $2,251,042 | $1,500 | Total only | $466,386 |
| 2020 | $9,439,004 | $1,791,201 | $1,931,149 | $20,000 | 1 | $157,562 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Southern Eye Bank Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Southern Eye Bank Foundation is a public charity, based in New Orleans, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $11.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $365K. Net investment income was $403K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Southern Eye Bank Foundation is led by Camille Buras-Tifft, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 15 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Camille Buras-Tifft
President
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Belva Misshore-Pichon
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Barron MD
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles F. Seeman III
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cle Dabezies
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clifford A. Hendricks III MD
Board Member
Co Chief Med Dr → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Kennedy MD
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Father James Carter
Board Member
Vice President → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ginny Kullman MD
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Bernal MD
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maurice Gaudet IV
Board Member
Secretary → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter R. Kastl MD
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Sperling
Board Member
President → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pulin Shah MD
Board Member
Co Chief Med Dr → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Metzinger MD
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Delmar Caldwell (2020–2022) — Emeritus
- Former: Diana Rachal (2020–2022) — Emeritus
- Former: Herbert Kaufman (2020–2022) — Emeritus
- Former: Joseph C. Thompson (2020–2022) — Emeritus
- Former: Judge Camille Buras-Tifft (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Patrick M. Kingsmill JD (2020–2022) — Emeritus
- Former: Robert J. Mora CPA (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Antonio Barrios MD MPH (2020) — Director
- Former: Miles Friedlander MD (2020) — Emeritus
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.
Frequently asked questions about Southern Eye Bank Foundation
How much does Southern Eye Bank Foundation give each year?
Southern Eye Bank Foundation gave $365K across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $543K across 7 grants.
What is Southern Eye Bank Foundation's typical grant size?
Southern Eye Bank Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $28,050, and its average grant was $60,769, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Southern Eye Bank Foundation give grants?
Southern Eye Bank Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Louisiana (23%) and Idaho (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (4 grants).
Does Southern Eye Bank Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of Southern Eye Bank Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Southern Eye Bank Foundation's largest grantees?
Southern Eye Bank Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Advancing Sight Network ($230,000), International Eye Institute ($50,000) and Ochsner Clinic Foundation ($32,375), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Southern Eye Bank Foundation?
Southern Eye Bank Foundation reported $11.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $404K.
What is Southern Eye Bank Foundation's EIN?
Southern Eye Bank Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-0502570. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
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 December 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 31, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 21, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Southern Eye Bank Foundation funds
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