Virginia Eye Foundation
The foundation is dedicated to the improvement of eye care and the prevention of blindness. The foundation conducts and promotes basic laboratory research and training to individuals engaged in a career in the visual sciences. Clinical concerns include providng medical and surgical eye care to needy or uninsured individuals.
Virginia Eye Foundation at a glance
In short: Virginia Eye Foundation gave $419K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $84K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $418,500
- +23.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- +66.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $83,700
- -26.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $132,431
- -43.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Virginia (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Virginia Eye Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hampton Roads Community Foundation ($310K). Together the top 5 received $419K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 17 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Virginia Eye Foundation gives
- Giving grew 423% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2019) to $1.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $419K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hampton Roads Community Foundation Norfolk, VA | Scholarship | $310,000 |
| Western Tidewater Free Clinic Suffolk, VA | Donation | $50,000 |
| Dickerson Lectureship Norfolk, VA | Donation | $37,500 |
| Foundation Fighting Blindness Columbia, MA | Donation | $11,000 |
| Eye Bank Assoc of America Washington, DC | Donation | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $132,431 | $368,980 | $471,739 | $418,500 | 5 |
| 2023 | $235,190 | $498,125 | $402,881 | $340,000 | 3 |
| 2022 | $89,946 | $2,815 | $1,110,206 | $1,053,000 | 4 |
| 2021 | $1,197,337 | $352,607 | $158,351 | $80,000 | 3 |
| 2020 | $1,003,081 | $347,466 | $128,040 | $60,000 | 2 |
| 2019 | $783,655 | $296,730 | $94,145 | $20,000 | 2 |
About Virginia Eye Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Virginia Eye Foundation is a public charity focused on Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines, based in Norfolk, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $132K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $419K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Virginia Eye Foundation is led by John D. Sheppard Jr. MD, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John D. Sheppard Jr. MD
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Sheppard
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chanthang Oliver
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debra Laughlin
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walter Whitley Od
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David M. Salib MD
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Yeu MD
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen V. Scoper MD
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marti Fall
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Clelia C. Sheppard (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Frank Lattanzio PhD (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Luisa Gazzolo (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Pat Grillo Cdr Usn Ret (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Patricia Williams PhD (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Pat Grillo Cdr Usn (2019) — Director
- Former: Patricia Williams Ph (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Virginia Eye Foundation
How much does Virginia Eye Foundation give each year?
Virginia Eye Foundation gave $419K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $340K across 3 grants.
What is Virginia Eye Foundation's typical grant size?
Virginia Eye Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $37,500, and its average grant was $83,700, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Virginia Eye Foundation give grants?
Virginia Eye Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Norfolk, VA (2 grants).
Does Virginia Eye Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Virginia Eye Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (4 grants).
Who are Virginia Eye Foundation's largest grantees?
Virginia Eye Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hampton Roads Community Foundation ($310,000), Western Tidewater Free Clinic ($50,000) and Dickerson Lectureship ($37,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Virginia Eye Foundation?
Virginia Eye Foundation reported $132K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $369K.
What is Virginia Eye Foundation?
Virginia Eye Foundation is a public charity focused on Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines, based in Norfolk, VA. It holds $132K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Virginia Eye Foundation's EIN?
Virginia Eye Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1612154. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 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 October 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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