Community Grants Program

Founded: 1898

Mission: Provide support services for blind residents of Washington, DC and the Metropolitan DC area.

Geographic Scope

• Service Area: Washington, DC metropolitan area (including DC, Maryland, and Virginia)
• Beneficiaries: Must serve residents in the DC metropolitan area

Focus Areas

Grants are awarded across three interconnected focus areas:

1. Vision & Medical Care
   • Preventing blindness before it starts
   • Funding surgeries for patients who cannot afford them
   • Supporting medical practitioners and vision rehabilitation education
2. Social Services
   • Daily life navigation services
   • Housing and independent living support
   • Education and workforce development
   • Community connection and social isolation reduction
3. Systemic Change
   • Making infrastructure accessible (crosswalks, polling places, etc.)
   • Expanding career opportunities
   • Advocating for rights of people who are blind or have low vision
   • Policy influence and systemic barrier removal

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Requirements:

• Must have IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
• Must be in good standing with federal and local governments
• Must operate within the DC metropolitan area
• Must serve residents in the DC metropolitan area
• Clear, measurable objectives with demonstrable impact for people who are blind or visually impaired
• Sustainable outcomes beyond the grant period (when applicable)

Financial Requirements:

• Submission of detailed project budget
• Most recent year-end profit and loss (P&L) statement
• Demonstrated financial accountability and tracking of granted funds

What They Do NOT Fund:

• Individual applicants (only 501(c)(3) nonprofits)
• Endowment funds
• Individual support

Fiscal Sponsorship Option: If your organization lacks nonprofit status, you may apply through a fiscal sponsor (another nonprofit organization serving as official applicant).

Reporting Requirements

• High-level progress report (1-2 pages) due by December 1 of the year grant monies are issued
• Report must outline: program accomplishments, spending, challenges, and major/unanticipated changes
• Organizations must notify funder immediately if funds cannot be used for intended purpose

Application Process

The application follows a two-stage process:

Stage 1: Screening Questionnaire

1. Complete brief screening form to confirm eligibility
2. Form includes questions about:
   • Current IRS 501(c)(3) status
   • Operating and serving in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia
   • Work directly benefits individuals who are blind or visually impaired
   • Requesting funding for charitable program or general operations (not endowment or individual support)
   • Alignment with focus areas (Vision/Medical Care, Social Services, Systems-Level Change)
   • 1-2 sentence description of organization's work for people with vision loss
   • Availability of project budget, recent financial statements, and outcome reporting capability
   • 1-2 sentence description of impact if work is not funded
3. Eligible organizations will be invited to submit full proposal

Stage 2: Full Proposal Submission

Required Materials:

• Grant Application Summary
• All information required under Grant Proposal Requirements (see below)
• Proof of IRS 501(c)(3) Status
• 2025 Profit & Loss Statement or Audited Financials
• Project budget

Grant Proposal Requirements - Evaluation Criteria:

Executive Summary

• Overview of the project
• Alignment with Aid Association service areas

Organizational Capacity

• Mission, vision, and strategic goals
• Description of services
• Track record of accomplishments
• Leadership and staff qualifications
• Financial management practices (audited financials if available)

Grant Objectives & Outcomes

• Alignment with one or more focus areas (Vision/Medical Care, Social Services, Systemic Change)
• Clear project goals/objectives
• How funds will be used to accomplish project goals/objectives
• Defined target population
• Project sustainability (if relevant)

Implementation Plan

• Clear and appropriate methodology
• Realistic milestones and timelines
• Resources and staffing
• Monitoring and evaluation plans

Impact

• Anticipated results (quantitative and/or qualitative)
• Long-term community benefit

Budget

• Complete and realistic project budget
• Cost-effective use of funds
• Other funding sources (secured or pending)
• Flexibility: Funds can cover both direct and indirect costs

Stage 3: Interview

• Selected applicants invited for interview
• Invitation includes: date, time, format (in-person or virtual), panel participants, required documents
• Organizations should bring key staff familiar with proposal

Funding Decisions

• Typically made by June of the following year