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LAVELLE FUND FOR THE BLIND INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131740463 · Form 990PF · FY2025 · NTEE T22 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Large ($10M-$50M)
revenue
$18.7M
expenses
$1.7M
net assets
$174.0M
employees
profile · synthesized from sources

LAVELLE FUND FOR THE BLIND INC is a New York-based grantmaking foundation dedicated to supporting programs that serve blind and visually impaired individuals. It funds initiatives in education, vision rehabilitation, assistive technology, and cataract treatment both domestically and internationally. The organization focuses on both direct service programs and systemic improvements in the field of vision care and education.

named programs · 11 · from sources

What they call their work

Camp for Children Who Are Blind or Low Vision
Funds a summer camp program for blind and visually impaired children through Kings Bay YM-YWHA.
John Caffrey Student Enhancement Discretionary Grant
Provides discretionary funding to Lavelle School for the Blind for student enhancement programs.
Multi-Sensory Learning Centers in Guatemala
Funds inclusive education centers for children with deafblindness and sensory impairments in Guatemala.
New Jersey Vision Program
Supports vision services and programs for the blind and visually impaired in New Jersey through Helen Keller International.
NoBo Drishti Bochaganj: Eliminating Cataract Blindness
Funds cataract treatment and elimination efforts in Bochaganj Upazila, Dinajpur, Bangladesh.
SUNY Optometry + Syracuse Community Health Center Vision Partnership
Supports vision care services and partnerships between academic and community health institutions.
Saksharta (Literacy)
Funds literacy programs for visually impaired individuals through Benetech.
Support for Visions Services in Westchester, Rockland, and Hudson Valley
Provides funding for regional vision services serving the blind and visually impaired in New York.
Tech Training 2.0: Expanding Assistive Tech Training
Supports in-person and remote assistive technology training for visually impaired individuals through Lighthouse Guild International.
Transforming Learning for Children Who Are Blind and Low Vision
Supports educational initiatives for blind and low vision children in Brazil and Mexico.
Vision Rehabilitation Therapy at Hunter College
Supports graduate training programs in vision rehabilitation therapy at Hunter College.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Vision Research Funding 3 activities
    • Funding efforts to eliminate cataract blindness in Bangladesh
      Finances initiatives targeting the elimination of cataract blindness in Bochaganj Upazila, Dinajpur, Bangladesh.
    • Funding vision services in Westchester County, Rockland County, and the Hudson Valley
      Supports vision services in Westchester County, Rockland County, and the Hudson Valley region through grant funding.
    • Funding vision services partnership between SUNY Optometry and Syracuse Community Health Center
      Finances a collaborative effort between SUNY Optometry and Syracuse Community Health Center to expand access to vision services.
  • Summer Camp Access Scholarships 1 activity
    • Funding camp programs for children who are blind or have low vision
      Supports camp programs designed for children who are blind or have low vision through grant funding.
  • Private K–12 School Support 1 activity
    • Funding discretionary student enhancement grants at Lavelle School for the Blind
      Provides discretionary grant funding to support student enhancement initiatives at the Lavelle School for the Blind.
  • Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
    • Funding expansion of assistive technology training
      Supports the expansion of in-person and remotely delivered assistive technology training through grantmaking.
  • Healthcare Education Scholarships and Fellowships 1 activity
    • Funding graduate programs in vision rehabilitation therapy at Hunter College
      Finances graduate-level training in vision rehabilitation therapy at Hunter College to support workforce development.
  • Literacy Program Funding 1 activity
    • Funding literacy initiatives under the Saksharta program
      Awards grants to support literacy programs implemented under the Saksharta initiative.
  • Individual Child Education Sponsorship 1 activity
    • Funding multisensory learning centers in Guatemala
      Supports the development of multisensory learning centers to advance inclusive education for children who are blind or have low vision in Guatemala.
  • Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
    • Funding the New Jersey Vision Program via Helen Keller International
      Provides grants to Helen Keller International to support the New Jersey Vision Program.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Funding establishment of a regional training center for ophthalmic paramedics
      Provides funding for the creation of a regional resource center to train allied ophthalmic paramedics.
    • Funding initiatives for children who are blind or low vision in Brazil and Mexico
      Funds programs that transform learning opportunities for children who are blind or have low vision in Brazil and Mexico.
financials · form 990PF · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$18.73M
Contributions & grants
Program service revenue
Investment income$3.63M19%
Other revenue$15.10M
expenses
Total expenses$1.65M
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$291K
Grants paid out$5.91M
balance sheet
Total assets$173.98M
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$173.98M
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +687.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SUSAN G OLIVO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO 48 $354K
board members · 12
  • ALEXANDER G LUNNEY — DIRECTOR
  • HON KEVIN B MCGRATH JR — VICE CHAIR & DIRECTOR
  • JANE B O'CONNELL — SECRETARY & DIRECTOR
  • JOHN L CORCORAN CPA — TREASURER & DIRECTOR
  • JOSE M ROMAN DMIN JD MA — DIRECTOR
  • LOUIS D PIZZARELLO MD MPH — BOARD CHAIR & DIRECTOR
  • MARIA LC TAPIA — DIRECTOR
  • MARIO M KRANJAC — DIRECTOR
  • MAURA J SWEENEY MS MPA — DIRECTOR
  • PAUL A SIDOTI MD — DIRECTOR
  • SHARON MCLENNON WIER PHD MSED — DIRECTOR
  • SISTER MARY FLOOD OP MD PHD — DIRECTOR
relationships · 11

Who they work with

  • BENETECH Partner — Funded for literacy initiatives under the Saksharta program.
  • DR SHROFF'S CHARITY EYE HOSPITAL Partner — Funded to establish a regional training center for allied ophthalmic paramedics.
  • FUNDACION GUATEMALTECA PARA NINOS CON SORDOCEGUERA ALEX (FUNDAL) Partner — Funded to develop multisensory learning centers promoting inclusion in Guatemala.
  • HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL Partner — Funded for the New Jersey Vision Program and cataract blindness elimination in Bangladesh.
  • KINGS BAY YM-YWHA Partner — Funded to operate a camp for children who are blind or have low vision.
  • LAVELLE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND Partner — Recipient of discretionary student enhancement grants.
  • LIGHTHOUSE GUILD INTERNATIONAL Partner — Funded to expand assistive technology training through in-person and remote care models.
  • PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND Partner — Funded to support transforming learning for children who are blind or low vision in Brazil and Mexico.
  • RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK HUNTER COLLEGE Partner — Funded to support graduate programs in vision rehabilitation therapy.
  • SUNY COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY FOUNDATION Partner — Funded to support a vision partnership with Syracuse Community Health Center.
  • VISIONSSERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED Partner — Funded to support vision services in Westchester, Rockland, and the Hudson Valley.
strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Academic-Community Partnership Model
    methodology: academic-community-partnership
    By partnering academic optometry programs with community health centers, we expand access to vision care services, because cross-institutional collaboration leverages specialized clinical training resources to serve underserved populations in local settings.
  • Hybrid Service Delivery
    methodology: hybrid-service-delivery
    By combining in-person instruction with remote virtual care, we increase access to assistive technology training for blind and visually impaired individuals, because flexible modalities reduce geographic and mobility barriers to participation.