Name

The Glaucoma Foundation

Legal name

The Glaucoma Foundation

Website

https://glaucomafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Research Nonprofit

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Glaucoma research funding
• Medical research grants
• Vision loss prevention
• Patient education resources
• Nonprofit healthcare foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online portal, phone, mail, stock gifts, and planned giving vehicles including bequests. The organization has never wavered from its mission since founding in 1984, supported by individual contributions.
2. Foundation Grants and Endowments: Major gifts and endowed funds from family foundations such as the Herbert Simon Family Foundation ($2.5M endowment for Herbert Simon Chair in Glaucoma Research) and John and Daria Barry Foundation ($5M pledge). These represent significant non-recurring contributions.
3. Annual Events: Revenue generated from annual fundraising events including the 42nd anniversary gala which raised $520,000, and the Art Challenge which raised $33,572.03 for research grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Glaucoma Foundation funds innovative glaucoma research and delivers patient education and outreach. It administers multi-tier research grant programs (Grant-in-Aid up to $75,000, TGF/RPB Fellowships of $10,000, AI Grants up to $250,000, Career Advancement Awards of $150,000), convenes the annual International Scientific Think Tank, and provides the Cure Now Society donor membership program. The Foundation also operates a Patient Resource Center and educational content covering glaucoma diagnosis, treatment, risk factors, and living with the disease.

Product overview

The Glaucoma Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing a cure for glaucoma through innovative research funding, collaboration, and education. The Foundation operates a multi-faceted portfolio of research grant programs including the Grant-in-Aid Program (up to $75,000 for one-year studies), the TGF/RPB Fellowships in Glaucoma ($10,000 supporting women and minority researchers), the Strategic Acceleration Program for proven innovators, and the annual International Scientific Think Tank. Beyond direct research funding, TGF provides patient education through its comprehensive resource center covering glaucoma understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and living with the condition. The Foundation engages donors through the Cure Now Society membership program with tiered giving levels, organizes the annual Art Challenge awareness campaign and Anniversary Gala fundraising event, and offers various donation mechanisms including planned giving, stock gifts, and workplace giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cure Now Society: An elite circle of donor advocates who pledge annual support at various engagement levels to advance groundbreaking glaucoma research.
• Think Tank
• TGF/RPB Fellowships in Glaucoma

Products and services

• Grant-in-Aid Program One-year grants of up to $75,000 for investigator-led studies in areas including Exfoliation Syndrome and Exfoliation Glaucoma, Pressure Independent Mechanisms of Glaucoma, Neuroprotection, and Genetics of Glaucomas affecting people under 40. Designed for academic researchers and clinicians pursuing innovative glaucoma science.
• TGF/RPB Fellowships in Glaucoma Annual one-year $10,000 fellowships supporting women and under-represented racial and ethnic minority researchers pursuing glaucoma research, delivered in partnership with Research to Prevent Blindness. Aimed at current ophthalmology fellows seeking dedicated glaucoma research experience.
• International Scientific Think Tank Annual forum gathering global glaucoma experts, neuroscientists, geneticists, biologists, and immunologists to identify breakthrough opportunities and direct funding to promising research. Open to invited researchers and clinicians across vision and adjacent sciences.
• Strategic Acceleration Program Signature program identifying agile innovators with proven track records to strategically support high-potential ideas that advance promising glaucoma science toward patient benefit. Targets established researchers seeking flexible funding for translational work.
• Patient Education Resources Comprehensive educational materials covering understanding glaucoma, the eye and how it works, diagnosing glaucoma, treating glaucoma, risk factors, and living with glaucoma. Available in multiple languages for patients, families, and at-risk individuals seeking reliable disease information.
• Cure Now Society Elite donor circle offering tiered annual membership (Friend $250-$499, EYEvocate $500-$999, Pioneer $1,000-$2,499, Explorer $2,500-$4,999, Trailblazer $5,000-$9,999, Pathfinder $10,000+) with benefits including branded gifts, newsletters, event invitations, VIP briefings, and roundtable discussions with TGF leadership and researchers.
• Glaucoma Patient Resource Center Comprehensive resource center connecting patients with partner organizations, support groups, low vision resources, home tonometry information, and educational guides. Developed for glaucoma patients, families, and caregivers seeking reputable support and connection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Never wavered from founding mission since 1984
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTGF partners annually with Research to Prevent Blindness to provide grants supporting women and under-represented racial and ethnic minority researchers in glaucoma research. The TGF (sponsored by Patricia Hill) / RPB Fellowships in Glaucoma provide one-year $10,000 fellowships to current ophthalmology fellows. RPB has channeled more than $383 million into eye research since 1960 and has been identified with nearly every major breakthrough in vision research.
• Lighthouse GuildminorOthersPartner organization in TGF's Patient Resource Center, providing resources for people with vision impairment and blindness
• National Eye InstituteminorOthersFederal government agency providing glaucoma education materials, including the 'Talk With Your Doctor About Glaucoma' guide available through TGF's patient resources
• World Glaucoma Patient AssociationminorOthersInternational organization focused on glaucoma patient advocacy and support, partnered with TGF for patient outreach and awareness
• Mount Sinai Hospital - Barry Family Center for Ophthalmic Artificial Intelligence & Human HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Alon Harris serves as Co-Director of this center focused on ophthalmic AI applications and human health. The center represents a key partnership advancing AI research in glaucoma diagnostics and management.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Prevent Blindness: Larger and broader eye-health nonprofit with a wider portfolio across all vision conditions. Comparable patient education and advocacy functions, but with a much broader scope than TGF's glaucoma-only focus.

Emerging players

• Research to Prevent Blindness: Long-standing nonprofit that has channeled more than $383M into eye research since 1960 and is TGF's direct partner for the TGF/RPB Fellowships. Highly comparable mission and grantee base, with a substantially larger endowment.

Regional players

• World Glaucoma Association: International umbrella organization coordinating glaucoma research, education, and patient advocacy globally. Comparable mission but with an international/coordination orientation rather than direct grantmaking from a donor-funded foundation.

Direct peers

• BrightFocus Foundation: Nonprofit that funds research on glaucoma, macular degeneration, and Alzheimer's disease, distributing grants to investigators and providing patient education. Directly comparable disease-specific research grantmaking and donor-development model.
• Foundation Fighting Blindness: Eye-disease-focused research foundation funding inherited retinal disease research and patient support. Comparable as a vision-specific nonprofit combining grantmaking, patient education, and high-net-worth donor cultivation.
• Glaucoma Research Foundation: The other major U.S.-based nonprofit exclusively dedicated to glaucoma research funding, education, and patient support. Direct comparable to TGF in mission, grantmaking programs (Catalyst for a Cure, research grants), and donor base.
• American Macular Degeneration Foundation: Disease-specific eye-health foundation funding macular degeneration research and patient education. Highly comparable operating model — small nonprofit with focused research grants and donor-driven funding.
• American Glaucoma Society: Professional society for glaucoma specialists that funds research and education. Comparable in mission focus on advancing glaucoma research and connecting leading ophthalmologists, though structured as a professional membership organization rather than a donor-funded foundation.

Others

• Lighthouse Guild: Nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, behavioral health, and advocacy services, listed as a partner in TGF's Patient Resource Center. Ecosystem participant delivering complementary vision-support services.
• National Eye Institute: Federal agency that is the largest single funder of vision research in the U.S. and a listed partner for TGF patient education materials. Adjacent funder and ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor for donations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TGF_Glaucoma
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theglaucomafoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/The.Glaucoma.Foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/-the-glaucoma-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/theglaucomafoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Glaucoma Foundation