Lavelle Fund

What Lavelle Fund does

Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc. is a private 501(c)(3) charitable grantmaking foundation headquartered at 307 West 38th Street, New York. Originally established in 1904 as the Lavelle School for the Blind under the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, New York, the organization was restructured in 1999 when a new operating school entity was created and the majority of the original entity's endowment was transferred into the independent Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc. The Fund deploys that endowment to make grants and scholarships supporting blind and visually impaired individuals, primarily in the U.S. Tri-State (NY/NJ/CT) region and internationally across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

The Fund operates two core programs. First, a Grantmaking Program structured around three funding areas — Medical Eye Care (ophthalmic/optometric services, cataract treatment, vision screenings, eye-care systems strengthening), Vision Rehabilitation & Resources (adaptive training, low-vision support, assistive technology training, vocational and recreational services), and Education Support Services (services for visually impaired students and training for the professionals who serve them). Grants are administered through the Temelio online grants management system, which handles eligibility questionnaires, concept notes, and budgets. Second, the Lavelle – Brother Kearney Scholarship Program provides need- and merit-based scholarships to legally blind undergraduate and graduate students at 10 partner colleges and universities in the Tri-State area, coordinated with state vocational rehabilitation agencies.

The Fund runs a lean operation with approximately 5-6 staff led by Executive Director and CEO Susan Olivo (formerly of Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation). Major grantee partners include Perkins School for the Blind, Helen Keller International, Lighthouse Guild, VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Seva Foundation, Benetech, and Kings Bay YM-YWHA. As a private nonprofit, the Fund's "revenue" derives from endowment investment returns rather than commercial activity; specific financial figures are not publicly disclosed on the website.

Name

Lavelle Fund

Legal name

Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc.

Website

https://lavellefund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation / Philanthropic Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Charitable grantmaking
• Vision rehabilitation grants
• Medical eye care funding
• Blindness education scholarships
• Assistive technology training

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Endowment and Charitable Giving: Lavelle Fund for the Blind operates as a charitable foundation with endowment assets. The original entity (Lavelle School for the Blind) and the majority of its endowment became the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc. in 1999. The Fund generates revenue through its endowment and provides grants to support organizations serving blind and visually impaired individuals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Lavelle Fund for the Blind is a charitable foundation that awards grants to nonprofit organizations serving blind and visually impaired individuals across three program areas: Medical Eye Care, Vision Rehabilitation & Resources, and Education Support Services. It also administers the Lavelle – Brother Kearney Scholarship Program, which provides post-secondary scholarships to legally blind students attending partner colleges and universities.

Product overview

Lavelle Fund for the Blind is a charitable grant-making foundation, not a technology product company. The organization provides two core services: (1) Grantmaking Program funding organizations in Medical Eye Care, Vision Rehabilitation & Resources, and Education Support Services; and (2) Lavelle – Brother Kearney Scholarship Program providing need and merit-based scholarships for legally blind students. Grant administration is handled through an online grants management system (Temelio).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Eye Care Grants Grant funding to organizations and programs that prevent and treat preventable blindness, supporting medical eye care services for underserved populations.
• Vision Rehabilitation & Resources Grants Grant funding to organizations providing vision rehabilitation, assistive technology training, and independent living services for adults who are blind or visually impaired.
• Education Support Services Grants Grant funding to educational programs and institutions serving blind and visually impaired school-age children, supporting academic achievement and educational services.
• Lavelle – Brother Kearney Scholarship Program Tuition scholarship program for legally blind students pursuing post-secondary education at partner colleges and universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 304 grants awarded to organizations supporting blind and visually impaired individuals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Helen Keller InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor grant recipient supporting eye care programs including 'Nobo Drishti Bochaganj' project in Bangladesh to eliminate cataract blindness ($454,377) and diabetic retinopathy services scaling ($648,069)
• Perkins School for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international education partner receiving $1,500,000 for 'Transforming Learning for Children Who are Blind and Low Vision in Brazil and Mexico' Project and $1,000,000 for Latin America expansion
• VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually ImpairedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding grantee receiving $455,000 for vision rehabilitative services in Westchester and Lower Hudson Valley, plus support for the 'Big Data Project' and Lavelle-BENNY Initiative
• Lighthouse Guild InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient receiving $645,030 for 'Tech Training 2.0' assistive technology initiative and $577,482 for Remote Care Network expansion
• Seva FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international partner receiving $1,025,277 to establish teaching and learning center for ophthalmology in Guatemala, plus support for Nepal eye care network ($405,000)
• BenetechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant recipient for 'Bookshare in India: Pathways to Independence' project ($650,000) and India-based digital transformation initiatives ($649,936)
• FUNDAL (Guatemala)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational education partner receiving $445,000 for 'Multisensory Learning Centers: Promoting an Inclusive Community in Guatemala' project
• CBM Christoffel-BlindenmissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational eye care partner receiving $331,781 for High-Impact Simulated Ophthalmic Surgical Training in sub-Saharan Africa
• Kings Bay YM-YWHAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services partner receiving $750,000 to expand summer camp experience for blind and visually impaired youth ages 4-17 in NY metropolitan area
• American Printing House for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner receiving $325,000 for ConnectCenter parent support enhancement and $350,000 for FamilyConnect Information & Referral website
• Room to ReadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational education partner receiving $225,131 to expand global literacy program to serve blind and visually impaired children in Philippines and Vietnam
• L.V. Prasad Eye InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational eye care partner receiving support for upgrading 20 vision centers in Telangana, India to 'Futuristic Vision Centers'
• Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational eye care partner receiving $500,000 for Allied Ophthalmic Paramedics training program and $679,116 for training model for mid-level eye care professionals in India
• New York State Commission for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState rehabilitation agency partner for scholarship program - scholarship applicants should be registered with their state's vocational rehabilitation agency for the blind
• Temelio (Grants Management Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationOnline grants management system used for all grant submissions, eligibility questionnaires, concept notes, and budget submissions

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Benetech: Nonprofit technology organization addressing disability and literacy, including accessible educational content for the blind (Bookshare). Lavelle funds Benetech's India accessibility initiatives ($650K Bookshare), aligning the two in technology-enabled blindness programs.
• American Foundation for the Blind: Long-established U.S. nonprofit foundation addressing blindness and visual impairment through advocacy, research, and direct service funding. Highly comparable mission, geographic base, and grantee ecosystem to Lavelle.
• Seva Foundation: International public health foundation focused on preventable blindness, eye care, and sight restoration, with significant grantmaking activity. Lavelle has funded Seva directly ($1,025,277 Guatemala teaching center), reflecting shared mission and operational overlap.
• Foundation Fighting Blindness: Major U.S. nonprofit funding research and services for retinal degenerative diseases and blindness. Operates as a comparable private foundation in the blindness space, with similar grantmaking activity targeting medical and rehabilitative outcomes.
• American Printing House for the Blind: U.S. nonprofit producing educational materials and technology for the visually impaired. Lavelle funds APH's ConnectCenter and FamilyConnect programs ($675K combined), reflecting direct overlap in education support for the blind.
• Lighthouse Guild International: U.S. nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, assistive technology, and health services for the visually impaired. Lavelle is a major funder ($645K+ Tech Training 2.0), with closely aligned service areas in vision rehabilitation.
• Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation: U.S. private foundation focused exclusively on sight loss and visual impairment. Lavelle's Executive Director Susan Olivo previously led this foundation, and the two operate in the same narrow funding category — direct comparability in mission, scale, and grantee profile.
• CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission: International Christian development organization focused on disability inclusion, particularly blindness prevention and eye health. Lavelle funds CBM's sub-Saharan Africa ophthalmic surgical training ($331,781), establishing direct programmatic and funding parity.
• Helen Keller International: Global nonprofit combating blindness and malnutrition through eye health programs. Lavelle is a major funder of Helen Keller International ($454K Bangladesh cataract project), and the two organizations operate with overlapping mission and grantee networks.

Broad incumbents

• Lions Clubs International Foundation: Large international service organization foundation with vision as one of several global causes (alongside hunger, environment, diabetes). Operates a much broader mandate than Lavelle but is a major funder in the blindness space and a natural broader-incumbent comparable.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lavelle-fund-for-the-blind

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Lavelle Fund