What Unite for Sight does

Unite For Sight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by Jennifer Staple-Clark and headquartered in North Haven, Connecticut. The organization addresses preventable blindness and lack of access to eye care in developing countries by partnering with locally led eye clinics in Ghana, Honduras, Bihar India, and Orissa India. Through these partnerships, local ophthalmologists have provided eye care to more than 2.9 million people and performed over 109,000 sight-restoring surgeries over the past decade.

The organization's core products and programs include the Global Impact Corps (an immersive volunteer abroad program placing Global Impact Fellows at partner eye clinics), the annual Global Health & Innovation Conference (GHIC) convening 2,000+ professionals from 50+ countries, Global Health University (an educational platform with 60+ online courses, certificate programs, and fellowships), the Global Health Idea Lab Virtual Summit, and the underlying Healthcare Delivery Programs that fund and support the local clinic partnerships. Unite For Sight does not disclose a proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure is built on standard web properties (Squarespace-hosted sites) and a Slate-based application portal for program enrollment.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across multiple streams typical of a nonprofit: volunteer abroad program fees paid by Global Impact Fellows, conference registration and exhibitor fees ($500-$1,000 per exhibitor depending on type and timing), innovative initiatives fees for organizations presenting informational sessions, and tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The organization sells no physical product; its services are delivered directly through its own programs and partner clinics. No revenue figures, funding rounds, or institutional investments are disclosed.

Name

Unite for Sight

Legal name

Unite For Sight, Inc.

Website

https://uniteforsight.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Unite For Sight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that partners with local eye clinics in Ghana, Honduras, and India to deliver eye care to underserved populations, while operating the Global Impact Corps volunteer program, the annual Global Health & Innovation Conference, and Global Health University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Healthcare Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)

Keywords

• Global health delivery
• Volunteer abroad programs
• Eye care partnerships
• Nonprofit healthcare
• Global health education

Headquarters

HQ city

New Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Volunteer Abroad Program Fees: Global Impact Fellows pay program fees to participate in immersive volunteer experiences in Ghana, Honduras, and India. These fees support program operations, mentoring, and the organization's global health delivery partnerships.
2. Conference Registration Fees: The annual Global Health & Innovation Conference charges registration fees to attendees. Reduced registration rates are available, and student rates are offered for full-time students in accredited degree programs. Conference registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
3. Exhibitor Registration Fees: Organizations pay exhibitor registration fees to participate in the conference. Fees vary by deadline and organizational type: $500-$750 for nonprofits/nonprofit universities and $800-$1,000 for for-profit organizations.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Unite For Sight accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations to support its eye care delivery programs, Global Impact Fellows, and educational initiatives.
5. Innovative Initiatives / Information Session Fees: Organizations may pay a fee to present a 20-minute informational session during the conference as part of the Innovative Initiatives program, which includes website acknowledgment, a virtual session with logo and description, and a video slot.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Unite For Sight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers quality eye care to underserved patients in Ghana, Honduras, and India through partnerships with locally led eye clinics, having served 2.9 million people including 109,000+ sight-restoring surgeries. It complements clinical delivery with the Global Impact Corps volunteer abroad program, the annual Global Health & Innovation Conference (GHIC), the Global Health Idea Lab Virtual Summit, and Global Health University's certificate programs and 60+ online courses for students and professionals in global health and social entrepreneurship.

Product overview

Unite for Sight operates as a portfolio of interconnected global health programs rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include the Global Impact Corps (volunteer abroad experience), the Global Health & Innovation Conference (annual convening), Global Health University (education and certificates), the Global Health Idea Lab Virtual Summit, and Healthcare Delivery Programs partnering with local eye clinics. These programs collectively advance the organization's mission to eliminate preventable blindness through service, education, and knowledge sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Impact Corps: Immersive global health opportunity for students and professionals to support and learn from local doctors providing care to patients in underserved areas.
• Global Health University
• Global Health & Innovation Conference (GHIC)
• Global Health Idea Lab Virtual Summit

Products and services

• Global Impact Corps Immersive global health volunteer abroad program for students and professionals who support and learn from local doctors providing care to patients living in poverty in villages, slums, and refugee camps in Ghana, Honduras, Bihar India, and Orissa India. Fellows learn about social entrepreneurship, patient barriers to care, and strategies to reach underserved populations.
• Global Health & Innovation Conference (GHIC) Annual conference convening 2,000+ global health professionals, social entrepreneurs, and students from 50 US states and 55+ countries; recognized as the world's leading and largest global health conference and largest social entrepreneurship conference. Held in April each year in New Haven, CT, with virtual convenings offered in some years.
• Global Health University Online educational platform offering idea incubator workshops, certificate programs in global health and social entrepreneurship, fellowship and internship opportunities, and 60+ online courses in the Global Health E-Library for students, educators, and professionals.
• Global Health Idea Lab Virtual Summit Annual virtual summit embracing diverse talents, creativity, curiosity, and collaboration, featuring seven plenary panel conversations with 4–6 thought leaders each. Live-streamed sessions are designed as in-depth, interdisciplinary forums for the exchange of ideas across global health, innovation, education, and social impact.
• Healthcare Delivery Programs Partnership program with locally led eye clinics in Ghana (Crystal Eye Clinic led by Dr. James Clarke, Friends Eye Clinic led by Dr. Seth Wanye, Saint Thomas Eye Clinic led by Dr. Michael Gyasi), Honduras, and India (Kalinga Eye Hospital / NYSASDRI led by Sarang Samal) providing quality eye care to patients who otherwise cannot access or afford care. Programs are locally led and managed by partner medical professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.9 million people provided eye care; 109,000+ sight-restoring surgeries by local ophthalmologists
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Crystal Eye Clinic (Ghana) - Dr. James ClarkecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrystal Eye Clinic in Ghana is led by Dr. James Clarke, who serves as Unite For Sight's Ghana Medical Director. The clinic provides eye care to patients in Ghana as part of Unite For Sight's global health delivery program. Dr. Clarke presents regularly at the Global Health & Innovation Conference on topics including the socioeconomic impact of Unite For Sight-sponsored eye care.
• Friends Eye Clinic (Ghana) - Dr. Seth WanyecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends Eye Clinic in Ghana is led by Dr. Seth Wanye, an ophthalmologist who serves as a Unite For Sight Partner. The clinic collaborates with Unite For Sight to provide eye care in Ghana, with Dr. Wanye presenting at GHIC on outcomes and challenges in eye care delivery.
• Saint Thomas Eye Clinic (Ghana) - Dr. Michael GyasicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint Thomas Eye Clinic in Ghana is led by Dr. Michael Gyasi, an ophthalmologist and Medical Director who serves as a Unite For Sight Partner. The clinic participates in Unite For Sight's eye care delivery programs in Ghana.
• Kalinga Eye Hospital / NYSASDRI (India) - Sarang SamalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKalinga Eye Hospital in India, operating under NYSASDRI, is led by founder Sarang Samal, a Unite For Sight Partner. The hospital provides eye care services as part of Unite For Sight's programs in Bihar, India and Orissa, India.
• Weill Cornell MedicineminorOthersDr. Jane Aronson serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine and is a confirmed plenary speaker at GHIC 2026.
• Harvard Medical School / Mass General HospitalminorOthersMultiple faculty from Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital (including Dr. Adeline Boatin, Dr. Daniel Palazuelos) serve as confirmed plenary speakers at GHIC 2026.
• Partners In HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners In Health staff including Daniel Palazuelos (Director of Community Health Systems) and Anatole Manzi (Deputy Medical Officer) are confirmed speakers at GHIC 2026. The organizations share overlapping missions in global health delivery.
• Yale School of Public HealthminorOthersDean Megan Ranney and faculty member Dr. Kaveh Khoshnood from Yale School of Public Health are confirmed keynote and plenary speakers at GHIC 2026.
• DalbergminorOthersLaura Herman, Partner at Dalberg, is confirmed as a plenary speaker and session moderator at GHIC 2026.
• AmericaresminorOthersListed as a past exhibitor at the Global Health & Innovation Conference.
• charity: waterminorOthersListed as a past exhibitor at the Global Health & Innovation Conference.
• ViiV HealthcareminorOthersListed as a past exhibitor at the Global Health & Innovation Conference. Also associated with Positive Action Challenges featured at GHIC.
• Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health (CaringCrowd)minorOthersCaringCrowd by Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health is listed as a past exhibitor at the Global Health & Innovation Conference.
• World Health Organization (implied through conference content)minorOthersConference sessions frequently address WHO guidelines and frameworks. No formal partnership designation is stated in available sources.
• Yale School of Public HealthminorOthersListed as a past exhibitor at the Global Health & Innovation Conference.
• Save the ChildrenminorOthersCharles MacCormack, President Emeritus of Save the Children, has served as a judge and speaker at GHIC. Listed as a past exhibitor.
• Task Force for Global HealthminorOthersListed as a past exhibitor at the Global Health & Innovation Conference.
• Global Health Fellows Program II (Public Health Institute)minorOthersListed as a past exhibitor at the Global Health & Innovation Conference.
• Brandeis University - The Heller School for Social Policy and ManagementminorOthersListed as a past exhibitor at the Global Health & Innovation Conference.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sightsavers: International NGO focused on preventing avoidable blindness and supporting eye health in low- and middle-income countries. Most directly comparable to UFS on mission, delivery model (partnering with local clinics), and target geography (Ghana, India).
• Helen Keller International: US-headquartered nonprofit working to reduce blindness and malnutrition through partnerships with local organizations. Comparable to UFS in using local clinic partnerships and a strong volunteer/community engagement model.
• The Fred Hollows Foundation: Australia-rooted NGO working on avoidable blindness via local doctor training and clinic partnerships across Africa and Asia. Shares UFS's training-of-local-clinicians delivery philosophy and outcome-driven cataract focus.
• Orbis International: Global nonprofit focused on fighting avoidable blindness through the Flying Eye Hospital, training, and local hospital partnerships. Comparable eye-care mission, training-forward model, and global footprint.

Emerging players

• VisionSpring: Social enterprise focused on providing affordable eyeglasses to low-income populations globally. Comparable mission and emerging-market distribution, though narrower product focus (reading glasses).
• EYElliance: Coalition focused on mobilizing financial resources to increase access to eyeglasses globally. Comparable eye-care access mission and convening role within the global vision community.

Broad incumbents

• Doctors Without Borders / MSF: Large-scale global health delivery organization serving underserved populations through field operations. Comparable mission of providing care in resource-limited settings and broad professional/donor ecosystem.
• OneSight: Luxottica-affiliated nonprofit operating sustainable vision care access programs globally, including clinics and school-based screenings. Larger scale and corporate backing position it as a broad incumbent in the same vision-care delivery space.
• Partners In Health: Major global health delivery nonprofit operating in low-income countries. Directly comparable delivery-and-training model and overlapping speaker/partner presence at GHIC 2026.

Regional players

• BRAC: Bangladesh-rooted global development nonprofit delivering health, education, and microfinance to the poor. Comparable large-NGO delivery model and presence in UFS's India operating geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uniteforsight
• Facebookfacebook.com/uniteforsight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unite-for-sight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Unite for Sight