What Conexus for Childrens Vision does

Conexus for Children's Vision is a 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, that delivers free vision care to K-12 students through Virginia public school partnerships. Its core service stack includes VisioCheck, a technology-based comprehensive vision screening program deployed in schools by trained technicians, and the Mobile Vision Clinic, a mobile unit that brings licensed optometrists onto school grounds to perform non-dilated eye exams and dispense prescription glasses on-site or via short follow-up delivery. Supporting programs include Blink 20 (digital eye strain education launched during the COVID-19 era), a voucher program for follow-up care with partnering optometrists, and the Gift of Light annual holiday fundraising campaign.

The organization operates a donation-and-grant revenue model with no fees charged to schools or families. Funding flows from individual donors, foundation grants (Jenkins Foundation, Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, Robins Foundation, IMPACT 100 Richmond), corporate sponsors, and the annual Golf Classic fundraiser. Conexus partners with the Virginia Department of Education to qualify divisions for VisioCheck, and with health systems and optometry providers — including Sentara, UnitedHealthcare, and Virginia Eye Institute — to extend service reach and underwrite Mobile Vision Clinic expansion. In the 2025-2026 program year, Conexus screened 112,532 students across 58 Virginia school divisions and delivered 10,914 free eye exams (a 46% year-over-year increase) across 19 divisions.

Go-to-market is community-led and school-anchored: Conexus builds relationships with school nurses, superintendents, and divisions to onboard new screening partners, then layers the higher-acuity Mobile Vision Clinic on top to capture students who fail screening. All services are free at point of use, with logistics designed to eliminate transportation and cost barriers — particularly relevant given that one-third of economically challenged students screened by Conexus are found to have a vision problem, versus a 25% national average referral rate. The organization is governed by a volunteer board, led by President and CEO Tim Gresham since 1992, with a staff of approximately 10 employees.

Name

Conexus for Childrens Vision

Legal name

Conexus for Children's Vision

Website

https://conexusvision.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Conexus for Children's Vision is a Richmond, Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free vision screenings, eye exams, and prescription glasses to K-12 students in Virginia public schools through its VisioCheck and Mobile Vision Clinic programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Conexus is a 501(c)(3) public charity (IRS Tax ID 46-5257732) that operates entirely on donations, grants, and fundraising events. All programs are provided free of charge to students. The organization receives support from individuals, corporations, and foundations including grants from Jenkins Foundation ($25,000), Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation ($25,000), Robins Foundation ($50,000), and IMPACT 100 Richmond ($100,000).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Conexus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams, and prescription glasses to school-aged children in Virginia public schools. Its core programs are VisioCheck (technology-based vision screening delivered by trained technicians in schools) and the Mobile Vision Clinic (a mobile unit that brings licensed optometrists to schools for on-site exams and glasses). All programs are provided free of charge to students and schools, funded through donations, grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Conexus for Children's Vision operates as a nonprofit organization offering a suite of vision health programs for children. The core offerings include VisioCheck (technology-based vision screening) and the Mobile Vision Clinic (free in-school eye exams and glasses). Supporting programs include Blink 20 (digital eye strain prevention), Gift of Light (annual fundraising campaign), School Nurse Resources, and Voucher programs. The organization serves school divisions across Virginia Commonwealth, providing comprehensive vision care to remove poor vision as a barrier to academic success.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VisioCheck: Technology-based comprehensive children's vision screening program delivered in schools
• Mobile Vision Clinic
• Blink 20
• Gift of Light

Products and services

• VisioCheck Technology-based comprehensive children's vision screening program delivered in schools by trained technicians to identify students with potential vision problems. Used by Virginia public schools, preschools, and Head Start programs.
• Mobile Vision Clinic Mobile unit that brings licensed optometrists and equipment to schools for free non-dilated eye exams and prescription glasses, dispensed on-site or delivered shortly after. Provides comprehensive vision care directly to K-12 students at no cost to families or schools.
• Blink 20 Program designed to fight digital eye strain and vision problems related to increased screen time, providing strategies and resources for children, parents, teachers, and school administrators.
• Voucher Program Provides vouchers for students who need follow-up care with partnering eye care providers, ensuring access to comprehensive vision services beyond in-school screenings and exams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 in 4 children has a vision issue impacting learning; 80% of classroom learning is through vision
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SentaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Partnership with Sentara for Newport News Mobile Vision Clinic kick-off breakfast and pilot program at Discovery STEM Academy. Planning future expansion to Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, and Portsmouth schools.
• Staunton City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Expanded Mobile Vision Clinic to Staunton City Schools for first time, delivering 230 free eye exams and 167 pairs of glasses to K-12 students across all schools.
• Vision to LearncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2017Partnership with California-based Vision to Learn to expand service in Richmond Public Schools. Combined efforts provided vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to 20,000+ students. Joint program celebrated with city and school district leaders.
• Friends of BarnabasminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaborative partnership adapting Conexus screening protocols for remote mountain villages in Honduras. Medical teams utilize screening methods to serve children in impoverished communities.
• Virginia Eye InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Long-standing cornerstone partner for Gift of Light holiday campaign. VEI staff compete in fundraising at all 8 locations. Campaign has raised over $25,000 annually. VEI provides optometry services and supports overall mission.
• Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDOE provides funding for VisioCheck program in qualifying school divisions. Partnership supports state-mandated vision screening requirements. Leadership appointed to VDOE workgroup on digital devices in classrooms.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Prevent Blindness: National eye health nonprofit focused on advocacy, screening programs, and public education around preventable vision issues including pediatric vision. Comparable mission and target population, though operating through state affiliates rather than direct mobile clinics.
• OneSight: Global nonprofit foundation operating school-based vision clinics and charitable eyewear programs in underserved communities. Shares Conexus's model of removing cost and transportation barriers through direct-to-school delivery of screenings, exams, and prescription glasses.
• VisionSpring: Nonprofit social enterprise providing affordable eyeglasses and vision screenings to low-income populations globally, including school-age children. Comparable direct-service screening model, free/affordable glasses distribution, and donor-funded operating model.
• Vision To Learn: California-based nonprofit providing free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to students in underserved schools via mobile clinics. Conexus explicitly partnered with Vision To Learn in 2017 to bring services to Richmond Public Schools, and both operate the same school-based direct-care model.
• Helen Keller International: International nonprofit addressing preventable vision loss in children globally through screening, treatment, and glasses distribution. Similar direct-service screening model and overlap with Conexus's Honduras partnership work via Friends of Barnabas.
• Essilor Vision Foundation: Nonprofit arm of Essilor focused on providing vision screenings and corrective eyewear to underserved children in the U.S. Operates parallel school-based program models and shares Conexus's mission-driven approach to addressing uncorrected pediatric vision problems.

Broad incumbents

• VSP Global: Largest U.S. vision insurance company, also running Eyes of Hope and other school-based vision programs through its Eyes of Hope Foundation. Comparable mission focus on children's vision access but operates at much larger scale as an insurance platform.
• Lions Clubs International Foundation: Global service organization running extensive vision screening and eyeglass recycling programs for underserved populations, including school-aged children. Comparable screening-and-glasses mission and donation/grant-funded operating model, though distributed across volunteer chapters.
• Warby Parker: Eyewear retailer with a 'Buy a Pair, Give a Pair' social mission that distributes free glasses to underserved children through nonprofit partners including Vision To Learn. Comparable end-customer offering (free prescription glasses to children) but operates as a for-profit retailer rather than direct service provider.
• National Vision Inc. Optical retailer operating America's Best, Eyeglass World, and other value-focused vision care chains serving lower- and middle-income consumers. Adjacent customer demographic (economically challenged families) though operates as a for-profit retail model rather than nonprofit screening provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/conexusvision
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdzKL3GbyDlEVCGGXXW37QQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConexusVision
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conexus-for-childrens-vision
• Instagraminstagram.com/conexusforhealthyvision

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Conexus for Childrens Vision