Project Prakash Foundation
Project Prakash Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free sight-restoring surgeries to children born blind in rural India while conducting neuroscience research on brain plasticity and visual learning, in partnership with MIT, Harvard, IIT Delhi, and Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Project Prakash Foundation does
Project Prakash Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by MIT neuroscientist Dr. Pawan Sinha and headquartered at 955 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA (EIN 27-1164796). It pursues a dual mission: (1) restoring sight to children born blind in rural India through free pediatric ophthalmologic surgeries and post-operative rehabilitation, and (2) advancing neuroscience research on visual learning and brain plasticity by studying how the human brain adapts after sight restoration. The foundation operates a network of rural eye screening camps across India that identify children with treatable blindness; identified cases are referred to Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital in New Delhi, the anchor clinical partner where surgeries are performed at no cost to patients.
The organization's research arm produces peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, PNAS, and Current Biology, leveraging a unique longitudinal clinical dataset that is difficult to replicate. Core programmatic offerings include sight-restoring surgeries, pediatric eye screening camps, vision rehabilitation and inclusive-education support, and the neuroscience research program. Engagement programs — Youth Ambassador, Young Professional, Vision Trips, and personal fundraising campaigns — broaden the donor and volunteer base.
The business model is donation-based. Revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate and foundation grants (Dalai Lama Trust, DCM Shriram, Argosy Foundation, Lakshmi Mittal Harvard, Rural India Supporting Trust, Sikand Foundation, Rotary Club, Bengal Investments, Nick Simons), Donor-Advised Fund grants (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard), and federal research funding via the National Eye Institute. The organization publishes tiered donation impact metrics (e.g., $600 per bilateral surgery including travel and lodging for child and caregiver; $7,000 for an annual India-based Science Research Associate salary) and accepts tax-deductible contributions under its 501(c)(3) status.
Project Prakash Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Prakash Foundation
- Legal name
- Project Prakash Foundation
- Website
- https://projectprakash.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Project Prakash Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free sight-restoring surgeries to children born blind in rural India while conducting neuroscience research on brain plasticity and visual learning, in partnership with MIT, Harvard, IIT Delhi, and Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Prakash Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pediatric Ophthalmology Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Optometrists (621320)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (HLAKAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Low Vision Rehabilitation (HLAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Project Prakash Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Project Prakash Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: General donations from individuals supporting the mission to restore sight to children born blind and advance neuroscience research.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Support from foundations and corporations including DCM Shriram, Argosy Foundation, Dalai Lama Trust, and others. EIN 27-1164796 confirmed.
- Donor-Advised Fund Grants: Accepts grants from Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard, and other DAF sponsors. Part of their giving options for modern philanthropists.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based funding model |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Project Prakash Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project Prakash Foundation provides free sight-restoring eye surgeries, pediatric eye screening camps, and post-operative vision rehabilitation and inclusive education for children born with treatable blindness in rural India. The foundation also conducts scientific research on visual learning and brain plasticity following sight restoration, in collaboration with MIT, Harvard, and IIT Delhi, producing peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, and PNAS.
Product overview
Project Prakash Foundation is a nonprofit humanitarian and scientific organization (not a technology product company) that operates a portfolio of sight-restoration and neuroscience research services. The core offerings include free sight-restoring surgeries for children born blind in rural India, pediatric eye screening camps, and post-surgery vision rehabilitation and education programs. These humanitarian services are paired with a neuroscience research program that studies visual learning and brain plasticity in newly sighted children, generating academic publications. Additional engagement programs include Youth Ambassador and Young Professional programs, vision trips, and personal fundraising campaign tools for donor engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sight-Restoring Surgeries Free eye surgeries for children born blind in rural India, including cataract removal procedures performed at partner hospitals like Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital in New Delhi.
- Pediatric Eye Screening Camps Mobile eye screening camps in rural India that identify children with correctable blindness and connect them with surgical treatment.
- Vision Rehabilitation and Education Post-surgery rehabilitation services including vision training, school integration support, and inclusive education programs for children whose sight has been restored.
- Neuroscience Research Program Scientific research on visual learning and brain plasticity following sight restoration, conducted in collaboration with MIT and other institutions, with publications in leading journals including Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, and PNAS.
Quantifiable outcome
- 62,000+ children screened through outreach camps
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Project Prakash Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Project Prakash Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Project Prakash Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MITcoreMIT neuroscience labs, particularly the Sinha Lab directed by Dr. Pawan Sinha, conduct groundbreaking research on visual learning and brain plasticity using data from Project Prakash's sight-restoration work. MIT provides scientific leadership and research infrastructure.
- HarvardcoreHarvard researchers collaborate on neuroscience studies related to sight restoration and brain development, contributing academic expertise and research resources.
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)coreAcademic partnership for research collaboration and technical expertise in neuroscience and related fields.
- Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye HospitalcorePartner hospital in New Delhi where Project Prakash surgeries are performed. Provides surgical facilities and medical expertise for treating children identified through outreach camps.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Project Prakash Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aravind Eye Care System: India-based nonprofit hospital network performing very large-volume cataract surgery combined with research and training. Closest operational analog — high-throughput pediatric/adult cataract work in India with a self-sustaining model.
- Sightsavers: U.K.-headquartered international development organization working on avoidable blindness and inclusive education for visually impaired children in lower-income countries. Overlaps on beneficiary segment and educational-outcome orientation.
- Seva Foundation: Berkeley-based nonprofit funding sustainable eye care programs in low-income countries with emphasis on cataract and childhood blindness. Similar donor-driven service model and target beneficiary profile.
- Orbis International: Global nonprofit running the Flying Eye Hospital and partner-hospital programs to treat avoidable blindness in low- and middle-income countries. Similar pediatric ophthalmology emphasis and hospital-partnership distribution model.
- Fred Hollows Foundation: International NGO focused on ending avoidable blindness, including significant pediatric and India operations. Comparable fundraising scale, geographic scope, and clinical mission.
- L V Prasad Eye Institute: Hyderabad-based comprehensive eye care institution pairing clinical service with vision-science research. Comparable hybrid humanitarian-research model addressing preventable blindness in India.
- Himalayan Cataract Project / Cure Blindness: U.S.-headquartered nonprofit focused on high-volume cataract surgery in underserved regions, including India. Comparable mission, fundraising model, and focus on low-cost sight restoration.
Broad incumbents
- Lions Clubs International Foundation: Large global service organization funding vision programs (including pediatric cataract initiatives) at scale. Wider portfolio and not specialized in Project Prakash's research overlay, but a comparable institutional funder/partner in the same domain.
Others
- National Eye Institute (NIH/NEI): U.S. federal research agency providing grant funding that supports Project Prakash's neuroscience program. Not a competitor — an upstream funder whose funding posture materially affects the foundation's research trajectory.
Emerging players
- Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS: U.S.-based nonprofit focused specifically on pediatric vision, supporting screening and treatment programs for children. Narrower geographic focus but highly comparable mission around children's eye care access.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project Prakash Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceProject Prakash Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Project Prakash Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Prakash Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Project Prakash Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Project Prakash Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Project Prakash Foundation
What does Project Prakash Foundation do?
Project Prakash Foundation provides free sight-restoring eye surgeries, pediatric eye screening camps, and post-operative vision rehabilitation and inclusive education for children born with treatable blindness in rural India. The foundation also conducts scientific research on visual learning and brain plasticity following sight restoration, in collaboration with MIT, Harvard, and IIT Delhi, producing peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, and PNAS.
Is Project Prakash Foundation a public or private company?
Project Prakash Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Prakash Foundation founded?
Project Prakash Foundation was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Project Prakash Foundation based?
Project Prakash Foundation is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Prakash Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Grants and donor-Advised Fund Grants.
Who are Project Prakash Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aravind Eye Care System, Sightsavers, Seva Foundation, Orbis International, Fred Hollows Foundation, L V Prasad Eye Institute and Himalayan Cataract Project / Cure Blindness. Lions Clubs International Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. National Eye Institute (NIH/NEI) is listed as an others. Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS is listed as an emerging player.
Does Project Prakash Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Prakash Foundation.
What industry is Project Prakash Foundation in?
Project Prakash Foundation's product category is Pediatric Ophthalmology Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAD, Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus, with a secondary code of HLAKAKAJ, Low Vision Rehabilitation. Its NAICS code is 621320 and its SIC code is 3851.