Optometry Giving Sight's Grant Process Begins
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) will begin accepting pre-applications for its grant program that funds sustainable, optometry-based projects to end preventable blindness and vision impairment throughout the world. Pre-applications will be accepted from March 1, 2025, until Midnight MST March 20, 2025. Organizations that pass the pre-application process will be invited to submit a full grant proposal in early April. Final grant awards will be announced in August.
OGS funds organizations that focus on the following:
Programs involving optometry where there is a clear outline of optometry's involvement in and benefits to the program
Establishment or support of optometry schools, eye clinics, vision centers, and optical labs
Programs that deliver eye exams and low- or no-cost glasses to underserved or marginalized populations and include a strong optometry education and training component
Integrated, long-term optometry-related programs with a view towards sustainability
Service delivery tied to optometry education and/or the development of optometry
Organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), Canadian registered charities and international charities are eligible for funding. There are no geographic restrictions on the locations of the projects. However, priority is given to programs that are in parts of the world where optometry is not a well-developed profession.
Organizations must be nonpartisan to be considered. They will not be eligible for funding if their parent company is a large corporation. Programs that include only vision screenings, basic eye exams, and eyeglass distribution will also not be considered.
As Optometry’s International Charity of Choice, OGS raises funds from optometrists, optometry practices, and optometry-related businesses and corporations to award grants for sustainable, impactful projects that expand the profession and improve access to vision care in underserved areas of the world.
Prospective grantees may learn more here.
About Optometry Giving Sight
Optometry Giving Sight is the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error (URE) – simply the need for an eye examination and glasses. It was established in 2003 by the Brien Holden Vision Institute, World Council of Optometry, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness as a means of mobilizing support from the global eye care profession and industry to help eliminate the backlog of people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired – currently estimated at more than 600 million worldwide. It is a registered charity in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, and Italy.
Over the last two decades, OGS funding has provided basic eye care services to more than 8 million people, assisted with training more than 14,000 eye care personnel, established more than 130 vision centers, and served people in more than 40 countries. In the last two years alone, OGS has provided funding to more than 30 project partners around the world, totaling more than $1.5 million in grants.
Original link:https://www.opticaljournal.com/optometry-giving-sights-grant-process-begins/