About Knights Templar Eye Foundation
To improve vision through research, education, and supporting access to care.
Focus Areas
pediatric ophthalmologyophthalmic geneticsamblyopiacongenital cataractcongenital glaucomaretinopathy of prematuritynystagmusretinal dystrophiesretinoblastomaeye and visual system development research
Who They Fund
children (pediatric patients)seniors/older adultsophthalmology researchers and clinician-scientistspatients lacking access to eye care
About Knights Templar Eye Foundation
The Knights Templar Eye Foundation’s recent grantmaking is centered on pediatric ophthalmology, with support for research, training, and access to care across infants and children. A defining thread is its backing of career-building research awards for early-stage investigators studying potentially blinding eye diseases, alongside larger program grants that extend into clinical education and global child eye health. In 2024, the foundation made repeated $2,000,000 endowed professorship grants to Dean McGee Eye Institute, signaling long-term support for ophthalmology faculty capacity. It also supported the AAO Pediatric VR Simulation Program through the Foundation of the American Academy of Opthalmology Eyecare America, including multiple $500,000 grants, linking pediatric training to hands-on clinical preparation. Other significant awards went to the Children’s Eye Foundation of AAPOS for the AAPOS All Children Can See Project, showing a recurring interest in organized pediatric vision initiatives. The pattern across its grant list points to a funder that combines research funding with professional development and program support rather than limiting itself to one grant type.
What Knights Templar Eye Foundation Funds
Pediatric ophthalmology research is the foundation’s core area. It made $260,000 grants to Johns Hopkins University for eye research and $242,000 and $192,750 grants to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for eye research, reflecting support for clinical and translational work. Training and workforce development also appear in the grant list: the Foundation of the American Academy of Opthalmology Eyecare America received $500,000 for the AAO Pediatric VR Simulation Program, a sign of investment in pediatric ophthalmology education. Access-oriented work shows up through the Foundation of the American Academy of Opthalmology Pediatric Eye Registry, which received $250,000 for the Eyecare America Senior Eyecare Program. Global child eye health is present as well, through support to the Children’s Eye Foundation of AAPOS for the AAPOS All Children Can See Project.
How Knights Templar Eye Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster around the mid-five-figure to low-six-figure range: p25 is $10,000, median grant size is $80,000, and p75 is $90,000. The recent grant record also shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including program support and research support, which points to continuing relationships rather than one-off gifts. Most of the foundation’s grants are competitive and program-specific. Some awards are unsolicited, including the KTEF Investigator Awards and career-starter research grants, while several major program grants are administered through partner organizations. The foundation is a grantmaking foundation and does not fund individuals.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$12.4M
Total Assets
$185.6M
Total Revenue
$20.4M
Total Expenses
$8.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $90K, with a median of $80K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$80K
75th Percentile
$90K
Geographic Reach
National23 states funded
About 5% of grants go to recipients in MI.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ROBERT W BIGLEY
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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