Advocate for the profession of optometry, advance eye and vision health, and support optometric education and public service.
The American Optometric Association’s recent giving is anchored by repeated $200,000 charitable contributions to Optometry Cares, its own foundation arm in St. Louis. That pattern points to a funder that channels significant support through optometry-focused infrastructure while also backing state associations, public advocacy, and sponsorships tied to the profession. In the latest grants, the association gave $100,000 to the Texas Optometric Association for future practice initiatives and $98,853 to the California Optometric Association for advocacy, showing that professional practice and policy work sit alongside education and service. Other grants went to the Virginia and Colorado optometric associations, as well as groups connected to veteran service and consumer advocacy. The grant program list adds more detail on how the association supports the field: disaster relief through Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief, infant vision care through InfantSEE, student scholarships, and opportunities in optometry grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Taken together, the picture is of a national optometry organization funding both the profession’s internal pipeline and external public-facing work.
Optometry education is a recurring theme. The association supports student scholarships through Optometry Cares, and its scholarship programs are designed for third- and fourth-year optometry students. One named example is the Silhouette Scholarship, a $2,500 award for optometry students. A second education-related track is professional development: Optometry Cares travel grants are being offered for Optometry’s Meeting 2026, with the scraped program description noting over 2,000 travel grants. Public service is another clear lane. Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief provides direct assistance after disasters, while InfantSEE supports infant vision care in the United States. The association also references opportunities in optometry grants connected to diversity, equity, and inclusion and workforce development.
Typical grant size sits at $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $47,500 at the median, and $92,890 at the 75th percentile. The recent list shows a mix of large charitable contributions, advocacy support, and smaller sponsorships, with several recipients appearing in more than one year, including Optometry Cares, Hillvets Foundation, Amvets National Service Foundation, and National Consumers League. That repeated presence suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts in some areas. The foundation does not fund individuals directly. The active program list also shows several initiative-specific grant channels, and multiple programs accept unsolicited applications, including disaster relief, InfantSEE, and student scholarships.
$255K
$42.4M
$29.6M
$28.8M
Most grants fall between $25K and $93K, with a median of $48K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$48K
75th Percentile
$93K
About 14% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Grantmaking is national and entirely U.S.-based in the recent grants list. Idaho stands out as the top state by grant count, while Missouri accounts for 14% of grants, reflecting both the association’s St. Louis presence and wider national distribution. Recent recipients included organizations in Austin, Sacramento, Henrico, Denver, Lanham, Washington, DC, and Meridian. The spread reaches both state optometric associations and national advocacy or service groups, rather than concentrating in a single region.
Its active programs and recent grants point to eye health, optometry education, scholarships and student support, community vision programs, disaster relief, future practice initiatives, advocacy, and sponsorships tied to the profession. Recent funding also includes support for diversity, equity, and inclusion in optometry.
The grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $25,000, a median of $47,500, and a 75th percentile of $92,890. Recent awards range from smaller $10,000 sponsorships to $200,000 charitable contributions.
No. The foundation profile identifies that it does not fund individuals directly. Its grantmaking is directed to organizations, including optometry associations, charities, and program sponsors.
Yes for several active programs. Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief, InfantSEE Program Grant Support, and multiple scholarship programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications. Other opportunities, such as some named scholarship and DEI-related programs, are listed without that designation.
Yes. Optometry Cares appears in multiple years with $200,000 charitable contributions, and several other organizations recur as well, including Hillvets Foundation, Amvets National Service Foundation, and National Consumers League. That pattern indicates repeat support in some funding areas.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from American Optometric Association that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Available to doctors of optometry seeking financial assistance for property damages incurred to their practices from natural disasters.
Deadline: Not specified; assistance appears to be available as needs arise.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation | St Louis, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution |
| Patients Rising Now Inc | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | Sponsorship |
| National Consumers League | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | Sponsorship |
| Amvets National Service Foundation | Lanham, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | Sponsorship |
| Optometry Cares The AOA Foundation | St Louis, MO | $200,000 | 2024 | Charitible contribution |
| Texas Optometric Association | Austin, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | Future practice initiatives |
| Idaho Optometric Physicians | Meridian, ID | $40,000 | 2024 | Future practice initiatives |
| Amvets National Service Foundation | Lanham, MD | $25,000 | 2024 | Sponsorship |
| Patients Rising Now Inc | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | Sponsorship |
| National Consumers League | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | Sponsorship |
| Hillvets Foundation | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | Sponsorship |
| OPTOMETRY CARES THE AOA FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $200,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| CALIFORNIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $98,853 | 2023 | ADVOCACY |
| VIRGINA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION | HENRICO, VA | $75,000 | 2023 | ADVOCACY |
| COLORADO OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION | DENVER, CO | $74,200 | 2023 | ADVOCACY |
| AMVETS NATIONAL SERVICE FOUNDATION | LANHAM, MD | $55,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| NATIONAL CONSUMERS LEAGUE | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| HILLVETS FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation
$200,000Charitable Contribution
Patients Rising Now Inc
$25,000Sponsorship
Optometry Cares The AOA Foundation
$200,000Charitible contribution
Texas Optometric Association
$100,000Future practice initiatives
Idaho Optometric Physicians
$40,000Future practice initiatives
Patients Rising Now Inc
$25,000Sponsorship
Hillvets Foundation
$10,000Sponsorship
OPTOMETRY CARES THE AOA FOUNDATION
$200,000CHARITY
CALIFORNIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION
$98,853ADVOCACY
VIRGINA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION
$75,000ADVOCACY
COLORADO OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION
$74,200ADVOCACY
HILLVETS FOUNDATION
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
