About National Federation of the Blind
The blind speaking for themselves (advocacy, independence, and accessibility for people who are blind).
Focus Areas
disability rightsnonvisual accessibilityBraille literacyeducationemploymentassistive technologycommunity support
Who They Fund
people who are blindpeople with visual impairmentsstudents (scholarship recipients)organizations serving the blind/visually impaired
Funding Style
program/project funding
About National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind uses its grantmaking to push nonvisual accessibility into products, systems, schools, and public life. The largest recent awards in the record are $400,000 to the Jacobus Tenbroek Memorial Fund in 2025 and two $300,000 grants to the same fund in 2023 and 2024, all described as blindness projects. That pattern points to a foundation funding long-running work rather than isolated one-off support. The portfolio also includes grants to state NFB affiliates, universities, museums, and accessibility-focused organizations, showing a mix of advocacy, education, and practical accessibility projects. Their program mix reflects the NFB’s broader mission around the blind speaking for themselves: advocacy, independence, and accessibility for people who are blind. Recent grants include support for organizations such as Utah State University and Lowell Observatory, alongside funding for local NFB affiliates and specialized accessibility vendors. The foundation also operates named programs for scholarships, internships, election accessibility, and nonvisual accessibility partnerships, which helps explain why its grantmaking reaches both direct service and systems-change work.
What National Federation of the Blind Funds
Education is a visible part of the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $13,976 to Nfb of Or for education scholarships, and in 2025 it gave $10,387 to Nfb of Id for education scholarships. Those awards sit alongside its broader scholarship and student-support programs for blind students pursuing postsecondary education. Accessibility and technology are another clear theme. The foundation awarded $5,000 to Accessible Pharmacy Srv in 2024 and $5,000 to Sciaccess Inc in 2024, both tied to blindness projects. It also supports the Strategic Nonvisual Accessibility Partnership Program and the National Center for Nonvisual Election Technology, showing attention to accessibility in both everyday services and civic participation. Community-based blindness projects round out the portfolio. The NFB gave $30,000 to Nfb of AZ in 2025 and $16,276 to Nfb of Oregon in 2023, reflecting support for state-level affiliates working with blind communities.
How National Federation of the Blind Gives
Typical grant size sits at a p25 of $9,260, a median of $12,000, and a p75 of $30,000. The recent record shows a wide spread, from smaller five-figure awards to several six-figure grants tied to blindness projects. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it also makes program-related investments. Recipients appear across multiple years, including repeated support for the Jacobus Tenbroek Memorial Fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than purely one-time awards. Some programs accept unsolicited applications, including the Accessibility Inclusion Fellowship Program, the NFB Scholarship Program, and the Scholarship Program.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$466K
Total Assets
$42.6M
Total Revenue
$24.4M
Total Expenses
$18.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $9K and $30K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$30K
Geographic Reach
National16 states funded
About 10% of grants go to recipients in ID.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
MARK A RICCOBONO
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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