Since 1938, NIB has focused on enhancing the opportunities for economic and personal independence of people who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment. NIB and its network of associated nonprofit agencies are the nation's largest employer of people who are blind through the sale of SKILCRAFT® and other products and services provided by the AbilityOne® Program, established by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act.
National Industries for the Blind’s grantmaking is built around employment for people who are blind, with large operating-style awards that strengthen training, compliance, productivity, and pay systems at associated agencies. The biggest recent grant in the file was $603,281 to Core Career dba NSITE in 2023, followed by a $396,719 award in 2024 to the same organization for training program development. That repeat support points to a funder that backs workforce infrastructure over one-time projects. The pattern continues across a broad network of blind-serving nonprofits. In 2024, the foundation made $40,000 grants to Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Utica, New York, Industries of the Blind in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Cincinnati Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Cincinnati, Ohio, each tied to productivity, training, and compliance. Other awards in the record support similar organizational functions, including mentoring, compensation, and data-driven operations. The result is a grant portfolio centered on strengthening the agencies that create jobs and career pathways for blind workers.
Workforce development is the clearest thread in the portfolio. National Industries for the Blind gave $50,000 to Tarrant County Association for the Blind in Fort Worth, Texas, for productivity, training, and compensation, and $49,132 to IFB Solutions in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for the same purpose. Compliance support is another recurring use of funds. In 2024, the foundation awarded $40,000 to the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind in Chicago for productivity, training, and compliance, and $37,250 to San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind in San Antonio for the same general work. The file also shows targeted support for data and management systems. VisionServe Alliance in St. Louis received $50,000 in 2025 for a big data project, while Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Cincinnati received $33,164 in 2025 for productivity, training, compliance, and mentoring.
Grant sizes cluster in the middle range, with a p25 of $15,054, a median of $30,000, and a p75 of $40,000. The record also includes a much larger pair of awards to NSITE, which stands apart from the rest of the distribution. Most grants go to associated nonprofit agencies rather than individuals, and the pattern shows repeat support across years: Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Industries of the Blind, IFB Solutions, Beyond Vision, and others appear more than once. The grant programs listed on the foundation’s site include unsolicited opportunities for entrepreneurial initiatives, Cisco Academy training, sponsorships, and the Public Policy Forum, alongside restricted opportunities for associated agencies.
$418K
$102.2M
$40M
$36M
Most grants fall between $15K and $40K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$40K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in TX.
SORAYA CORREA
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Giving is national, and all recorded recent grants went to U.S. recipients. The highest concentration by state is in New York, even though only 5% of grants went to recipients in Virginia, the headquarters state. Recent recipients are spread across multiple regions, including Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Seattle, Utica, and St. Louis. The geography suggests a network of blind-serving agencies rather than a single regional focus.
The recent grants go mainly to nonprofit agencies serving people who are blind, especially associated agencies and workforce-focused organizations. Examples in the record include agencies in Utica, Greensboro, Cincinnati, Dallas, Seattle, and St. Louis, with awards tied to training, productivity, compliance, mentoring, and data projects.
Typical awards are fairly concentrated around $30,000 to $40,000. The file gives a p25 of $15,054, a median of $30,000, and a p75 of $40,000, which shows a middle band of grantmaking with some larger outliers.
No. The recipient country distribution shows 58 grants, all of them in the United States.
Yes, for some programs. The Entrepreneurial Initiatives, Cisco Academy, Sponsorship Opportunities, and NIB/NAEPB Public Policy Forum listings accept unsolicited requests, while the Grants and Incentives Program for associated agencies directs eligible agencies to the NIB Bulletin Board for application details.
The listed focus areas center on employment and workforce development for people who are blind, manufacturing and services through SKILCRAFT and AbilityOne, accessible technology and Section 508 assurance, training through NSITE, veterans and military spouses employment programs, and advocacy and public policy.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIONSERVE ALLIANCE | ST LOUIS, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | BIG DATA PROJECT |
| CINCINNATI ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | CINCINNATI, OH | $33,164 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, COMPLIANCE AND MENTORING |
| LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, AND COMPLIANCE |
| CENTRAL ASSOC FT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | UTICA, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| INDUSTRIES OF THE BLIND INC | GREENSBORO, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| IFB SOLUTIONS | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| GEORGIA INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND | BAINBRIDGE, GA | $30,000 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, AND COMPLIANCE |
| INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND INC | WEST ALLIS, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, AND COMPLIANCE |
| BEYOND VISION | WEST ALLIS, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| GOODWILL VISION ENTERPRISES | ROCHESTER, NY | $21,503 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, AND COMPLIANCE |
| BEYOND VISION AIB INC | WEST ALLIS, WI | $15,419 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND INC | SEATTLE, WA | $15,125 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| WEST TEXAS LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND | SAN ANGELO, TX | $13,240 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| OUTLOOK-NEBRASKA INC | OMAHA, NE | $11,836 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| NORTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND AT ALBANY INC | ALBANY, NY | $9,760 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| BEACON LIGHTHOUSE INC | WICHITA FALLS, TX | $7,846 | 2025 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| CORE CAREER DBA NSITE | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $396,719 | 2024 | TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT |
| CINCINNATI INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | CINCINNATI, OH | $40,000 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| CENTRAL ASSOC FT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | UTICA, NY | $40,000 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| IFB SOLUTIONS | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $40,000 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| ENVISION DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $40,000 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| INDUSTRIES OF THE BLIND INC | GREENSBORO, NC | $40,000 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| LIONS VOLUNTEER BLIND INDUSTRIES INC | MORRISTOWN, TN | $38,836 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| NEWVIEW OKLAHOMA INC | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $37,563 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| SAN ANTONIO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $37,250 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND | CHICAGO, IL | $36,795 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND INC | SEATTLE, WA | $35,125 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| WEST TEXAS LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND | SAN ANGELO, TX | $34,985 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| BEYOND VISION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $32,001 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| MISSISSIPPI INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND INC | JACKSON, MS | $31,750 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| KEYSTONE VOCATIONAL SERVICES INC | HERMITAGE, PA | $23,426 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| GOODWILL OF THE FINGER LAKES | ROCHESTER, NY | $15,031 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| BESTWORK INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND INC | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $14,000 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| LIONS INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND | KINSTON, NC | $13,931 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND INC | SEATTLE, WA | $11,070 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| ASSOCIATION FOR VISION REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT | BINGHAMTON, NY | $10,436 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| SOUTH TEXAS LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND | CORPUS CHRISTIE, TX | $9,600 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| BEACON LIGHTHOUSE INC | WICHITA FALLS, TX | $6,113 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| LIONS SERVICES INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $5,978 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| BLIND INDUSTRIES & SERVICES OF MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,500 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,137 | 2024 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE |
| CORE CAREER DBA NSITE | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $603,281 | 2023 | TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT |
| ENVISION DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $50,000 | 2023 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION |
| THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND INC | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2023 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION |
| INDUSTRIES OF THE BLIND INC | GREENSBORO, NC | $50,000 | 2023 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION |
| TARRANT COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2023 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION |
| IFB SOLUTIONS | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $49,132 | 2023 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION |
| NEWVIEW OKLAHOMA INC | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $47,200 | 2023 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION |
| CENTRAL ASSOC FT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | UTICA, NY | $43,528 | 2023 | PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION |
VISIONSERVE ALLIANCE
$50,000BIG DATA PROJECT
PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, COMPLIANCE AND MENTORING
PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, AND COMPLIANCE
CENTRAL ASSOC FT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
$30,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$30,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
INDUSTRIES OF THE BLIND INC
PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
GEORGIA INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND
$30,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, AND COMPLIANCE
INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND INC
$30,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING, AND COMPLIANCE
BEYOND VISION AIB INC
$15,419PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
WEST TEXAS LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$13,240PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
OUTLOOK-NEBRASKA INC
$11,836PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
NORTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND AT ALBANY INC
$9,760PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
BEACON LIGHTHOUSE INC
$7,846PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
CORE CAREER DBA NSITE
$396,719TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
CENTRAL ASSOC FT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
$40,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
ENVISION DALLAS
$40,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
INDUSTRIES OF THE BLIND INC
$40,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
LIONS VOLUNTEER BLIND INDUSTRIES INC
$38,836PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
SAN ANTONIO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$37,250PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$36,795PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
WEST TEXAS LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$34,985PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
MISSISSIPPI INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND INC
$31,750PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
KEYSTONE VOCATIONAL SERVICES INC
$23,426PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
BESTWORK INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND INC
$14,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
LIONS INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND
$13,931PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
ASSOCIATION FOR VISION REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT
$10,436PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
SOUTH TEXAS LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$9,600PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
BEACON LIGHTHOUSE INC
$6,113PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
LIONS SERVICES INC
$5,978PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
BLIND INDUSTRIES & SERVICES OF MARYLAND
$5,500PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND INC
$5,137PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
CORE CAREER DBA NSITE
$603,281TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
ENVISION DALLAS
$50,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION
INDUSTRIES OF THE BLIND INC
$50,000PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION
PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION
CENTRAL ASSOC FT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
$43,528PRODUCTIVITY, TRAINING AND COMPENSATION