About National Industries for the Blind
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.
Focus Areas
Employment and workforce development for people who are blindManufacturing and services (SKILCRAFT)Accessible technology and Section 508 assuranceTraining and talent management (NSITE)Veterans and military spouses employment programsAdvocacy and public policy
Who They Fund
workforce / employeesorganizational staff (training participants)small business owners / entrepreneursprogram managers implementing training
About National Industries for the Blind
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.
What National Industries for the Blind Funds
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.
How National Industries for the Blind Gives
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.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$418K
Total Assets
$102.2M
Total Revenue
$40M
Total Expenses
$36M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $40K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$40K
Geographic Reach
National18 states funded
About 5% of grants go to recipients in TX.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
SORAYA CORREA
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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