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    5. Foundation Fighting Blindness
    Foundation Fighting Blindness logo

    Foundation Fighting Blindness

    ActivePublic CharityMedical Research
    COLUMBIA, MDWebsite

    About Foundation Fighting Blindness

    Drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

    Focus Areas

    Retinitis pigmentosaAge-related macular degenerationUsher syndromeStargardt diseaseLeber congenital amaurosisInherited retinal degenerative diseasesTranslational researchGene and cell therapies

    Who They Fund

    individuals living with vision loss / low visionpatients with inherited retinal diseasesolder adults at risk for age-related macular degenerationfamilies and caregivers seeking education and resources

    About Foundation Fighting Blindness

    The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc concentrates its funding on research for inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degeneration, with a recent pattern that includes both very large core support and recurring university-based projects. Its largest recent grant in the provided data is $14,920,274 to its own Foundation Fighting Blindness Rd Fund in Columbia, Maryland, followed by $8,771,404 in 2025 and $8,307,442 in 2024 to the same recipient. Beyond that internal research fund, the foundation has backed major academic and clinical research centers, including $1,398,985 to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and $1,042,192 to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. The grant list shows a research portfolio centered on translational and clinical work rather than direct services, aligning with its stated goal of driving prevention, treatment, and cure research for retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and related retinal degenerative diseases. Recent grants also reach specialized research organizations and university labs working on gene-, cell-, and model-based approaches.

    What Foundation Fighting Blindness Funds

    The foundation supports a mix of disease-specific and platform research. In age-related macular degeneration, it gave $896,691 to Columbia University for ARMS2/HTRA1 work, a project tied to AMD genetics and pathophysiology. In translational therapeutic development, it awarded $868,961 to Odylia Therapeutics, and a second grant of $631,039 to the same organization in 2025, showing sustained support for a research performer across years. It also funds clinical and laboratory research infrastructure: Duke University Medical Center received $900,000 in 2025 and $700,000 in 2024, while the University of Washington received $1,023,689 in 2023 and $611,811 in 2024. These awards fit a program set that includes basic research, early translational work, clinical studies, and pre-clinical research.

    How Foundation Fighting Blindness Gives

    Typical grants are substantial: the provided distribution shows a p25 of $100,000, a median of $232,954, and a p75 of $499,985. The recent list also shows repeated funding to the same recipients across multiple years, including the Foundation Fighting Blindness Rd Fund, Duke University Medical Center, Oregon Health and Science University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, and Baylor College of Medicine. The foundation is a public charity and a regular funder, not a DAF or a program-related-investment vehicle. Several active programs accept unsolicited proposals, including the Scientific Grants and Awards Programs, the PRPH2 and Associated Retinal Diseases Science Award, the Clinical/Research Fellowship Award, and the Postdoctoral Fellowship Award.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $19.7M

    Total Assets

    $110.9M

    Total Revenue

    $36.6M

    Total Expenses

    $49.5M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $100K and $500K, with a median of $233K.

    25th Percentile

    $100K

    Median

    $233K

    75th Percentile

    $500K

    Geographic Reach

    National21 states funded

    About 8% of grants go to recipients in CA.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

    Deep Analysis

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    © 2026 Kindora. All rights reserved.

    Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSystem Status
    EIN (Tax ID): 23-7135845
    Latest Form 990: 2025
    Total assets: $110.9M
    3 filings on record
    Find their full 990 filing →
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    vision research community and clinician-researchers (grant recipients)

    Funding Style

    translational research fundingclinical trials supportgenetic testing and registry investmentpatient education and advocacy funding

    Topics

    inherited retinal diseasesretinitis pigmentosaLeber congenital amaurosis (LCA)Stargardt diseaseage-related macular degenerationclinical trials and translational researchgenetic testing and patient registries

    Where Foundation Fighting Blindness Makes Grants

    Giving is national, and all listed recent grants go to U.S. recipients. California appears most often by grant count, while Maryland receives 9% of grants. Recent awards land in research hubs such as Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, Irvine, Durham, New York, Atlanta, Boston, La Jolla, Cleveland, and Houston. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the provided data, with 96 grants in the United States.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Fighting Blindness

    What kinds of research does The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc fund?

    Its active programs cover basic research, early translational research, clinical studies, pre-clinical research, and collaborative program projects. The stated disease areas include inherited retinal degenerative diseases, dry age-related macular degeneration, PRPH2-associated retinal diseases, and retinal disease training and infrastructure support.

    Does the foundation accept unsolicited applications?

    Yes for several programs. The Scientific Grants and Awards Programs, the PRPH2 and Associated Retinal Diseases Science Award, the Clinical/Research Fellowship Award, and the Postdoctoral Fellowship Award all accept unsolicited proposals in the provided data.

    What is a typical grant size?

    The typical grant-size distribution is p25 $100,000, median $232,954, and p75 $499,985. Some programs sit well above that range, including awards up to $1,050,165 in the Scientific Grants and Awards Programs and up to $1,000,000 in disease model and research core awards.

    Do recipients receive funding more than once?

    Yes. The recent grants list includes repeat awards to several institutions across multiple years, such as the Foundation Fighting Blindness Rd Fund, Duke University Medical Center, Oregon Health and Science University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, and Baylor College of Medicine.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from Foundation Fighting Blindness that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Opening soonCloses Oct 22, 2026Award: $500K – $1.1M

    Brint Family Translational Research Awards (Translational Research Acceleration Program)

    translational researchinherited retinal degenerative diseasesdry age-related macular degeneration

    Who can apply: Competitive research proposal aligned with Foundation mission and research priority areas.

    Deadline: LOI deadline: 6/18/2026; application deadline: 10/22/2026.

    View & apply

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RD FUNDCOLUMBIA, MD$8,771,4042025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAPHILADELPHIA, PA$1,398,9852025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINEIRVINE, CA$914,6672025RESEARCH
    DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTERDURHAM, NC$900,0002025RESEARCH
    ODYLIA THERAPEUTICSATLANTA, GA$631,0392025RESEARCH
    FORDHAM UNIVERITYBRONX, NY$539,1412025RESEARCH
    CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITYCLEVELAND, OH$500,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONSEATTLE, WA$474,2352025RESEARCH
    OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITYPORTLAND, OR$460,8692025RESEARCH
    HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOLBOSTON, MA$402,2232025RESEARCH
    MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARYBOSTON, MA$396,6672025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHPITTSBURGH, PA$375,0002025RESEARCH
    MITOCHEM THERAPEUTICS INCCHARLESTON, SC$300,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARASANTA BARBARA, CA$300,0002025RESEARCH
    NEW YORK STEM CELL FOUNDATIONNEW YORK, NY$296,1502025RESEARCH
    MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITYEAST LANSING, MI$267,4062025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANANN ARBOR, MI$250,0002025RESEARCH
    COLUMBIA UNIVERSITYNEW YORK, NY$200,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS HEALTHDAVIS, CA$200,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSINMADISON, WI$200,0002025RESEARCH
    TUFTS UNIVERSITYBOSTON, MA$199,9992025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITALSDETROIT, MI$178,6412025RESEARCH
    INDIANA UNIVERSITYBLOOMINGTON, IN$169,2572025RESEARCH
    JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITYBALTIMORE, MD$166,4542025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTONHOUSTON, TX$160,4002025RESEARCH
    OAKLAND UNIVERSITYROCHESTER, MI$140,2552025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURICOLUMBIA, MO$119,9552025RESEARCH
    UNIV ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAMBIRMINGHAM, AL$100,0002025RESEARCH
    MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSINMILWAUKEE, WI$100,0002025RESEARCH
    RETINA FOUNDATION OF THE SOUTHWESTDALLAS, TX$100,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARENEWARK, DE$100,0002025RESEARCH
    OHIO STATE UNIVERSITYCOLUMBUS, OH$75,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGOLA JOLLA, CA$75,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-CHICAGOCHICAGO, IL$75,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF MEDICINECHAPEL HILL, NC$50,0002025RESEARCH
    FOUNDATION FOR THE NIHNORTH BETHESDA, MD$25,0002025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTONHOUSTON, TX$24,9982025RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDAGAINESVILLE, FL$24,5652025RESEARCH
    FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RD FUNDCOLUMBIA, MD$8,307,4422024RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAPHILADELPHIA, PA$1,093,5652024RESEARCH
    ODYLIA THERAPEUTICSATLANTA, GA$868,9612024RESEARCH
    DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTERDURHAM, NC$700,0002024RESEARCH
    OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITYPORTLAND, OR$622,1072024RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONSEATTLE, WA$611,8112024RESEARCH
    CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITYCLEVELAND, OH$500,0002024RESEARCH
    BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINEHOUSTON, TX$499,9402024RESEARCH
    BIOJIVALOS ATLOS, CA$483,7512024RESEARCH
    HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOLBOSTON, MA$402,2232024RESEARCH
    COLUMBIA UNIVERSITYNEW YORK, NY$400,0002024RESEARCH
    UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHPITTSBURGH, PA$375,0002024RESEARCH

    FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RD FUND

    $8,771,404
    COLUMBIA, MD2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

    $1,398,985
    PHILADELPHIA, PA2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE

    $914,667
    IRVINE, CA2025

    RESEARCH

    DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

    $900,000
    DURHAM, NC2025

    RESEARCH

    ODYLIA THERAPEUTICS

    $631,039
    ATLANTA, GA2025

    RESEARCH

    FORDHAM UNIVERITY

    $539,141
    BRONX, NY2025

    RESEARCH

    CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

    $500,000
    CLEVELAND, OH2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

    $474,235
    SEATTLE, WA2025

    RESEARCH

    OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

    $460,869
    PORTLAND, OR2025

    RESEARCH

    HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

    $402,223
    BOSTON, MA2025

    RESEARCH

    MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY

    $396,667
    BOSTON, MA2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

    $375,000
    PITTSBURGH, PA2025

    RESEARCH

    MITOCHEM THERAPEUTICS INC

    $300,000
    CHARLESTON, SC2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA

    $300,000
    SANTA BARBARA, CA2025

    RESEARCH

    NEW YORK STEM CELL FOUNDATION

    $296,150
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    RESEARCH

    MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

    $267,406
    EAST LANSING, MI2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

    $250,000
    ANN ARBOR, MI2025

    RESEARCH

    COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

    $200,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS HEALTH

    $200,000
    DAVIS, CA2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

    $200,000
    MADISON, WI2025

    RESEARCH

    TUFTS UNIVERSITY

    $199,999
    BOSTON, MA2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

    $178,641
    DETROIT, MI2025

    RESEARCH

    INDIANA UNIVERSITY

    $169,257
    BLOOMINGTON, IN2025

    RESEARCH

    JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

    $166,454
    BALTIMORE, MD2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

    $160,400
    HOUSTON, TX2025

    RESEARCH

    OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

    $140,255
    ROCHESTER, MI2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

    $119,955
    COLUMBIA, MO2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIV ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM

    $100,000
    BIRMINGHAM, AL2025

    RESEARCH

    MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN

    $100,000
    MILWAUKEE, WI2025

    RESEARCH

    RETINA FOUNDATION OF THE SOUTHWEST

    $100,000
    DALLAS, TX2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

    $100,000
    NEWARK, DE2025

    RESEARCH

    OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

    $75,000
    COLUMBUS, OH2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO

    $75,000
    LA JOLLA, CA2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-CHICAGO

    $75,000
    CHICAGO, IL2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

    $50,000
    CHAPEL HILL, NC2025

    RESEARCH

    FOUNDATION FOR THE NIH

    $25,000
    NORTH BETHESDA, MD2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON

    $24,998
    HOUSTON, TX2025

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

    $24,565
    GAINESVILLE, FL2025

    RESEARCH

    FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RD FUND

    $8,307,442
    COLUMBIA, MD2024

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

    $1,093,565
    PHILADELPHIA, PA2024

    RESEARCH

    ODYLIA THERAPEUTICS

    $868,961
    ATLANTA, GA2024

    RESEARCH

    DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

    $700,000
    DURHAM, NC2024

    RESEARCH

    OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

    $622,107
    PORTLAND, OR2024

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

    $611,811
    SEATTLE, WA2024

    RESEARCH

    CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

    $500,000
    CLEVELAND, OH2024

    RESEARCH

    BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

    $499,940
    HOUSTON, TX2024

    RESEARCH

    BIOJIVA

    $483,751
    LOS ATLOS, CA2024

    RESEARCH

    HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

    $402,223
    BOSTON, MA2024

    RESEARCH

    COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

    $400,000
    NEW YORK, NY2024

    RESEARCH

    UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

    $375,000
    PITTSBURGH, PA2024

    RESEARCH