10 Best Charities for the Blind (Complete 2024 List)

10 Best Charities for the Blind (Complete 2024 List)

By
Carla Shaik

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Over 7 million adults in the US have a visual disability – with more than 60,000 of these being school-age children. Facing discrimination at school and in the workplace, blind individuals often don’t have the means to gain education and employment. Preventing them from ultimately living active and independent lives. Many charities are working to change this narrative, however. So we had to ask: What are the best charities for the blind?

The best charities that support blind people include the Seva Foundation, Helen Keller International, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and the National Federation of the Blind. Together, these charities advocate for better policies and provide vital resources (like canes or guide dogs) for the blind.

Whether you want to support the education of blind children, provide guide dogs for blind adults, or help improve laws relating to visual disabilities, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities for the blind are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities for the Blind Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact and transparency ratings, and achievements.

From children’s schools to national organizations, they help blind individuals in their own ways.

Their exemplary charity scores indicate their high impact and accountability, as well. 

Yet, they all seek to advance the lives of blind people, allowing them to be more self-sufficient and expand beyond the limits of their disability. 

These Are the 10 Best Charities for the Blind in 2024

Below are our favorite charities for the blind (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

1

Seva Foundation: Providing Worldwide and Accessible Eyecare

Logo for Seva Foundation
Seva.org: One-Minute Overview

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Their transparency & ratings:

The Seva Foundation has a 93% overall rating on Charity Navigator, including a 91% score in financials and a 97% score in accountability and transparency. On GuideStar, the organization received a platinum seal of transparency. 

Transforming lives by restoring sight.

Seva Foundation

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What they do:

The Seva Foundation is devoted to providing glasses, surgeries, and medical treatments to help people regain their sight or improve it significantly. They also start vision centers around the world to increase the accessibility of eyecare. In addition, they train workers and create jobs for people in their clinics, which helps the clinic as well as the economy of the community they’re in. 

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What they’ve achieved:

The Seva Foundation has provided eye care to 44 million people in over 20 countries, including surgeries and medicine. They also have restored the sight of 5 million people, and their current annual impact has increased to help 1 million. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Seva Foundation online through their website. You can also purchase items from their store, and the proceeds go directly to the organization. They also have a variety of volunteer opportunities for you to get involved with, such as volunteering at one of their events or becoming an intern. 

2

Helen Keller International: Working Across the World to Heal Blindness

Logo for Helen keller international
Continuing Helen Keller’s extraordinary work

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Their transparency & ratings:

Helen Keller International has an 89% overall rating on Charity Navigator, including a 97% rating in accountability and transparency. On GuideStar, they have received a platinum seal of transparency. 

Fighting and treating preventable blindness.

Helen Keller International

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What they do:

Helen Keller International works to prevent curable diseases that commonly cause blindness, such as trachoma and river blindness. They also help manage diabetes symptoms, which is another common cause of blindness. The organization also performs cataract surgeries in countries that can’t access them. In addition, they provide quality education services to blind children across the globe. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Since 1994, Helen Keller International has performed vision screenings on 2 million children and given out 300,000 pairs of prescription glasses in the United States. In France, they screen at least 1000 children each year and provide up to 150 children with free glasses. They also started a vitamin A supplementation program in Bangladesh to eliminate vitamin A deficiencies in the region, a common cause of childhood blindness. From 1982 to 2005, they decreased the blindness rate from 3.76% to 0.04% among children. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Helen Keller International through their website. You can also give a gift to one of their specific programs and get a customizable ecard to send to your loved ones.

3

Foundation Fighting Blindness: Researching Vision Restoration and Blindness Prevention

Logo for Foundation Fighting Blindness
Foundation Fighting Blindness

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Their transparency & ratings:

On Charity Navigator, Foundation Fighting Blindness has a 3 star rating and 85% overall score. On GuideStar, they have received a platinum seal of transparency. 

Driving research to save and restore sight.

Foundation Fighting Blindness

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What they do:

Foundation Fighting Blindness primarily focuses on their mission of funding research into treatments and practices that could prevent or end blindness. They fund research projects all over the world, including Australia, Italy, Mexico, and more. They also fund research studies at specific well-recognized institutions, such as the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, part of Harvard Medical School.

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What they’ve achieved:

So far, Foundation Fighting Blindness has raised $816 million in research to prevent sight loss and restore sight in blind individuals. In 2020 alone, they devoted $6.5 million to fund 15 new research projects, including gene-editing treatments and retinal regeneration therapy. They also provide over $21 million in grants each year to support blindness-related research organizations. 

Ways to contribute:

You can directly donate to the Foundation Fighting Blindness online. Or you can also start up a Facebook fundraiser to raise money for the organization. They also have a store where you can buy merchandise, proceeds of which go directly to the charity.

4

Lions Club International: Changing the World Through the Power of Service and Generosity

Logo for Lions Club International
Bringing Possibilities to Life | LCIF and Lions Create Impactful Stories of Kindness

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Their transparency & ratings:

Lions Club International holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Bronze Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“Being a Lion is about leading by example, building relationships and improving the world through kindness.”

Lions Club International

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What they do:

Lions Club International serves and advocates for the blind and the visually impaired. For example, through their SightFirst Project, they offer grants to provide vulnerable communities with modern medical equipment and facilitate medical professional training to improve hospital eye departments. They also fund the construction of new eye clinics and innovative eye test clinics in remote areas. For example, in Thane, Mumbai, Lions Club volunteers are working to increase the capacity of Bhakti Vedanta Hospital (BVH) to perform more cataract surgeries, in response to an increased demand for their services. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Today, Lions Club International is a network of 1.4 million volunteers across 50,000 clubs in over 200 countries, working to improve people’s lives, including those with vision impairments. For example, in 2022, they helped more than 530 million people worldwide and awarded 1,250 grants, totaling over $35.3 million. In the same year, they purchased advanced eye equipment to support the eye health of over 15,000 children across Turkey. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to Lions Club International through their website. You can also support the charity through Planned Giving or by joining a Lion Club near you as a volunteer.

5

National Federation of the Blind: Largest National Organization for the Blind in the US

Logo for National Federation of the Blind
Thank You

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Their transparency & ratings:

The National Federation of the Blind has a 90% rating on Charity Navigator, including a 97% accountability and transparency rating. They also have a GuideStar gold seal of transparency for their commitment to being open and honest about the inner workings of their organization.

To serve as a means for blind people to come together to work collectively to improve our lives.

National Federation of the Blind

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What they do:

The National Federation of the Blind has many programs and services including a free white cane program, which allows blind people to have increased navigational abilities. They also advocate for disability rights and frequently defend the rights of blind people through legal battles and lawsuits.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

The National Federation of the Blind has established three adult training centers across the US, which together have helped hundreds of blind adults to lead independent lives. They have also provided 64,000 free white canes to blind individuals since 2008. In addition, they’ve also carried out strong advocacy efforts in blindness discrimination cases, such as their $150,000 settlement with Nash General Hospital for its failure to provide blind-accessible medical documents. In addition, they have taken over Braille Transcriber Certification from the Library of Congress and have worked to influence state training programs for the blind to require training in the use of the white can.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate online through their website. You can also donate stocks, clothing, or a vehicle if it suits you better than monetary donations. 

6

Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Lighting the Way to an Independent Future for Blind People

Logo for Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired 
What summer camp means to this blind teenager

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Their transparency & ratings:

Lighthouse for the Blind has a 4-out-of-4 star rating on Charity Navigator and a perfect 100% score in accountability and transparency. On GuideStar, they received the platinum seal of transparency, which is their highest honor. 

Independence for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

⚒️

What they do:

Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired aims to provide different services to improve the quality of life of blind people. These include teaching braille, personalized job training, STEM education, and more. They also team up with scientists and designers to improve and optimize technologies for the blind. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired have provided 1300 individuals with over 5000 tools to aid those with low vision or blindness through their adaptations store. They have logged 24,390 total program hours every year, including adult and senior programs, youth programs, and mobility services. Each year, they also provide three individuals with $25,000 grants to encourage them to explore new horizons and chart new territory to push past the limits of their disability. In addition, they have worked with large companies such as Google, Amazon, McGraw Hill Education, and more to improve technology accessibility for the blind. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired through their website, which gives a variety of payment options, including one-time, weekly, monthly, and more to suit your needs. You can also sign up to volunteer on a regular basis or at one of their regular events.

7

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Convenient Online Education Resources for Blind People

Logo for Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired
The Inspiring Story of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind

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Their transparency & ratings:

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired has an 88% overall rating on Charity Navigator, including a 97% score in accountability and transparency. On GuideStar, the organization received a platinum award for transparency.

When vision fades, Hadley shines for you.

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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What they do:

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired primarily provides educational resources for blind individuals and those suffering from vision loss. These include teaching daily living skills, reading braille, working, and more. They also provide an emotional support network, understanding the toll that vision loss plays on a person’s mental state.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers (virtual) workshops that reach all across the US and to 100 countries around the world. Currently, over 14,000 learners access their nearly 60,000 free educational workshops every year. This means that each learner has accessed about 4 workshops each. Overall, they have achieved an impressive 97% satisfaction rate from the learners who have taken their courses.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired through their website. You can also sign up for their volunteer opportunities.

8

JBI International: Providing Blind-Accessible Reading and Resources

Logo for JBI International
JBI International

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Their transparency & ratings:

JBI International has an 88% rating on Charity Navigator, including a 97% rating in accountability and transparency. On GuideStar, the organization received a silver seal of transparency.

“Providing Jewish interest books for the blind and visually impaired.”

JBI International

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What they do:

JBI International mainly focuses on providing books in a variety of different formats – audio, braille, and large print – to blind and other individuals who don’t have easy access to reading materials. They also operate a JBI Low Vision clinic in Israel, which is dedicated to screening and treating those with vision issues, including children and senior adults. They also offer summer retreats for blind children in Russia. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

JBI Library currently has the largest collection of Jewish interest books in the world, including 13,000 Talking Books. In 2019 alone, they distributed 16,000 Talking Books and 19,000 periodicals and cultural programs. They also have 4,250 digital books in their collection and are still working to convert more physical books to digital ones. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to JBI International through their website. You can also sign up to volunteer in a variety of different positions, such as narrating Talking Books (audio books available in physical and digital copies) and producing computerized braille. You can also name a Talking Book in honor of a loved one or special occasion, proceeds of which go directly to bringing Talking Books to blind people. 

9

Blinded Veterans Association: By Blind Veterans, For Blind Veterans

Logo for Blinded Veterans Association
Blinded Veterans Association

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Their transparency & ratings:

Blinded Veterans Association has a 67% rating on Charity Navigator, a rating that is primarily due to the fact that they spend around ⅓ of funds on fundraising efforts. However, with those fundraising efforts they achieve a perfect 100% score in impact and results – arguably the most important part. On GuideStar, the organization has received a platinum seal of transparency.

Serves as ambassadors and mentors for all veterans and their families coping with sight loss.

Blinded Veterans Association

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What they do:

Blinded Veterans Association is focused on providing services to help blinded veterans adjust to life without sight. They also provide emotional support and mentorship to blinded veterans and their families to help them cope with sight loss. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Blinded Veterans Association is the only congressional chartered organization devoted specifically to helping blind veterans. Their advocacy efforts led to blind veterans being eligible for Specially Adapted Housing grants and increased the grant amount to $98,640, which gives them funding for accessibility-related home modifications. They also partnered with medical organizations to increase funding for the Vision Research Program, allowing them to fund 198 research papers researching combat-induced blindness.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Blinded Veterans Association directly via PayPal. You can also designate them as your charity of choice on Round Up, an app that automatically rounds up your bill to the nearest dollar and donates the spare change.

10

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind: Providing Seeing Eyes for Blind People

Logo for Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
Who is the Guide Dog Foundation?

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Their transparency & ratings:

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind has a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator, including a 97% score in accountability and transparency. GuideStar gave the organization a platinum seal for transparency.

Improving the quality of life for people who are blind.

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind

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What they do:

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind seeks to train and place guide dogs with blind people throughout the US and Canada. Each year, Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind adds hundreds of new puppies to their program in hopes of becoming future guide dogs. They provide personalized guide dog training for each individual they serve. They also are quite prominent in advocacy and promote education for public understanding, as well as advancing disability and accessibility rights.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Every year, Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind provides hundreds of blind people with trained guide dogs for free. Annually they invest more than $5 million in dog training for the blind, where they add over 400 puppies into their puppy program, about 125 of which will go into their breeding program. Overall, 165 puppies will go through their  3-6 month training each year, in order to become guide dogs for blind people. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate directly to Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind online. You can also start a fundraising event online, including a virtual bake sale or puppy sponsorship campaign. You can also purchase a variety of items from their shop either as gifts or for yourself, where over 50% of the proceeds go to the organization.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities for the blind. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

  • Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarise yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
  • Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
  • Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
  • Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing the progress a charity makes in reaching its targets, the chances are not making positive change.
  • Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
  • Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

  • Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
  • Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
  • Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
  • Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
  • Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is just up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to the blind – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

The way we think about charity is dead wrong | Dan Pallotta

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