Most charities have multiple ways to donate: one-time donation, regular donation, purchasing their products, set up a Facebook or online personal fundraiser, employer matching programs, gifts in memory of someone, leave a gift in your will, becoming a volunteer, donate goods.
Double check the information for the charity you are interested in. I might have missed some of the details especial in regarding ways to donate. Also, check to see if your donation is tax deductible. When buying products, you may have to deduct the value of the product.
Articles with Links to Charities
- The Ultimate List of Vision Charities for the Eyecare Industry
- Humanitarian Eye Care Organizations
- there are many more references, search for “low vision-related charities”.
Charities That We Monitor
- Macular Society
- supports people and research
- donate online, attending fundraisers, you can create a Facebook fundraiser,
- shop: they have cards and products including Christmas cards
- type of company: non-profit
- Blind Veterans UK
- supports veterans in the UK
- donate online (one time or monthly, attending fundraisers, you can create a Facebook fundraiser, by phone or post
- organize your own event
- type of company: non-profit charity
- Fight for Sight UK
- Shop: Christmas cards (PDF catalog)
- support people & research
- RNIB, RNIB Scotland
- supports people
- donate online, phone, post, you can create a Facebook fundraiser
- Shop: Christmas cards & gifts website. Also, they have a .pdf with these items.
- type of company: non-profit charity
- American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
- supports people
- donate online, phone, mail, Facebook fundraiser or online: Help Us Create a World of No Limits for People Who Are Blind
- type of company: 501(c)3
- Foundation Fighting Blindness(US)
- Facebook page and website
- supports people & research in many countries
- donate online ($ donation, donate in memory of, workplace donation & more), you can create a Facebook fundraiser
- also can set up a personal campaign page
- type of company: there are several divisions, one is a 501(c)(3) . You might want to check with them before you donate.
- Canada Foundation Fighting Blindness
- supports people & research
- donate by attending their fundraisers, host a fundraiser, online
- type of company: non-profit
- Macular Degeneration Partnership
- Facebook page & website
- supports people
- donate online, by mail, by phone
- type of company: 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
- Macular Degeneration Foundation of Australia
- Facebook page & website
- supports people & research
- Shop: purchase cookbook “Eating for Eye Health”
- donate online or by phone
- type of company: “Macular Disease Foundation Australia is endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a deductible gift recipient. You can view the Foundation’s page on the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission’s website.”
Charities Where You Can Set up a Facebook Fundraiser
They also have web pages and various other ways of making donations.
- Ireland NCBI – Working with People with Sight Loss
- Shop: they sell products including Christmas Cards
- They have 90 charity shops in Ireland
- Prevent Blindness
- Fighting Blindness Ireland
- Check events on Facebook for fundraising fairs & other events
- National Federation of the Blind (there are branches in many states)
- Guide Dogs Campaigns UK
- Shop: products including Christmas cards, Advent calendars, other Christmas items. You can request a catalog. They have a LOT of other products, too.
- Guiding Eyes for the Blind
- The Seeing Eye, Inc.
- Shop: they have an online store where you can get plush puppies, backpacks, clothing, car stickers, and more (not clear if any money from the products is tax-deductible)
- Art4Vision
- Macular Degeneration Research
- VisionAware
- American Council of the Blind
- Macular Society UK – more details above
- Blind Veterans UK – more details above
- RNIB, RNIB Scotland – more details above
- American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) – more details above
- Foundation Fighting Blindness(US) – more details above
Helping People with the Disease Continue to Write About Their Experiences
I don’t know if these would be tax-deductible.
- Shop: Stephanae McCoy of Bold Blind Beauty who has a website, blog and Facebook page: bags, t-shirts, mugs, posters
- Shop: Sam of The Blind Life who produces videos with reviews of low vision products including electronic devices and apps, helpful tips: t-shirts, Amazon products or you can use Paypal to send him a donation. I don’t know if that would be tax deductible.
** This is NOT complete. Can you help me add to this list? Send the information to me at light2sight5153@gmail.com or add it in the “Reply To” section of the page.