Foundations of all sizes and Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) help Braille Institute positively transform the lives of people with visual impairments. Through your support, our services stay free for people of all ages with no or low vision.
The Impact
We need to meet people where they are and find effective and creative ways to address the unique needs of individuals with low vision and blindness from educational, to economic and social.
What We Offer…
Online, in-person, and in-home services through our seven centers in Southern California
International programs that benefit young people with visual impairments all around the world
Impactful societal solutions, like the expansion of our Low Vision Rehabilitation program, and our innovative Library Services
All our services are FREE and no one is turned away due to financial constraints
Case for Support
The need for our services has never been greater. By 2030, about 20% of the U.S. population will be over the age of 65 and the influx of people dealing with age-related visual impairment will be extreme. Foundations and DAFs will play a vital role in helping us meet this growing need.
Through our Mission Magnified strategic plan, Braille Institute will serve 10 times as many people—200,000 per year—by 2030.
To change the outlook for those with visual impairment, we are focusing on four areas:
1. Low Vision Services—To engage with more people who are experiencing vision loss—but will never need to learn braille—we are enriching our low vision services and hiring more Low Vision Specialists to fortify the communities we currently serve and expand to new regions that lack these vital services.
2. Virtual Services—Taking advantage of opportunities in the digital space, we are introducing new virtual education offerings and investing in technology and professional staff to share our life-changing services with a wider audience.
3. Place-based Commitments—We are reaffirming our commitment to communities we’ve long-served. We are growing our services in Coachella Valley with a new center in Rancho Mirage featuring facilities that will foster more engagement and build community. And we are improving our existing facilities and building place-based partnerships at all seven of our Southern California centers.
4. Literacy for All—For decades, the Braille Institute library has been a game changer for thousands of Southern California patrons with visual impairment. New classes, content, and activities are being developed to help people navigate the digital world, to connect with the growing number of Spanish-speaking patrons, and to advance literacy for children and youth with blindness or low vision.
Snapshot on Partnership – Disability Funders Forums
Disability inclusion only receives about 5% of philanthropic support in the U.S today. Noting the gap in resources and investment that Braille Institute and many of our peer organizations face in comparison with other issue areas and considering the growing needs faced by aging Americans, we decided to host quarterly “meet the funder” events to foster dialogue and support a coordinated movement in service and philanthropy. Through partnerships with local fundraising and grantmaking collaboratives, we convene funders and service providers across a wide spectrum of disability-focused areas, facilitate panel discussions, and offer opportunities to share stories about our missions and impact, with the hope a rising tide will lift all our ships.
Contact Naaman Cordova to sponsor or participate in our next Disability Funders Forum.
2026 Foundation Partners
Arnold & Kay Clejan Charitable Foundation
Callie D. McGrath Foundation
David S & Violet Evelyn Alberts Charitable Foundation
Don & Lorraine Freeberg Foundation
Fritz B. Burns Foundation
Gainey Foundation
Hermann Foundation
LL Foundation for Youth
Meta & George Rosenberg Foundation
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
The Rose Hills Foundation
The Walter J. & Holly O. Thomson Charitable Foundation
Beacons
AS&F Foundation
Don & Lorraine Freeberg Foundation
Henry L. Guenther Foundation
Luminaries
The Ahmanson Foundation
H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation
Johnny Mercer Foundation
Sidney Stern Memorial Trust
Weingart Foundation
William & Margaret Fern Holmes Family Foundation
W.M. Keck Foundation
Champions
Ann Peppers Foundation
George Hoag Family Foundation
The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation
The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation
Guardians
Branna and Irv Sisenwein Charitable Foundation
City of Laguna Woods
Fletcher Jones Foundation
Frank & Joseph Gila Fund
George Hoag Family Foundation
Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation
Henry and Virginia Braun Foundation
I.N. & Susanna H. Van Nuys Foundation
Kresge Foundation
LCI Foundation
Lon V. Smith Foundation
Marisa Martini Private Foundation
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation
Walter Lantz Foundation
Wood-Claeyssens Foundation
Leaders
Atkinson Family Foundation
B.C. McCabe Foundation
Boand Family Foundation
Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation
Dan Murphy Foundation
Delta Gamma Foundation
Dorothy Trask Clune Murray Foundation
Florence R. Devine Fund
Georges & Germaine Fusenot Charity Foundation
Goldbaum Charitable Foundation
Harry and Grace Steele Foundation
Hollywood Park Racing Charities, Inc.
I.N. & Susanna H. Van Nuys Foundation
John C. Hench Foundation
Josephine Herbert Gleis Foundation
Ken Soubry Foundation
Lee Graff Foundation
Mark H. and Blanche M. Harrington Foundation
Mericos Foundation
Milo W. Bekins Foundation
O.L. Halsell Foundation
Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts
Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation
Patron Saints Foundation
Philip Hohnstein Family Foundation
Rupert L. Keesler & Raymond M. Chavez Fund
Security Pacific Foundation
The California Endowment
The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation
The Hearst Foundations
The Henry E. & Lola Monroe Foundation
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation
The Irvine and Irma Robbins Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation
The Ruth Lane Charitable Foundation
Ullman Foundation
Union Pacific Foundation
