Southern Eye Bank Foundation

The Southern Eye Bank Foundation envisions a South Louisiana where all residents have access to quality eye care and vision services. The SEB Foundation aims to continue the work started last century by the Southern Eye Bank (SEB). We strive to build on SEB’s legacy to create a broader system of holistic services for the ophthalmic community for generations to come.

Grant Purpose

Grants will support organizations working in the Greater New Orleans Region. Occasionally, we also support programs that simultaneously benefit local and international communities.

Grants are available to organizations serving blind and vision impaired individuals and their families for programs related to the use of medical equipment, education, research, training, and eye care services.

Priority will be given to:

• Grantmaking for direct services including keratoconus reimbursement grants, and grants to organizations serving the blind and vision impaired
• Grantmaking for partnerships and collaborations and initiatives that spur connections to rehab services for the blind and vision impaired
• Grantmaking for training, education and health awareness including international partnerships for the benefit of the blind and vision impaired
• Grantmaking for capacity building for organizations serving the blind and vision impaired

• In some cases, general operating support is provided.

Actual grant amounts will vary according to the need expressed in the application and will range from $5,000 to $100,000.

Eligibility requirements

Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that serve within GNOF’s 13-parish service area are eligible to apply for funding. Organizations that are not tax-exempt but have a fiscal agent relationship with a 501(c)(3) organization are also eligible.

Grant requests will be judged based on:

• Clear objectives and measurable results
• Sound budgets, strong organization structure, successful track record, and the ability to leverage other supports
• The program’s ability to help transform the lives of blind and vision impaired individuals in the Greater New Orleans Region by:
  • Improved quality and coverage of eye care services for South Louisiana residents and grantees including increased awareness of the issues faced by BVI patients
  • Improved organizational infrastructure and resources in the sector
  • Improved outreach of BVI “provider services” to those facing additional challenges due to their sight loss (e.g. underserved or disabled persons)
  • Improved outreach of specialist services to those facing additional challenges
  • Improved timely access to medical intervention for those at risk of sight loss
  • Improved eye health awareness and action among the public
  • Improved levels of independent living for BVI individuals

Grants will not be made to:

• Individuals
• Organizations that do not have 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status or fiscal sponsor
• Lobbying organizations
• Nonprofit organizations outside of the United States

How to Apply for Funding

Note: All grant applicants will need to create an account using our online system to apply.

1. Use our online portal to submit a Letter of Intent by 11:59 pm (CT) on Friday, October 31, 2025.
2. A grant review committee will review all Letters of Intent and recommend invitations for organizations to submit full proposals.
3. Invitations for full grant applications are expected to be sent in December 2025.
4. A grant review committee will review all full applications and recommend grants to be approved by the Foundation.

The Southern Eye Bank Foundation accepts only electronic application submissions through the Foundation’s online portal. The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s technology partner, Foundant, has created a brief tutorial for applicants that may be viewed here. It is highly recommended that all applicants review this video before beginning a new application in order to better understand the electronic submission process. Proposals that are not submitted electronically may not be considered.

Have Questions?

If you have a question, please e-mail your question to grants@gnof.org (please include the phrase “Southern Eye Bank Question” in the subject line).