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Seva Foundation

EIN 38-2231279 · Berkeley, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceIndependently evaluatedHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEVA FOUNDATION PARTNERS WORLDWIDE TO CREATE SELF-SUSTAINING PROGRAMS THAT PRESERVE AND RESTORE SIGHT. OUR VISION IS A WORLD FREE OF AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS.

Income
$11.0 million
Spending
$15.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
27
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$248,788, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Independently evaluated. An independent evaluator has assessed its work and recommends it.

  • The Life You Can Save: Listed among its recommended charities. See the evaluation Checked September 29, 2026.

Results it reports

  • Eye care services were provided to 7,652,042 people during the year.Work delivered
  • 998,786 sight saving surgeries were provided.Work delivered
  • 69,450 children received eyeglasses.Work delivered
  • In Asia, 39 primary eye care vision centers were established, making eye care available to about 3.8 million people.Work delivered
  • In Sub-Saharan Africa, partner hospitals provided 6,372 cataract surgeries.Work delivered
  • In Sub-Saharan Africa, 103,984 eye exams and services were provided.Work delivered
  • In the Americas, 5 vision centers were funded.Work delivered
  • In the Americas, partner hospitals provided 26,629 cataract surgeries.Work delivered
  • In the Americas, 220,432 eye exams and services were provided.Work delivered
  • 8,946 doctors, support staff, administrators and health promoters received eye health care training.Work delivered
  • 88 trainings were led, reaching 636 people.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $12.4 million spent. SIGHT SERVICES & RESTORATION PROGRAMSEVA IS A GLOBAL NONPROFIT EYE CARE ORGANIZATION THAT TRANSFORMS LIVES BY RESTORING SIGHT AND PREVENTING BLINDNESS. SINCE 1978, SEVA HAS PROVIDED SIGHT-SAVING SURGERIES, EYEGLASSES, MEDICINE, AND OTHER EYE CARE SERVICES TO 72MILLION PEOPLE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.GLOBALLY, AT LEAST 2.2 BILLION PEOPLE HAVE A VISION IMPAIRMENT, AND OF THESE, OVER 1.1 BILLION PEOPLE HAVE A VISION IMPAIRMENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED OR IS YET TO BE ADDRESSED. OUR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING EYE CARE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT. THEY ARE DRIVEN BY 4 PILLARS - ESTABLISHING SELF-SUSTAINING VISION CENTERS, EYE CARE FOR CHILDREN, BRINGING THE BEST IN TECHNOLOGY, AND TRAINING & JOB CREATION.TOWARDS THIS AIM, SEVA WORKS WITH 150+ PARTNER HOSPITALS AROUND THE WORLD TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL HOSPITALS AND DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE EYE CARE PROGRAMS WITH LONG-TERM IMPACTDURING THIS REPORT YEAR, SEVA'S NETWORK OF PROGRAMS AND PARTNERS PROVIDED EYE CARE SERVICES TO 7,652,042 PEOPLE (MORE THAN 50% WOMEN AND GIRLS) AND 998,786 SIGHT SAVING SURGERIES. IN ADDITION, 69,450 CHILDREN RECEIVED EYEGLASSES. IN ASIA, SEVA MADE EYE CARE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO APPROXIMATELY 3.8 MILLION PEOPLE BY ESTABLISHING 39 PRIMARY EYE CARE VISION CENTERS IN BANGLADESH, CAMBODIA, INDIA, AND NEPAL.IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, CATARACT REMAINS THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF BLINDNESS. THIS PAST YEAR, SEVA SUPPORTED PARTNER HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE 6,372 CATARACT SURGERIES AND 103,984 EYE EXAMS AND SERVICES. IN THE AMERICAS, SEVA FUNDED 5 VISION CENTERS AND SUPPORTED PARTNER HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE 26,629 CATARACT SURGERIES AND 220,432 EYE EXAMS AND SERVICES.GLOBALLY, 8,946 DOCTORS, OPHTHALMIC SUPPORT STAFF, HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTERS RECEIVED TRAINING IN EYE HEALTH CARE PROVISION AND OUTREACH. SPECIFICALLY, SEVA LED 88 TRAININGS, REACHING 636 PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH AND IMPROVE TRAINING PROGRAMS AT THEIR HOSPITAL. IN ALL PROGRAMS, SEVA CONTINUALLY MONITORS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES TO DETERMINE THE EVIDENCE OF IMPACT AS WE GO, AND COURSE CORRECT AS NEEDED.SEVA BELIEVES THAT RESTORING SIGHT IS ONE OF THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO RELIEVE SUFFERING AND REDUCE POVERTY. THIS YEAR, SEVA AND THE INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS PUBLISHED A REPORT THAT DEMONSTRATES WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL TO INVEST IN EYE CARE FOR CHILDREN. A CHILD WITH POOR VISION LEARNS APPROXIMATELY HALF AS MUCH AS A CHILD WITH GOOD OR CORRECTED VISION. THIS TRANSLATES DIRECTLY INTO LIFETIME EARNINGS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL; FOR EXAMPLE, IF A FIVE-YEAR-OLD IS PROVIDED WITH GLASSES IN PRIMARY SCHOOL AND CONTINUES TO WEAR THEM UNTIL THEY ARE 18, THEY WILL EARN, ON AVERAGE, 78% MORE OVER THEIR LIFETIME THAN IF THEY NEVER HAD THEIR VISION CORRECTED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.