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Aravind Eye Foundation

EIN 38-3532410 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION IS TO ENGAGE IN SUCH ACTIVITY AS MAY BE NECESSARY, APPROPRIATE OR OTHERWISE HELPFUL TO SUPPORT, PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO OR PERFORM FUNCTIONS OF ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL AND POSTGRADUATE INSTITUTE OF OPHTHAMOLOGY HEADQUARTERS IN MADRAI, INDIA (ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL). THE GOAL OF ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL IS TO ELIMINATE NEEDLESS BLINDNESS. Aravind Eye Foundation WILL SUPPORT ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL IN WORKING TOWARD THAT GOAL:(A) BY PROMOTING ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL AND COMMUNICATING ITS ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD;(B) BY SUPPORTING ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL DIRECTLY IN SERVICE DELIVERY, HUMAN RESOURCE AND ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT, SECURING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, LOCATING VOLUNTEERS WHO MEET IDENTIFIED NEEDS AND METTING OTHER REQUESTS OF THE ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL; AND(C) BY ASSISTING IN THE SPREAD OF "THE ARAVIND MODEL" TO OTHER PLACES IN INDIA AND THE WORLD.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
51.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
1
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$22,185, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 51.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 337% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 15 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 December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (8)
  1. $452,235 spent. Bloomberg Philanthropies Cataract Vision InitiativeTo support eye hospitals in Kenya to improve quality and quantity of cataract surgeries.
  2. $398,770 spent. Yieldgiving grantTo support Aravind Eye Care System in enhancing performance, improving quality, and ensuring holistic development through on-going capacity-building initiatives
  3. $134,868 spent. Patient care for vision conditions
  4. $110,473 spent. Spectacles for ScholarsTo reduce visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive error among school-going children in the service area. To increase access to child eye health by providing comprehensive refractive error services to school-going children. To improve the quality of life. To develop an enabling environment to ensure the delivery and sustainability of quality refractive error services.
  5. $101,953 spent. Vision CenterTo establish 2 new Telemedicine enabled Vision Centers to provide primary eye care, essentially in areas where eye care services are not easily accessible.
  6. $81,675 spent. Ring of HopeThe project aim is to provide free treatment and genetic testing to the children and adults suffering from eye cancers.
  7. $27,717 spent. Other Programs
  8. Aravind Eye Foundation SUPPORTS THE ARAVIND EYE CARE SYSTEM IN ITS MISSION TO ELIMINATE NEEDLESS BLINDNESS BY FUNDING ITS PROJECT DIVISIONS INCLUDING capacity building, community outreach, RESEARCH, training and EDUCATION, spectacles for school children, AND RING OF HOPE, WHICH provides treatment for children with eye cancer.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 October 2000.

    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.