International Eye Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 12% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 94 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
INTERNATIONAL EYE FOUNDATION WORKS TO PREVENT BLINDNESS AND RESTORE SIGHT BY BUILDING CAPACITY FOR QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE EYE CARE SERVICES WORLDWIDE.
- Income
- $450,878
- Spending
- $618,914
- Spent on programs
- 12%
- Reserves
- -2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $111,413, president & ceo
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
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1512% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 94 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 95% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $74,811 spent. EYE HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM:IEF'S SIGHTREACH LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM INTEGRATES ADVANCED CLINICAL EYE CARE WITH LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES TO PROMOTE A SOCIAL-ENTREPRENEURIAL APPROACH TO EYE CARE DELIVERY. IEF ASSISTS PRIVATE, SOCIAL, AND PUBLIC SECTOR EYE HOSPITALS IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE AVAILABILITY, ACCESS, EFFICIENCY, QUALITY OF CARE, REVENUE, CAPACITY, AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. SINCE 1999, IEF HAS PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN 73 EYE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS ACROSS 23 COUNTRIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O, PAGE 39) TOGETHER THEY HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO HIGH-VOLUME, LOW-COST SERVICES, EXAMINED MORE THAN 11 MILLION INDIVIDUALS, PERFORMED OVER 735,000 TREATMENTS AND SURGERIES, AND GENERATED A NET POSITIVE REVENUE WHILE SERVING ALL INCOME GROUPS, INCLUDING THE POOREST. IEF'S EXPERTISE COVERS TRAINING AND MENTORING HOSPITAL TEAMS IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT, PROGRAM DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION. THE FOUNDATION IS BROADENING ITS SUPPORT TO INCLUDE EXPANDING VISION CENTERS, STANDARDIZING MONITORING SYSTEMS, AND ASSESSING ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TECHNOLOGIES.A. STRENGTHENING PRIMARY EYE CARE SERVICES IN INDIA FROM MARCH 2023 TO FEBRUARY 2025.THE ALCON FOUNDATION AWARDED A $375,000 GRANT (2023-2025) TO EXPAND COLLABORATION AMONG THE IEF, SUSRUT EYE FOUNDATION & RESEARCH CENTER, SILIGURI HOSPITAL, ROTARY EYE HOSPITAL UDHAMPUR, BANSARA HOSPITAL, OTHER SUBSIDIARIES, AND VISION CENTERS IN THE NORTH, ALONG WITH THREE ADDITIONAL HOSPITALS: LV PRASAD EYE INSTITUTE, ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL, AND DR. SHROFF'S CHARITY EYE HOSPITAL. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THREE MAIN AREAS: 1) STRENGTHENING MONITORING PROCESSES AND STANDARDIZING INDICATORS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 20 VISION CENTER (VC) SERVICES, 2) ENABLING SEVEN VISION CENTERS TO USE ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND ASSESSING THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE CENTERS WITH SUCH TECHNOLOGY, AND 3) SUPPORTING SUSRUT HOSPITAL IN SERVING AS A REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTER TO CONTINUE CERTIFICATE COURSE TRAINING AND ACT AS A CERTIFICATION HUB FOR HOSPITALS.OBJECTIVE 1) - IMPROVE MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING FOR 20 VISION CENTERS BY ESTABLISHING STANDARDIZED INDICATORS, MONITORING SYSTEMS, AND A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AGENDA. THIS ACTIVITY SUPPORTS A WORKING GROUP OF SEVEN HOSPITAL PARTNERS IN PLANNING, EVALUATING, AND STANDARDIZING EXISTING DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VC SCREENING AND REFERRAL PROCESSES. IT ALSO AIMS TO IMPLEMENT SCREENING PROCEDURES TO IDENTIFY AND REFER PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND GLAUCOMA SUSPECTS TO SECONDARY AND TERTIARY HOSPITALS.OBJECTIVE 2) - ENHANCE SEVEN VISION CENTERS TO DELIVER SUB-SPECIALTY CARE AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL BY CLOSING THE GEOGRAPHICAL GAP BETWEEN PRIMARY AND HIGHER LEVELS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY. EACH PARTNER HOSPITAL IS INSTALLING ADVANCED FUNDUS CAMERAS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES AND VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS TO BOOST ITS TELE-OPHTHALMOLOGY SERVICES AT ITS VISION CENTERS. THIS WILL HELP OPHTHALMIC TECHNICIANS IDENTIFY DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND EARLY GLAUCOMA SUSPECTS FOR REFERRAL TO THEIR BASE HOSPITALS. HOSPITALS TRAIN THEIR OPTOMETRISTS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO OPERATE THE NEW SYSTEMS. A SUB-OBJECTIVE IS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ADVANCED EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING AI-ENABLED FUNDUS CAMERAS, VIRTUAL PERIMETRY DEVICES, AND TELEMEDICINE CAPABILITIES, IN DETECTING, REFERRING, AND IMPROVING FOLLOW-UP CARE FOR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY (DR) AND GLAUCOMA AT THE PRIMARY CARE LEVEL. THE TELEMEDICINE COMPONENT WILL SUPPORT REMOTE CONSULTATIONS WITH SPECIALISTS, ENABLE TIMELY REFERRAL MANAGEMENT, AND FACILITATE PATIENT FOLLOW-UP THROUGH VIRTUAL MONITORING, THEREBY BRINGING SPECIALIST EXPERTISE TO UNDERSERVED AREAS. THE STUDY WILL COMPARE OUTCOMES BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED CENTERS (TEC), WHICH USE THESE TOOLS, AND NON-TEC CENTERS. ADDITIONAL COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSES ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED.OBJECTIVE 3) - POSITION SUSRUT HOSPITAL'S LEADERSHIP AS A RECOGNIZED CENTER FOR CERTIFYING HOSPITALS TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD FOR HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS (NABH). THIS INITIATIVE INVOLVES TRAINING A CORE GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS FROM SUSRUT HOSPITAL TO COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, ENABLING THE HOSPITAL TO ASSIST OTHER REGIONAL HOSPITALS IN NAVIGATING AND ACHIEVING ACCREDITATION. THIS WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NABH-CERTIFIED HOSPITALS ELIGIBLE FOR NATIONAL AND OTHER INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENTS. THE RESULTS FROM 2023-2025 ARE PROMISING. IEF HAS ESTABLISHED 20 VISION CENTERS, WITH SEVEN EQUIPPED WITH AI DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS AND TELEOPHTHALMOLOGY CAPABILITIES. THESE CENTERS SERVED A POPULATION OF 215,000 AND EXAMINED 252,568 PATIENTS, INCLUDING POST-OPERATIVE FOLLOW-UPS, WITH 151,541 (70%) BEING FIRST-TIME VISITS. OUTCOMES INCLUDED 86,954 REFRACTIVE ERROR CORRECTIONS (34%) AND 23,422 CATARACT DIAGNOSES (11%), WITH 10,674 CATARACT SURGERIES PERFORMED (46%). TELEOPHTHALMOLOGY SUPPORTED 52,612 CONSULTATIONS. OF THE 1,848 GLAUCOMA CASES IDENTIFIED, FURTHER EVALUATION AT BASE HOSPITALS USING GOLD-STANDARD PROCEDURES LIKE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY (OCT) AND HUMPHREY VISUAL FIELD TESTING CONFIRMED 407 (22%) CASES NEEDING TREATMENT. ADDITIONALLY, 2,697 PATIENTS WITH RETINAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND AT VISION CENTERS AND REFERRED TO TERTIARY HOSPITALS. AN EVALUATION STUDY IS NEARING COMPLETION TO COMPARE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TEC VC IN IDENTIFYING AND REFERRING PATIENTS VERSUS NON-TEC VISION CENTERS. CONTINUED INVESTMENT HAS INCREASED SURGICAL CAPACITY, INNOVATION, AND PATIENT ACCESS, CREATING A MEASURABLE AND LASTING IMPACT. THESE OUTCOMES SHOW THAT TECS EFFECTIVELY EXPAND ACCESS, IMPROVE EARLY DETECTION OF CATARACTS, DIABETIC RETINOPATHY (DR), AND GLAUCOMA, AND ENHANCE REFERRAL AND FOLLOW-UP COMPLIANCE, THEREBY STRENGTHENING THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF CARE (COC). A COMPLETE COC INVO
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1967.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Conservation International Foundation (Arlington, VA), EIN 52-1497470. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.