Sightsavers
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Sightsavers publishes no application process, so the sensible first step is to use the contact it shows to ask whether your work fits before you send anything.
- Its reported grants go to partner organisations, including local ones that carry out programme activity on avoidable blindness, visual impairment, neglected tropical diseases and disability inclusion, so a small group is most likely to fit as a delivery partner working in those themes.
- Its grants are made in line with its strategic objectives, and its partnership approach includes capacity-building and partnership development, so a relationship-led approach seems more likely to succeed than a cold request.
- Partner and project budgets are reviewed annually, so raise any proposal well before that review.
- Nothing published gives a grant range, so do not assume a request size; ask about this in your first conversation.
Overview
Sightsavers is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 207544).
Sightsavers is an international organisation working with partners in low and middle-income countries to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Much of its programme activity is carried out through grants to local organisations that support long-term, sustainable benefits for people affected by blindness, visual impairment and disability. It works in more than 30 countries in Africa and Asia, partnering with local, regional, national and international organisations and governments. Its annual giving is £31,670,000.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Sightsavers works with local, national and international partners and governments in low- and middle-income countries to eliminate avoidable blindness, treat eye conditions and prevent and treat neglected tropical diseases. It promotes equal opportunities for people with disabilities, including through inclusive education, employment, health care and participation in society. The grants it reports are made to partner organisations, including local organisations that carry out programme activity and support long-term, sustainable benefits for people affected by blindness, visual impairment and disability. Its partnership approach includes capacity-building and partnership development; partner and project budgets are reviewed annually, and grant activity is monitored under partnership agreements. Its work also includes advocacy for the rights of women, girls and people with disabilities.
Themes
- Avoidable blindness
- Neglected tropical diseases
- Disability inclusion
- Inclusive education
- Women's health
How to apply
No application process is published in the charity's annual report, its register entry or its website. The contact shown is for getting in touch.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Grants are made in line with Sightsavers’ strategic objectives.
Where they fund
Registered area of operation (Charity Commission)
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Congo
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Sightsavers.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £236,775,000 | £213,622,000 | £39,878,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £313,352,000 | £309,174,000 | £39,250,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £337,945,000 | £340,501,000 | £30,933,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £285,595,000 | £288,464,000 | £26,767,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £283,836,000 | £288,392,000 | £31,670,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- sightsavers.org
- sightsavers.org/about-us · read on 23 October 2026
- sightsavers.org/contact-us · read on 23 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 23 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Sightsavers?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- +44 (0)1444 446 600source
- info@sightsavers.orgsource
- Bumpers Way, Bumpers Farm Chippenham, SN14 6NGsource
- sightsavers.org
Applying to Sightsavers?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- +44 (0)1444 446 600source
- info@sightsavers.orgsource
- Bumpers Way, Bumpers Farm Chippenham, SN14 6NGsource
- sightsavers.org