CharityVision International Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,279,889 in grants (2023)
• Number of Awards: 23 (2023)
• Total Revenue: $10.1 million (2024)
• Total Assets: $5.13 million (2024)
• Geographic Focus: International (30+ countries across Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and Oceania)
• Charity Navigator Rating: 4/4 Stars (97% score)

Contact Details

Website: https://charityvision.org

Office Address: 3210 N Canyon Rd, Suite 107, Provo, UT 84604

Phone: (435) 200-4910

Email: info@charityvision.org

Overview

CharityVision International Inc., founded in 1989 (formerly known as Deseret International Foundation), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Provo, Utah. With annual grant distributions of approximately $4.3 million and total revenues of $10.1 million, CharityVision operates through a hybrid model that combines both grantmaking and direct service delivery. The organization creates sustainable solutions in eye care by empowering local health professionals worldwide. CharityVision works with optometrists and ophthalmologists to provide cataract surgeries, eye screenings, outreaches, and prescription eyeglasses to low-income populations in developing countries. The organization has built local networks in over 30 countries and facilitates approximately 150,000 eye surgeries annually. CharityVision has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a 97% score, reflecting strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

CharityVision operates through a hybrid model that provides both grants to partner organizations and direct program support. The organization distributed $4,279,889 in grants across 23 awards in 2023. Their grantmaking focuses on:

Partnership Support Grants: Financial support to local clinics, hospitals, and eye care organizations in developing countries to establish and maintain sustainable eye care programs.

Infrastructure and Equipment Grants: Funding for medical equipment, supplies, and infrastructure development for partner facilities.

Program-Specific Grants: Support for specific initiatives such as the SightBuddies school screening program and the Ventanitas de Luz social assistance program in El Salvador.

Priority Areas

CharityVision prioritizes funding and support in the following areas:

Geographic Priorities:

• El Salvador: Founding member support for Fudem El Salvador, facilitating grants and considerable donor support for over 9,000 free or subsidized surgeries per year
• Kenya: Provides cataract supplies and training to six partner hospitals including the University of Nairobi; partners perform 3,000+ surgeries per year
• Bolivia: Supports 100% sustainable screening programs offering discount and free visual health services in Tarija, serving approximately 17,000 patients per year
• Colombia: Partnerships with university optometry schools (Universidad Metropolitana, Universidad del Sinu, Universidad del Valle) screening 10,000 vulnerable school children per year
• India: Created a sustainable clinic in Gurugram, Delhi providing 2,000 subsidized surgeries per year and screening 30,000 children
• Indonesia: Teams screened 175,000+ students and subsidized 10,000+ glasses
• Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Philippines: Country-specific programs led by local directors

Programmatic Priorities:

• Cataract surgery programs and supplies
• Children's vision screening programs (SightBuddies)
• Prescription eyeglass distribution
• Training for local physicians and health professionals
• Sustainable clinic development
• Equipment and infrastructure for eye care facilities

Strategic Approach: CharityVision emphasizes sustainability over traditional medical missions. According to their materials, they "empower local physicians and create sustainable solutions" rather than sending foreign doctors. Their model focuses on "finding the correct balance of charity and for-profit work in the clinics they operate, making these 'hubs' not only prolific but self-sustainable with state-of-the-art management and technology."

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly listed, CharityVision's mission is highly focused on:

• Vision and eye care only (not general health or other medical conditions)
• International development contexts (not domestic U.S. programs)
• Sustainable, long-term partnerships (not one-time interventions)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

CharityVision's Board of Directors includes:

• Ann Romney - Board Member
• Dr. Bill Jackson - Board Member
• Andrea Clarke - Board Member
• Christian Gardner - Board Member
• Jeffrey Danley - Board Member
• Walter Plumb - Board Member
• Matt Kennedy - Board Member
• Anthon Stauffer - Board Member
• Kelly Burt - Board Member
• Michael Bennett - Board Member
• Tim Fenton - Board Member
• Scott Keller - Board Member
• Richard Parke - Board Member
• Stan Ricks - Board Member
• James "Chico" Hagey - Board Member
• Ron Lindorf - Board Member

Executive Leadership

USA Headquarters Staff:

• Josh Romney - President
• Doug Jackson - Chief Executive Officer ($136,602 compensation in 2024). Doug Jackson took on the role of Chief Executive Director in the early 2000s and has led the organization's focus on empowering local physicians.
• Daniela Vicente - Creative Director
• Anadine Marshall - Programs Director
• Chelsea Hilton - Programs Coordinator
• Angela Martin - Accounting
• Megan Manning - Social Enterprise Director

Operations Leadership:

• Aaron Lock - Director of Operations ($156,265 compensation in 2024)
• Jimmy Wilson - Ophthalmic Equipment & Instrumentation Specialist
• Erin Lyle - Operations Associate
• Melissa Peterson - Operations Manager
• Melodyanne Flitton - Operations Associate
• Sheena Hess - Surgical Instrumentation Specialist

International Directors

CharityVision employs country directors in each of their priority countries:

• Guiomar Malaver - Colombia Director
• Jheny Valdez - Peru Director
• Mariam Ernest - Tanzania Director
• Spencer Lexy - Caribbean Director
• Valerin Ortíz - Dominican Republic Director
• Olivia Edebe - Kenya Director
• Juliet Nalumbowa - Uganda Director
• Eustace Unisa-Vin-Bah - Sierra Leone Director
• Junaid Mehboob - Pakistan Director
• Stephen Casio - Philippines Director
• Diana Mongan - Indonesia Co-Director
• Looky Samad - Indonesia Co-Director

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CharityVision International does not appear to have a public, open application process for grant funding. Their grantmaking operates through established partnerships and relationships with local organizations, hospitals, and clinics in their priority countries.

The organization's approach focuses on:

• Long-term partnerships with existing healthcare facilities and organizations
• Country-specific programs managed by local directors
• Collaborative relationships often established through founding member status or multi-year commitments

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations interested in partnering with CharityVision should consider:

Geographic Alignment: CharityVision operates through country directors in their priority countries. Organizations operating in countries where CharityVision already has a presence (El Salvador, Kenya, Bolivia, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Peru, Caribbean) may have better opportunities for partnership.

Direct Contact: Reach out to CharityVision's headquarters in Provo, Utah at info@charityvision.org or (435) 200-4910 to inquire about partnership opportunities.

Country-Level Engagement: In countries where CharityVision operates, local directors manage programs and partnerships. Organizations may benefit from connecting with the relevant country director.

Sector Connections: CharityVision partners with university optometry schools, hospitals, and established eye care facilities. Organizations with connections to these types of institutions may find alignment.

Demonstration of Sustainability: CharityVision emphasizes sustainable, long-term solutions over short-term interventions. Organizations should demonstrate how they create lasting impact and build local capacity.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available, as CharityVision does not operate a traditional grant cycle with application deadlines and notification dates.

Success Rates

With 23 awards distributed from $4.3 million in grants in 2023, CharityVision makes relatively few but substantial awards to partner organizations. Success rates for unsolicited inquiries are not available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the partnership-based model.

Application Success Factors

Understanding CharityVision's Unique Model

CharityVision operates as a hybrid organization that both makes grants and provides direct services. According to their financial data, approximately 86% of their expenses go toward grants and program support, while they also maintain direct operational presence through country directors and programs like SightBuddies.

Key Success Factors Based on Existing Partnerships

1. Sustainability Focus: CharityVision explicitly states their success is "embodied in local physicians who have the skill and desire to serve their own communities." Partnerships should demonstrate how they build local capacity rather than create dependency.

2. Medical Excellence: CharityVision provides "cataract supplies and training to partner hospitals" and works with university optometry programs. Partners should have qualified local medical professionals.

3. Serving Underserved Populations: The organization focuses on "low-income populations in the developing world." Programs should demonstrate reach to vulnerable populations, particularly children.

4. Long-term Commitment: CharityVision's partnership with Fudem El Salvador spans 30 years. The organization states they have "facilitated grants and considerable donor support to continue the fantastic work Fudem gives to their country." They seek enduring partnerships, not short-term projects.

5. Scalable Impact: Successful partnerships like Fudem El Salvador now provide "over 9,000 free or subsidized surgeries per year" and attend "nearly 100,000 children per year." CharityVision seeks programs with significant reach.

6. Financial Transparency: As a Charity Navigator 4-Star rated organization, CharityVision values transparency. Partners should demonstrate strong financial management and accountability.

Strategic Approach

CharityVision has established a medical company that sources equipment and supplies while generating its own income, with profits covering the foundation's overhead. This allows them to claim "100% of donations go directly towards their mission." This innovative approach suggests they value creative solutions and financial sustainability in their partners.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Partnership over Grants: CharityVision operates through long-term partnerships rather than traditional grantmaking cycles. Organizations should think in terms of multi-year collaboration rather than one-time funding requests.

• Geographic Presence: CharityVision already has established operations in 30+ countries with dedicated country directors. Organizations should emphasize how they complement or enhance CharityVision's existing geographic footprint.

• Sustainable Impact: The organization explicitly rejects the traditional medical mission model in favor of empowering local providers. Proposals should emphasize capacity building, training, and sustainability.

• Proven Track Record: With only 23 awards made in 2023 from $4.3 million in grants, CharityVision makes selective, substantial investments. Organizations should demonstrate proven impact and operational excellence.

• Vision Care Specialization: CharityVision is exclusively focused on eye care and vision services. Organizations working in other health areas will not be considered.

• Direct Engagement: Without a public application process, organizations interested in partnership should initiate direct contact through info@charityvision.org or by reaching out to relevant country directors.

• Children's Programs: The SightBuddies program and support for programs like Ventanitas de Luz demonstrate strong interest in children's vision health. Programs serving children may align well with CharityVision's priorities.

References

• CharityVision International official website: https://charityvision.org (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• CharityVision Our Team page: https://charityvision.org/our-team (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• CharityVision Our Impact page: https://charityvision.org/ourimpact (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• CharityVision El Salvador program page: https://charityvision.org/el-salvador (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - CharityVision International Inc.: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770222786 (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• Charity Navigator - CharityVision International Inc.: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/770222786 (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• GuideStar Profile - CharityVision International Inc.: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/77-0222786 (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory - CharityVision International Inc.: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=DESE416 (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• Cause IQ - CharityVision: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/charityvision,770222786/ (Accessed February 11, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - CharityVision International Inc.: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/charityvision-international-inc-df947425-0b4d-4771-ae89-f7ad5fab07bb (Accessed February 11, 2026)