Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology

Quick Stats

• EIN: 94-2682387
• Legal Structure: 501(c)(3) Type II Supporting Organization
• Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
• Annual Giving: $4.8 million+ (FY 2024)
• Charity Navigator Rating: 4/4 Stars (97% score)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $35,000 (for individual researcher grants)
• Decision Time: Varies by program; typically announced in fall
• Geographic Focus: United States
• Primary Beneficiary: American Academy of Ophthalmology

Contact Details

Address: 655 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109-1336

Phone: 415.447.0386

General AAO Phone: 415.561.8500

Website: https://www.aao.org/foundation

Email: tlyckberg@aao.org (Todd Lyckberg, Director of Development)

Research Grants Information: 415.561.8592

Overview

The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (FAAO) was established in 1980 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serving as a Type II Supporting Organization for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). The Foundation's mission is to advance the AAO's priority programs in clinical education, quality and data science, and public service. While the Foundation primarily funds AAO programs and initiatives, it also offers competitive research grants to AAO members through specific programs including the IRIS Registry Research Grants, Hoskins Center Research Fund, and YO Green Grants. Since its inception, the Foundation has enabled the Academy's educational, quality of care, and service programs to promote the highest standards of patient care, raising over $4.8 million in 2024 alone to support programming.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs Available to Individual Applicants

1. RPB/Academy Award for IRIS Registry Research

Amount: $35,000 per grant ($10,000 direct research funds + $25,000 for database access) Number of Awards: Four grants annually (funded by Research to Prevent Blindness) Application Deadline: February 7, 2026 (typically annual cycle) Application Method: Online application portal

2. Hoskins Center IRIS Registry Research Fund

Amount: $35,000 per grant Target Audience: Private practice ophthalmologists only Eligibility: Must actively contribute data to IRIS Registry Notification: Awards announced in fall

3. Knights Templar Eye Foundation Pediatric Ophthalmology Fund

Amount: $35,000 per grant Target Audience: Private practice ophthalmologists only Focus: Big data analyses investigating rare and common eye diseases affecting children Eligibility: Must actively contribute data to IRIS Registry

4. Young Ophthalmologist (YO) Green Grant

Amount: $1,000 per grant Number of Awards: Five grants annually Application Deadline: January 2, 2026 (annual cycle) Eligibility: Young Ophthalmologists (in residency, fellowship, or within first five years of practice) who are U.S. Academy members Focus: Sustainability projects that reduce carbon footprint in ophthalmology

Major Foundation-Funded AAO Programs (Not Direct Grant Applications)

The Foundation primarily raises funds to support the following AAO programs:

• ONE Network: Educational resources for ophthalmologists worldwide
• IRIS Registry: Clinical database for quality improvement and research
• VISION Mentoring Program: Supports medical students underrepresented in medicine pursuing ophthalmology careers (400+ students supported since 2018)
• EyeCare America: Public service program providing free eye care to seniors and at-risk populations (26,508 referrals in FY 2022-2023)
• Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye: Heritage collection of 38,000 artifacts
• H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD Center for Quality Eye Care: Quality of care and health policy research

Priority Areas

• Clinical education and lifelong ophthalmic learning
• Quality and data science initiatives
• Public service and access to eye care
• Pediatric ophthalmology research and education
• Sustainability in ophthalmology practice
• Supporting diversity in ophthalmology workforce

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside the ophthalmology field
• Non-members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (for most grant programs)
• Research not utilizing approved AAO resources or databases
• International applicants (most programs require U.S. residency/practice)
• Applications from institutions outside the United States

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

CEO of American Academy of Ophthalmology: Stephen D. McLeod, MD - Leads the world's largest ophthalmology organization with 30,000 members

Chief Operating Officer: Lawrence Mendenhall - Oversees Academy strategy, finance, and Foundation operations

Foundation Staff:

• Todd Lyckberg: Director of Development - Oversees corporate and foundation giving, Annual Fund, Partners for Sight, Leadership Council donors, Orbital Gala, and Ophthalmic Business Council
• Tina McGovern: Development professional with 25+ years experience, joined Foundation in 2015
• Jenny Benjamin: Director of the Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye; Stanley M. Truhlsen, MD, Director of Ophthalmic Heritage

Hoskins Center Leadership:

• Executive Director: Flora Lum, MD
• Advisory Board Chair: M. Roy Wilson, MD, MS

Governance Structure

The Foundation operates under a Board of Trustees that manages and directs its business affairs, mission, and strategic goals. As a Type II Supporting Organization, the Foundation is closely aligned with the American Academy of Ophthalmology's governance structure.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application processes vary by grant program:

IRIS Registry Research Grants (RPB/AAO, Hoskins Center, KTEF Pediatric)

Online Application: Grant applications can be found and submitted through the AAO website at aao.org/iris-registry/data-analysis

Pre-Application Training: Grant recipients visit the Academy office in San Francisco to learn about IRIS Registry data through Academy training

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be employed by a research institution (RPB/AAO Awards) OR be in private practice (Hoskins Center and KTEF grants)
• Must have relevant analytics experience (statistical background, experience with big-data analytics, knowledge of SAS or other statistical programs)
• Must actively contribute data to IRIS Registry (for Hoskins Center and KTEF grants)
• Research question must be clinically significant and align with Academy's mission to protect sight and empower lives
• Applicant and research institution must be in the United States
• Only one proposal evaluated per applicant

YO Green Grant

Online Application: Available through the AAO sustainability page at aao.org/sustainability/education/green-grants

Eligibility:

• Must be a Young Ophthalmologist (in residency, fellowship, or within first five years of practice)
• Must be a YO Academy member in the U.S.
• Research proposals should enhance ophthalmic practice, reduce waste and costs, and be feasible and scalable

Decision Timeline

IRIS Registry Research Grants:

• Application deadline typically in late January/early February
• IRIS Registry Analytics Committee reviews applications
• Award recipients notified during fall
• Two-year award period

YO Green Grant:

• Application deadline: January 2 annually
• Recipients announced in spring/early summer

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However:

• RPB/AAO Awards: Four grants awarded annually from competitive pool
• Hoskins Center Fund: Number of awards varies annually
• KTEF Pediatric Fund: Number of awards varies annually
• YO Green Grant: Five awards annually

Support and Resources

• IRIS Registry staff available for phone questions, conference calls, and ongoing support throughout the two-year award period
• Training session provided at Academy office in San Francisco for IRIS Registry grant recipients
• Contact: 415.561.8592 for IRIS Registry grant information

Publication Requirements

All IRIS Registry investigators must:

• Sign a data-use agreement with the Academy
• Allow Academy IRIS Registry staff to review manuscripts for quality and accuracy prior to submission
• Acknowledge the Foundation and relevant funding sources in publications

Reapplication Policy

Applicants may reapply in subsequent years. No specific waiting period mentioned for unsuccessful applicants. Only one proposal per applicant per year will be evaluated.

Application Success Factors

Critical Alignment Factors

1. Academy Membership: All grant programs require active AAO membership. Ensure membership is current before applying.

2. IRIS Registry Participation: For Hoskins Center and KTEF grants, active contribution to the IRIS Registry is mandatory. Private practice ophthalmologists should ensure they are contributing data before applying.

3. Clinical Significance: The Academy emphasizes that research questions must be "clinically significant" and align with their mission "to protect sight and empower lives." Applications should clearly articulate real-world patient care impact.

4. Analytics Experience: Demonstrable experience with big-data analytics, statistical programs (especially SAS), and population-based research methodologies strengthens applications.

5. Feasibility and Scalability: Particularly for YO Green Grants, the Academy seeks projects that are both feasible to implement and scalable to broader practice settings.

Recent Funded Projects

2024 Hoskins Center IRIS Registry Research Fund Recipients:

• Phillip Rizzuto: "Socioeconomic Determinants and Risk Factors for Blepharoptosis: A Comprehensive Analysis Using the IRIS Registry"

2024 RPB Grant Recipients:

• Carolina Adams, MD (Emory): Epidemiological study on efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy in treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated cataracts

2024 YO Green Grant Recipients: Seven recipients supported sustainability projects including work by Chen, Dillon, Hirji, Mansoor, Mudie, and Wu

Strategic Tips from the Foundation

The Academy's mission-focused approach: According to their materials, the Foundation states that "donations, grants, and sponsorships from Academy members, the public, outside foundations, and ophthalmic industry provide ophthalmologists worldwide with the educational resources needed to treat patients with more knowledge and effectiveness." Applications should demonstrate how research will advance this educational and clinical care mission.

Collaborative research encouraged: The Academy provides training sessions where grant recipients work collaboratively with other awardees, suggesting they value projects that can contribute to broader knowledge-sharing.

Data quality matters: The Academy IRIS Registry staff require the right to review manuscripts for quality and accuracy, indicating their commitment to rigorous, high-quality research outputs.

Common Success Characteristics

• Clear articulation of population-based research approach
• Demonstrated understanding of IRIS Registry capabilities and limitations
• Strong statistical methodology
• Potential for findings to influence clinical practice guidelines
• Alignment with underserved or understudied areas in ophthalmology
• For YO Green Grants: practical, implementable sustainability solutions with measurable environmental impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Supporting Organization Structure: The Foundation primarily exists to fund AAO programs, with limited grant opportunities for individual researchers. Most opportunities are restricted to AAO members only.

• Membership is Essential: All grant programs require active AAO membership. Non-members and non-ophthalmologists are not eligible for individual grants.

• IRIS Registry Focus: The largest grant opportunities ($35,000) are all tied to research using the IRIS Registry database. Applicants must have big data analytics experience and, for some programs, must be actively contributing data to the Registry.

• Private Practice Priority: The Hoskins Center and Knights Templar grants specifically target private practice ophthalmologists, not academic researchers, representing an unusual but valuable opportunity for community-based clinicians.

• Limited International Access: All programs require U.S.-based applicants and research institutions. International ophthalmologists are not eligible.

• Competitive but Accessible: With fixed numbers of awards (4-5 grants per program annually) and specific eligibility criteria, competition is manageable for well-qualified applicants who meet all requirements.

• Mission Alignment is Critical: The Academy's mission to "protect sight and empower lives" should be explicitly addressed in applications. Research must demonstrate clear clinical significance and patient care impact.

References

1. American Academy of Ophthalmology Foundation website. "Foundation." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/foundation

2. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "About the Foundation." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/foundation/about

3. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "IRIS Registry Data Analysis: RPB/Academy Award." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/iris-registry/data-analysis/research-to-prevent-blindness-research-grants

4. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "IRIS Registry Data Analysis: Hoskins Center IRIS Registry Research Fund." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/iris-registry/data-analysis/hoskins-center-research-fund

5. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "2024 YO Green Grant recipients for sustainability in ophthalmology." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/sustainability/education/green-grants

6. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "2024-2025 Foundation Annual Report." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/foundation/2025-annual-report

7. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "2023-2024 Foundation Annual Report." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/foundation/2024-annual-report

8. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Foundation Of The American Academy Of Ophthalmology." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/942682387

9. GuideStar Profile. "Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-2682387

10. Charity Navigator. "Rating for Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/942682387

11. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "VISION Mentoring: Prospective Students." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/vision-mentoring/students-prospective

12. Research to Prevent Blindness. "Research to Prevent Blindness and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Award Big Data Research Grants for Improved Patient Care." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.rpbusa.org/rpb/news-and-publications/news/latest/rpb-aao-big-data-research-grants/

13. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "Foundation Staff." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/foundation/staff

14. American Academy of Ophthalmology. "About the Hoskins Center." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.aao.org/education/about-hoskins-center