Project FAQs
What type of projects does Optometry Giving Sight fund?
Eligible activities include:
- Delivery of sustainable programs in refractive error and low vision services especially at the primary and secondary levels;
- Education programs for eye care educators, practitioners and providers;
- Development of sustainable systems to supply affordable spectacles and other visual aids and the development of eye care services, including eye clinics and Schools of Optometry.
What evaluation criteria does Optometry Giving Sight use to select projects:
The Board of Directors has determined its current funding priorities using the following criteria:
- Adherence to Optometry Giving Sight’s goals and priorities of preventing and eliminating blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error and the development of programs that will improve the quality of life for those with (permanent) low vision. Projects must demonstrated:
a. Provision of eye care services;
b. Relevance to eye care needs;
c. Impact and cost effectiveness;
d. Sustainability.
- Demonstrates understanding of local eye care needs and infrastructure.
- Demonstrates ability to manage grants and budgets.
- Demonstrates organizational capacity.
- Focus on communities and areas with the greatest and most immediate needs.
- Fit with the government’s national blindness prevention plan, e.g. VISION 2020: The Right to Sight plan.
- Appropriate non-government organization (NGO) partner in project country and NGO/sponsoring organization is a member of VISION 2020.
- Addresses capacity building through:
a. Human resource development;
b. Development of systems for eye care service delivery or infrastructure and technology development;
c. Empowerment of the people in the community concerned.
- Demonstrates collaboration and participation with other in-country NGOs.
- Demonstrates collaboration and participation with professionals in the country or area concerned.
- Has been appropriately and reasonably costed.
- Builds on current programs funded by Optometry Giving Sight.
- Proposes appropriate project monitoring and evaluation.
Who can apply for Optometry Giving Sight funding?
All funds raised by Optometry Giving Sight are currently allocated to support its Priority Projects in South Africa, East Africa, Sri Lanka and East Timor. It is anticipated that applications for funding for other projects will be invited in 2008.
How Much Money has been distributed to Projects?
As at 31 July 2007, more than $US700,000 has been allocated to funding for the priority projects listed above.
What percentage of funds raised goes to projects?
Optometry Giving Sight guarantees that a minimum of 85% of all donations from optometrists and their patients goes directly to refractive error projects in countries in need. Up to 15% of all donor funds raised are used to support our operations including administration, marketing, fundraising and community education.
How is Optometry Giving Sight different to agencies like Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), Third World Eye Care Society (TWECS) and Vision Aid Overseas (VAO)?
The main difference between Optometry Giving Sight and the volunteer organizations listed above is that Optometry Giving Sight is solely a fundraising organization whose primary focus is to raise funds from the optometry industry. Optometry Giving Sight is keen to work collaboratively with organizations such as VOSH, TWECS and VAO and when funds allow, to invite their applications for funding to support the development of sustainable training and service delivery programs for people in need.
