July 2026 Charity - Seva Foundation, Transforming Lives by Restoring Sight

July 2026 Cassandra Unchained Charity of the Month

https://www.seva.org

Seva Foundation is one of the most effficient and effective charities I have ever come across.

90% of the world’s blind population lives in low income countries, and 90% of those are preventable or curable.

The leading cause is cataracts, which can be fixed in a short 20 minute surgery with about $50 worth of materials.

Seva does not simply provide funds from a distance. Across more than 20 countries, Seva works to build, with partners, self-sustaining local eye-care systems. This dramatically broadens its reach at a remarkably low cost.

Seva’s four main activities are Vision Centers (permanent local infrastructure), Technology (investments in retinal cameras, handheld screening devices, ophthalmological tools, etc.), Eye Care for Children (screening and early detection as well as long-term follow-up), and Training and Job Creation (hires and trains ophthalmologists, support staff, community workers).

Globally, 90 million children live with vision impairment. Since 80% of learning is visual, poor sight can limit education, cause social isolation, increase risk of injury, and create barriers to future employment.

Seva’s pediatric programs provide end-to-end care - from screening and early detection to treatment and long-term follow-up.

Last year, Seva’s sight programs reached 7 million people across 20 countries in South and Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. In the United States, their American Indian Sight Initiative have been working to prevent blindness and restore tight to American’s native American populations.

Yet its revenues in 2024-2025 were just $10.3 million against $12.6 million in program expenses, as they drew down program reserves to continue to expand sight services.

Seva’s $29 million in net assets are mostly spread across fixed assets including buildings, equipment, and technology installed to great effect over more than four decades.

Cassandra Unchained will donate 5% of its gross revenues during July, and I expect this to be meaningful to Seva’s ability to expand and serve. This charity makes each dollar go so very far.

Seva is headquartered in Berkeley, California and the charity holds top ratings from Charity Navigator and CharityWatch. Seva is a Nicolas Kristof Holiday Impact Prize winner, reflecting the massive spread of the organization’s charitable purpose paired to low-cost efficient operations.

The founding story is remarkable and notable.

In 1977, Dr. Larry Brilliant, a World Health Organization physician, finished his work to eradicate Smallpox forever from the face of the earth.

In 1978, Dr. Brilliant, his public health expert wife Gijira, WHO physician Dr. Nicole Grasset, Harvard professor Ram Dass, and the Grateful Dead’s Wavy Gravy aka Hugh Romney, Jr. all met in a Michigan conference room and decided to work to eliminate avoidable blindness.

Steve Jobs was an early donor.

They called it Seva, Sanskrit for “selfless service.”

The impact is almost beyond imagination. Since 1978, Seva has helped 72 million people see.

Seva Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization.
All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.