Portal to MD Organizations on the Internet

A Service of Macular Degeneration Support

---

What Makes an Effective Service Organization?

The effectiveness of a service organization is best defined by its activities, accomplishments, and financial management. Opinions about the effectiveness of an organization may, therefore, be based upon subjective criteria such as:

• Satisfaction of all statements made in the organization's publicized description.
• Appropriate use of public contributions and grants. (Financial information is available through this site from GuideStar: The Donor's Guide To The Charitable Unive rse.)
• Proof of honesty in advertising, full disclosure, and other accepted principles of conduct on the Internet. (Certification is available from the Center for Applied Special Technology.)
• Web site meets minimum standards for low vision access. (Certification is available from the Health On The Net Foundation.)
• Solicitation methods meet acceptable ethical standards. (See article, "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: How To Avoid Charity Rip-Offs."

< back to top

---

Disclaimer

This is a non-selective compilation of information on all known charitable organizations serving the national macular degeneration community. It is provided for convenience only and is not necessarily an endorsement of the organizations or their activities. Visitors are encouraged to consider all of the above criteria before patronizing or contributing to th ese or any other charitable groups.

To add an organization to this list, contact Dan Roberts, MD Support Director

---

Organizations

AMD Alliance International

www.amdalliance.org

1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8

Description:
"A global coalition of vision and seniors' organizations dedicated to raising awareness of AMD and the options available for prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and support services."

Activities:

• International research.
• Distribution of informational brochures.
• Trade and consumer shows and conferences.
• Speakers bureau.
• Toll-free hotline.
• Educational campaign
• International and national advocacy activities.
• Sponsorship and giving opportunities.

Web Certifications: None

Financial Information: By request from the organization.

< back to Top

---

American Macular Degeneration Foundation

www.macular.org

P.O. Box 515
Northampton MA 01061-0515

Description:
"To promote and conduct basic and applied research and provide education for eye diseases, in particular, macular degeneration."

Notice
This organization does not contribute financially to scientific research. For more information, see the report linked below.

Activities:

• Sale of newsletter.
• Informational web site.

Web Certifications: None

Financial Information: View financial information.

< back to Top

---

Association For Macular Diseases

www.macula.org

210 E 64th
New York NY 10021

Description:
"The Association for Macular Disease is an entirely volunteer, nonprofit association dedicated to helping people with macular diseases lead independent lives. Motto: Nil Desperandum (Don't Despair)." Works in collaboration with the Macula Foundation.

Activities:

• Free quarterly newsletter.
• Educational seminars.
• Informational web site.

Web Certifications: None

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

Fight For Sight, Inc.

www.preventblindness.org

381 Park Ave S
Ste 809
New York, NY 100162

Description:
"Every 15 minutes, another person in the United States goes blind. This blindness is often the result of an eye disorder or disease, including glaucoma, cataracts, cancer, diabetes, retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration. Fight for Sight's programs address these disorders and diseases of the eye which destroy sight."

Activities:

• Research funding.
• Helps maintain eye clinics for disadvantaged children.
• Patient referral service.
• Student and post-doctoral fellowships.
• Grants-in-aid.

Web Certifications: n/a

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

Macular Degeneration Foundation

www.eyesight.org

P.O. Box 531313
Henderson, NV 89053

Description:
"Dedicated to serving the interests of those affected by Macular Degeneration and related low vision conditions"

Activities:

• Free email newsletter.
• Informational web site.

Web Certifications: None

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

Macular Degeneration International

www.maculardegeneration.org

6700 N. Oracle Rd, Suite 505
Tucson AZ 85704-7733

Description:
In partnership with the Foundation Fighting Blindness, MDI provides information and support for people who are affected by macul ar degeneration.

Activities:

• Informational web site.

Web Certifications: None

Financial Information: Not Available

< back to Top

---

Macular Degeneration Partnership

www.macd.net

The Discovery Fund For Eye Research
8733 Beverly Blvd, Suite 201
Los Angeles CA 90048

Description:
"MDP is coalition of patients and families, researchers, physicians and leaders in the fields of vision and aging, which provides accurate, timely, and unbiased information on age-related macular degeneration."

Activities:

• Monthly online newsletter.
• Free email subscription to AMD Update.
• Email alert subscription.
• Free telephone support.
• Informational web site.

Web Certifications:

• Center for Applied Special Technology: meeting or exceeding all minimum requirements for low vision web site access.
• Health On The Net Foundation: meeting or exceeding the principles of the code of conduct for health-related web sites.

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

Macular Degeneration Research

www.ahaf.org/macular/about/maabout.htm

A program of:
American Health Assistance Foundation
22512 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg MD 20871

Description:
"The organization seeks to eradicate age-related and degenerative diseases by facilitating research seeking causes, treatment and cures, promoting behavioral patterns in the public to combat these diseases, and encouraging the public to assist those who are afflicted."

Activities:

• Research funding.
• Informational publications.

Web Certification: Health On The Net Foundation: meeting or exceeding the principles of the code of conduct for health-related web sites.

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

Macular Degeneration Support

www.mdsupport.org

3600 Blue Ridge
Grandview MO 64030-1561

Description:
"MD Support is a nonprofit organization which provides information and support to people who are affected by macular degeneration and related diseases of the retina."

Activities:

• Sponsorship of MDList, an email discussion group.
• Sponsorship of MDForum, an Internet discussion board.
• Sponsorship of the Low Vision Web Ring.
• Production and distribution of informational videos and free audio/visual presentations about macular degeneration, living with vision loss, and rehabilitation.
• Sponsorship of the International MD Support Group
• Development and maintenance of a national database of alternative transportation for the vision impaired.
• Maintenance of the Internet's most extensive web site for the vision impaired.
• Distribution of printed materials and CDs.

Web Certifications:

• W3C compatible.
• Center for Applied Special Technology: meeting or exceeding all minimum requirements for low vision web site access.
• Health On The Net Foundation: meeting or exceeding the principles of the code of conduct for health-related web sites.
• Recipient of the 2004 "Distinguished Service Award" of the American Optometric Association's Low Vision Rehabilitation Section.
• Recipient of the National Eye Institute's 2006 Healthy Vision Community Award.

Financial Information available from Guidestar.

< back to Top

---

Macular Disease Society

www.maculardisease.org

P.O. Box 1870
Andover
Hampshire
SP10 9AD
United Kingdom

Description:
"A self-help society for those affected by any of the eye conditions encompassed by the overall name of Macular Disease, such as AMD, Macular Dystrophy, Myopic Degeneration etc."

Activities (all UK based):

• funding of research
• hosting of conferences
• nation-wide network of local support groups
• distribution of quarterly magazine and audio tapes (to paid members)
• telephone support Helpline
• professional & confidential telephone-based counselling service
• informational website with audio and video downloads

Web Certifications: None

Financial Information: By request from the organization

< back to Top

---

Macula Vision Research Foundation

www.mvrf.org

Five Tower Bridge
300 Barr Harbor Dr Ste 600
West Conshohocken, PA 19428

Description:
"Increase awareness of macular degeneration."

Activities:

• Research funding.

Web Certifications: n/a

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

The Foundation Fighting Blindness

www.blindness.org

11435 Cronhill Drive
Owings Mills, MD 21117-2220

Description:
"The Foundation Fighting Blindness was incorporated in 1971 to sponsor and/or assist in the research of the causes, treatments, and prevention of retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and other retinal degenerative diseases. It is composed of volunteer-based affiliates throughout the United States who are dedicated to supporting the Foundation's efforts. The urgent mission of The Foundation Fighting Blindness is to fund the research that will discover the causes, treatments, preventive methods, and cures for the entire spectrum of blinding, retinal degenerative diseases."

Activities:

• Human services information.
• Research funding.
• Physician referrals.
• Free newsletter.
• Sponsorship of annual "Vi sions" conference.
• Informational web site.

Web Certifications: None

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

The Macula Foundation, Inc.

www.macula.org/foundation/foundation.html

210 E 64th St.
New York NY 10021

Description:
"The Macula Foundation supports basic and clinical research in macular diseases of the eye, which represents a major cause of visual impairment in all age groups." Works in collaboration with the Association For Macular Diseases.

Activities:

• Research funding.
• Public lectures.

Web Certifications: None

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

Research to Prevent Blindness

www.rpbusa.org

645 Madison Ave., Floor 21
New York, NY 10022-1010

Description:
"Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) is the leading non-government supporter of eye research directed at the prevention, treatment or eradication of all diseases that threaten vision."

Activities:

• Major eye research funding to more than 50 leading scientific institutions in the U.S.
• Support for hundreds of talented vision scientists engaged i n a diverse range of disease-oriented research.

Web Certifications: n/a

Financial Information: View Financial Information

< back to Top

---

Vitreoretinal Research Foundation, Inc.

901 Oulomey Valley Rd
Towson, MD 21204

Description:
"Research concerning retinal disorders."

Activities:

• Study of scar tissue formation on the retina after surgery.
• Study of pathobiology of age-related macular degeneration.

Web Certifications: n/a

Financial Information: Available here.

< back to Top