2013 Top-Rated Nonprofit

Seva Foundation

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Eye Diseases, Blindness & Vision Impairments, Health, International, International Development, Public Health

Mission: Seva works with local communities around the world to develop self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight. Our Vision: A world free of blindness.

Community Stories

32 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

1

SarahRuiz General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/30/2020

Every year I make sure to put money aside to give to Seva. Year after year they prove to me how much they care about their donors and those they are helping. I always love speaking to the staff and learning about all the great progress they make. I hope more people become aware of the amazing job they are doing!

1

Sammmmy General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/30/2020

This has to be one of my favorite foundations because of how genuine the intentions are. It is very obvious that the staff truly cares about the cause they are fighting for and all donations go straight to the eye patients.

ansouscg General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/29/2020

Thank you Seva. Your mission to aid remote communities with lack of proper eye care is a blessing. We need more nonprofits of your caliber.

1

kathybou Donor

Rating: 5

10/27/2020

Seva Foundation helps so many people lead productive, healthy lives by restoring eyesight to those who can't afford treatment. I've been a supporter of Seva for many years, mainly because I was inspired by writings of Ram Dass, one of Seva's founders. I saw him speak in person several times. His life of compassion and love was all about being in service. Seva does so much for people all over the world, and I love being a small part of their work with my annual donations. I give my donations each year as Christmas gifts in honor of several friends, and when they receive the cards telling them of the gift, they are thrilled to be part of this amazing organization. It gives us all such pleasure to know we've helped someone to see again!

1

hgallardo1975 Donor

Rating: 5

10/24/2020

Seva is a fantastic non-profit. I receive testimonials from the people around the world who benefit from their vision saving surgery. Most memorable, a Guatemalan firefighter named Eusebio was able to keep firefighting in his town thanks to the gracious efforts of Seva and the wonderful donors.

1

meagan_edwards Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/15/2020

I have been a graduate student intern with Seva for approximately 2 months. From the start of my time with Seva, it was clear to me that the mission of Seva and my own personal, academic and career goals aligned perfectly. Seva's mission and vision to create a world free of blindness by empowering local communities and health organizations around the world to provide critical eye care has been thoroughly demonstrated to me during my time as an intern. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to work with this non-profit and look forward to watching and being apart of the life changing work they do!

joyestulsi General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/07/2020

a wonderful organization with great impact and changing people's lives in real. A true non-profit with compassion in action and their work touches many lives.

neldad General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

08/30/2020

Seva is a small, efficient nonprofit doing essential work in a good way.

1

Sean Patrick C. Donor

Rating: 5

10/29/2018

Organizations such as Seva help raise the bar for nonprofit service. From its humble beginnings, to its current expansive operations, Seva helps people around the world regain not only their sight but their dignity. My first donation to Seva was twenty years ago, and I still give, both in my name and in friends’ and relatives’ names when a special occasion arises. The organization is transparent, well-organized, and unapologetically well-intentioned.

3

David272 Donor

Rating: 5

11/05/2014

Seva is great because they go to the trouble to get grants for their operating expenses so it is not the usual thing of only 20% percent of what you give them going to the cause. The dollar for return is off the charts....eyesight for the price of a sandwich

1

Dave71 General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

11/04/2014

Sir Wavy had a sales pitch to my rock star friends..."If you don't play, I'll never talk to you again". They th ought it a joke...but he was serious. I've never seen anyone, anywhere refuse him. The gift of sight must be staggering. All the volunteers and board members are worth every penny we're not paying them. Ten Stars and a chestful of medals for all.

4

Jonette B. Donor

Rating: 5

11/04/2014

Jonette Beckman Rockett
I can't imagine,living in a world so beautiful, with your imagination in place of vision. Not everyone is able to have their vision restored, but those that can, SEVA goes the distance , to find and help these individuals obtain what so many take for granted! Close your eyes and walk around your home for 10 minutes with your eyes covered. Then go one better, do it for an hour. Just a small taste of a day in a life without sight. I love looking at EVERYTHING! So when I think about helping others less fortunate, I know,SEVA FOUNDATION, take their work, and the money we send VERY SERIOUSLY!! When Sending a donation, someone might see their family and world for the first time, I'm overwhelmed! Just as important. Glasses, I can't read without them. To know I might have bought glasses for an individual that will allow them to learn.
POWERFUL!

2 Caring Citizen Miss

Caring Citizen Miss Volunteer

Rating: 5

11/04/2014

Seva Foundation contributes to 'Compassion in Action' in a minimalist cost, maximum effectiveness effort, towards the elimination of unnecessary blindness. Initial efforts in the mountain countrysides of Nepal and India have expanded to programs within 20 countries; including hospitals (example: India's Aravind Eye Care System) and clinics. Community-enthused public citizen efforts in concerts and outreach tables at public events continues to remind the society of a hope in "Compassion in Action." Each $50 contribution (chosen from the "gifts or shop" section of the website -or event), or directly given, provides a cataract operation to save sight. I traveled for short of 12 years in support of Seva in coliseums and arenas, grasping the vision of hope in the eyes of visitors as a start to a new century.

3

Gregg J. Donor

Rating: 5

11/03/2014

I have been proud to support the fine work of SEVA Foundation for many years, especially so since having my own cataracts done 8 years ago, it is a life changing experience to believe you are going to be blind and to find an organization like SEVA that can literally open your eyes! I urge support for this fine organization!

1

Moaya S. General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

11/03/2014

I have been a contributor and supporter of Seva since its inception! This is an honest charity that delivers real results. The founders - wavy gravey , ram das , and Larry brilliant has grown into an organization to be proud of ! Tim Duncan has done a great job in recent times ... I will continue to support the fine work of this NGO.

Bbyeates Donor

Rating: 5

11/01/2014

A truly wonderful organization run by a fantastic group of passionate folks. Giving the gift of sight is the perfect Christmas present for those who already have enough stuff. We are all warmed by the idea of making such a tremendous difference in someone's life. Thank you Seva!

debgalardi Board Member

Rating: 5

10/30/2014

I support Seva Foundation for 3 primary reasons: 1) Impact - restoring someone's sight improves not only their life, but the lives of family members who support them. Personal suffering is reduced and economic opportunities are enhanced as individuals can lead more productive lives. 2) Value - almost 90% of Seva's annual budget goes directly to programs, part of the reason Seva is so highly rated among nonprofits, 3) Sustainability - Seva builds partnerships worldwide to preserve and restore site. Through capacity building services provided by Seva, local partners can expand services and reduce the costs of service delivery. The staff and board are passionate about the organization's mission and vision for a world free of avoidable blindness.

yippyd Donor

Rating: 5

10/28/2014

I love Seva Foundation. It is a wonderful organization with dedicated people working to end avoidable blindness

GratefulDonor Donor

Rating: 5

10/27/2014

When I give, I give to Seva. They are working to end suffering by providing those in need with eye care. My donations help prevent blindness and save eyesight. What an incredible thing to be able to do for another human being. I urge you to join me in supporting this wonderful organization!

1

TheNobelityProject Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/27/2013

At The Nobelity Project we use the power of film to create positive change, and profiling the work of the Seva Foundation has been one of our most gratifying efforts to date. Traveling with one of their remote eye care units into the mountains of Nepal made for the compelling footage captured in our short film "Let There Be Sight", and witnessing the work of these doctors and their team was inspirational. People from miles around brought their blind family members into the camp and many were able to walk away with restored vision. We believe their focus on those most in need makes the impact on these families and their communities truly transformational.

Uncle bo bo Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

10/18/2013

I love Seva Foundation. It is a wonderful group of folks who are totally deadicated to helping people around the world. The organization is founded on compassion in action ,which they have focused into curing blindness in some of the most impoverished and rural places in the world, whre being blind makes it almost impossible to survive. Seva brings integrity and love into the field. The world needs more of this.

Andrea Lynne Donor

Rating: 5

10/18/2013

What better than to offer sight to someone? Millions of people in the poorest most remote areas in the world are now able to see thanks to Seva. These are people who have not been able to care for themselves and became totally dependent on their family and neighbors to do the simplest tasks. Now they are able to see, work, and participate in life.

sfconnect General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/09/2013

A Cataract surgery has an immediate impact on a individuals life. That fact is overwhelmingly emotional. The staff and volunteers at Seva have a beautiful and focused passion to improve the lives of others. Giving sight to someone blind opens up social and economic possibilities where there may have none. I am proud to be a part of this organization.

Oaklander Board Member

Rating: 5

10/09/2013

The best thing about Seva is their model of sustainability in helping people provide for themselves in curing blindness and improving sight in developing countries and also right here at home in the USA. This includes training, making connections, being inclusive in decision making, and helping to pave the way locally as well as internationally, among many other things. The culture of Seva is so cool and laid back, you'd never know the magnitude of the reach they have around the world by their modesty and low key way of interacting with everyone. Once you get to know Seva, you'll be hooked.

Olly J. Donor

Rating: 5

10/08/2013

It is a terrific organization which helps the poorest in desperate need.

Roger24 Donor

Rating: 5

10/08/2013

Seva actually gets things done. Can you imagine giving someone the ability to see again? Clean drinking water? A healthy diet? Things we take for granted everyday. And what's more, Seva trains people in the area to become self-sufficient, so they can help themselves in the future. This is a caring organization, with both heatprt and brains. And very low administrative costs. Your dollars actually help the people they're intended to help.

1

CompassionInCambridge Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2013

I've been volunteering with Seva since I was a child, and the sense of community among their supporters is only rivaled by the inspiring reach and wisdom of their work!

2

dlmoses1 Donor

Rating: 5

10/08/2013

I attended one of Seva's eye camps in Nepal and witnessed several people who were blind because of a cataract have their sight restored. Seeing someone have the patch removed after cataract surgery and being able to see is PRICELESS!!
The work Seva does is fantastic.

Kimm P. Donor

Rating: 5

10/08/2013

I have been supporting SEVA for many years. The idea of buying eye surgeries for folks all over the world (so INEXPENSIVELY!) and giving the 'gift of sight' to someone whom i'll never meet fills me with tremendous joy. I thank SEVA for giving me this opportunity and will continue to support their mission.

1

Barbara from San Diego Donor

Rating: 5

11/06/2009

I've given to SEVA for more than 25 years. They help the people most in need in many areas of the world. They do incredible work and keep administrative costs to the bare minimum. I wish I could give them more.

10

sunshine Donor

Rating: 5

11/03/2009

I love Seva's Gifts of Service! Gifts include "Restore sight to a blind person" and "Provide 1 acre of seeds for a Native American community garden"...I'm going to give Gifts of Service to everyone this holiday season!

1

@ Donor

Rating: 5

07/21/2008

This is a wonderful organization doing great work around the world. Seva has a variety of program areas, from providing low cost sight restoring cataract surgeries to the poor, to clean water and literacy programs. Their alternative gift catalog called Gifts of Service is something I use every time I want to give someone a gift from the heart. Check it out online at www.seva.org/gos. This is one of the best organizations around! To learn more about the organization visit: www.seva.org

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