The American Academy of Optometry Foundation offers many awards, grants, scholarships, and research opportunities. To learn more about various opportunities please select from the following:

* indicates that the selection is made by institution and the AAOF does not accept applications from individuals.

Acknowledgement of Submissions

You should receive an email confirming receipt of your electronic application submission within 1-3 business days. If you do not receive an email, please make query to AAOF@aaoptom.org prior to the submission deadline.

Costs

The AAOF is a non-profit organization and our policy is not to cover any overhead/indirect costs associated with any of our programs. This policy applies uniformly to all award recipients. 

Program Notes

Prior to window open guidelines for any given program are subject to change by the AAOF and/or the award sponsor. The notice of the availability of a program will be sent by email to institution contacts. Applicants are reminded to please review all information before submitting their application to ensure it meets all criteria.

It is the standard policy of the AAOF that program recipients who receive, as part of their award, a travel stipend to attend an event, cannot also receive a second or duplicate travel stipend from the foundation or its affiliate, the American Academy of Optometry. 

All award recipients by application and acceptance of an award agree to allow the AAOF and/or the sponsor of the program to which they applied to publish their  name, image, institution information, and any statement or quote provided by the recipient. These will appear in a variety of  media formats that will announce and promote the program including, but not limited to, the AAOF and/or sponsor annual report, website, annual meeting promotional materials. 

Our Award, Grant, and Scholarship Reviewers

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others.  The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. 

~Author Unknown

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation utilizes the services of many exceptional leaders in academia, private practice, and industry to review applications.  They are an important component of the Foundation's award process.

For each application there is a specified group, consisting of a specified number of individuals, with a minimum of 3 that performs the merit review.

Over the past year these individuals reviewed hundreds of applications received for at least one of the 16 programs administered by the Foundation.  They do so on a volunteer basis and their feedback elevates the standards of all programs and recipients.  In 2017 AAOF will enlist the aid of several members of the Academy's Sections to give out nearly $450,000 dollars in funding to elite optometrist, researchers, and academic institutions.

The AAOF Board of Directors, the American Academy of Optometry, sponsors, donors and staff take this opportunity to recognize and thank each individual publicly for their contribution in selecting the next generation of optometric leaders, educators, and scientists.

Listed below, in alphabetical order, are the reviewers who have served for the past year. 

We are proud to honor them.