Since 2020, #HalfMyDAF has awarded over $70 million in grants. The initiative encourages DAF holders to move more of the $250 billion sitting in DAFs to nonprofits. In 2025, the generous donors behind #HalfmyDAF have pooled their resources to match donations from DAF holders. The matching pool totals $2.25 million, including $1 million in a general matching fund for all nonprofits.
This is a powerful opportunity to double your impact and help more people around the world obtain a simple tool that unlocks learning, earning, and well-being: a pair of eyeglasses.
Why now?
The dissolution of USAID and the reduction of foreign aid budgets in other countries marks a critical moment for global development. Your philanthropy has a powerful role to play in advancing health equity and education, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
You’ve already demonstrated your commitment to change the world for the better by establishing and funding a donor-advised fund—well done! Now, you have the opportunity to distribute those funds while also unlocking a matching grant to amplify your impact.
Distributing eyeglasses to those who need them is a proven, cost-effective intervention with far-reaching benefits. At EYElliance, we are creating equitable access to eyeglasses through public health and education systems and scaling affordable options in the private sector. With #HalfMyDAF, you can help fuel this momentum.
How #HalfMyDAF Works
If you're a DAF holder, your donations can qualify for randomly selected matching grants from #HalfMyDAF when you:
- Make a donation and commit to spending half the money that was in your DAF at the start of the year by September 26, 2025
- To be eligible for a match, donations must be at least $250
- If selected for a match, donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000, with four matches of $25,000
- Complete the #HalfMyDAF commitment form
- Upload as many grant confirmations (from your fund sponsor’s website) as you’d like to be eligible for matches
- The deadline to submit this information is June 27, 2025 (first match round) or September 26, 2025 (second match round)
- If you choose to support us by submitting your DAF grant to EYElliance for a match, you can use the information in the ‘How to Nominate EYElliance’ section below when filling out the form.
How to Nominate EYElliance
To submit your nomination of EYElliance to HalfMyDAF.com, use this information to complete the commitment form:
- Name of nonprofit: EYElliance
- Tax ID: EIN 84-2711222
- Issue Area: Health, Education, Gender Equality
- If this non-profit's mission (or an identified project of the nonprofit) focuses on gender equality, reproductive health, or education in underserved communities, its chances for receiving a matching grant are greater thanks to dedicated funding. If you feel your nonprofit qualifies, please write a sentence or two describing how: EYElliance is facilitating investment into women-led optical businesses selling affordable eyeglasses. Nearly all (92%) of the companies we provide with investment readiness support have women founders or women in leadership roles. EYElliance also improves education in underserved communities by working with African governments to implement free vision screening and eyeglass provision in public schools. For students with poor vision, eyeglasses can improve learning outcomes and test scores in primary school students, lead to increased rates of primary school completion, and result in improved wages and earnings for students when they enter the workforce.
- Website: www.eyelliance.org
- State: New York
The more people who nominate and donate to EYElliance, the more likely we are to receive a match. This means more children will be able to continue their studies and more workers will increase their income and remain in the workforce, thanks to the gift of clear sight.
Join the movement. Increase your impact.
If you have any questions, want friendly reminders about the HalfMyDAF deadlines, or want support with your nomination of EYElliance, reach out to Mariah@eyelliance.org.
See the full details of the #HalfMyDAF initiative at https://www.halfmydaf.com/.
Thank you for being an ally in this work to improve lives around the world through clear vision.
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