Gilbert Charity Awards Millions for Retinal Research
A Race Against Blindness has distributed $6.1 million in grants to accelerate treatments for inherited retinal diseases.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Gilbert-based charity A Race Against Blindness has awarded $6.1 million in research grants to combat inherited retinal diseases. These funds support specific gene-therapy programs and collaborative research efforts.
Why it matters
The organization was founded by Stephen and Kristina Johnston to drive medical breakthroughs after their son, Luke Johnston, was diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. This initiative aims to speed up the development of treatments for rare eye conditions.
The organization has directed $5.1 million toward the AXV-101 gene-therapy program and an additional $1 million to the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the RD Fund. These grants represent the bulk of the $6.1 million distributed to research to date.
The players
A Race Against Blindness
This Gilbert-based 501(c)(3) public charity generates funding for retinal disease research through vehicle sweepstakes.
Stephen and Kristina Johnston
They are the founders of A Race Against Blindness who established the organization following their son's health diagnosis.
Foundation Fighting Blindness
This organization works alongside the RD Fund to provide collaborative support for the research of blindness-preventing therapies.
The details
A Race Against Blindness funds its research grants by operating sweepstakes that feature high-value vehicle prizes, such as an adventure van valued at $250,000. The charity uses American Sweepstakes & Promotion Co. to administer these fundraising raffles, which have enabled significant investment in gene-agnostic therapy research.
Timeline
Luke Johnston was diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl syndrome in 2020.
The organization received its tax-exempt status in February 2023.
The charity reached $3 million in total paid research grants by December 2024.
Grant funding for the AXV-101 program reached $5.1 million in January 2026.
The charity awarded $1 million for gene-agnostic research in June 2026.
Market Landscape
A Race Against Blindness operates under the IRS 501(c)(3) framework to manage its philanthropic activities. This structure allows the non-profit to solicit public donations and distribute research grants while maintaining institutional compliance.
The charity's reliance on sweepstakes allows donors to support medical research while participating in high-value prize giveaways. This model directly dictates the organization's fundraising capacity and the amount of capital available for future grant cycles.
The takeaway
Charitable organizations can leverage unconventional fundraising models to provide substantial capital for niche medical research. Individuals looking to contribute to such causes should verify the organization's mission and transparency regarding grant allocation.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts in Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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