In keeping with its mission "to promote the generation, application, archiving and worldwide dissemination of knowledge in optics and photonics," the Optical Society of America (OSA) established the OSA Foundation (OSAF) in 2002 to carry out a wide range of charitable activities.

The OSAF is a non-profit organization that helps students as they move through advanced degree programs and become active members of research and engineering communities.  Foundation-sponsored travel grants, awards and scholarships are just some of the ways your contributions directly benefit these innovators and leaders of tomorrow.  The Foundation also works to secure the OSA Awards and Honors Program endowments.

As has been the case since the Foundation was founded in 2002, every donation is matched 100% by the Optical Society of America's contributions to the OSAF General Fund.  OSA's commitment to the Foundation and its matching program are here to stay, so your gifts will make twice the impact!  

Legal Name: The OSA Foundation, Inc.

Status: The OSAF is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the OSAF are tax deductible as provided by law.

Investment Objective: The OSAF’s investment objective is to maintain liquidity, and to optimize growth with minimal risk. Asset allocations have been established with the goal that OSAF will have perpetual existence. Current asset allocation guidelines are for a range of 50% – 70% of OSAF assets to be invested in equities, with the remaining 30% – 50% in fixed income and cash equivalents.

The OSAF Board of Directors oversees management and fundraising for the OSAF awards endowment (including  management of the OSA awards endowment portfolio), grant programs,  and other initiatives.  Its primary sources of support are donations from the  public and matching funds from the Optical Society of America.

All donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by the Optical Society of America.