James Jorkasky is the Executive Director of the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR, a 501c4 advocacy organization) and the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR, a 501c3 educational foundation). Combined, the Alliances serve as the "Friends of the National Eye Institute (NEI)." The Alliances advocate for and educate about the value of federally funded vision research funded by the NEI within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other government agencies. The Alliances' 50+ members includes professional societies in ophthalmology and optometry, patient and consumers groups, private funding foundations in vision, and industry.