The Foundation began in 1890 as the Jubilee Institute for the Blind and provided services to blind, deafblind and vision-impaired members who met the vision criteria for registration. This service continues today.

The first formal services for blind and vision-impaired people were a school and residence in Parnell. The Foundation went on to offer sheltered employment. Sheltered workshops, hostels and other residential programmes were expanded and maintained for many years.

Towards the end of the twentieth century, a change in philosophical direction towards members' greater integration into the community meant that the workshops, hostels and other institutional activities were gradually withdrawn.

In 2001, the Ministry of Education took over Homai National School for the Blind and Vision Impaired to run as a state school. Until that time it had been an educational service provided by the Foundation.

The Foundation formally became an organisation truly accountable to its members in April 2003.
See The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act 2002. The Act allows for the Foundation to become an incorporated society at a later date.