Best Hearing and Vision Grants in North Carolina

North Carolina vision health organizations can access funding through the William and Helen Thomas Charitable Trust to support medical research and care for blindness, diabetes-related eye issues, and other vision impairments. Eligible 501(c)(3) charities in North Carolina and other select U.S. locations may also receive support for related education, environmental, and basic human needs programs.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving North Carolina and other Southern states can seek support for health, medical assistance, and related human services projects from the Robinson Foundation. Focused on compassionate relief, the foundation invites established charities (3+ years) to request single-year program funding that creates tangible, meaningful impact for children, families, veterans, and people facing hardship.

About the Emporia Community Foundation

Our Mission

To connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.

Sadie Jones Fund

The original focus of the Sadie Jones Fund was to provide for vision and hearing needs for individual children in Lyon and Chase counties. While the purpose has expanded, individual children are still eligible to receive assistance.

Early Stage and New Investigators conducting independent research on hearing and communication disorders in the U.S. and territories, including North Carolina, can apply for up to US $2,500,000 in R01 funding. Grants from the National Institutes of Health support projects within the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders’ scientific mission areas and encourage applicants from diverse, underrepresented backgrounds.

Full-time graduate audiology students in the U.S. who are committed to expanding access to hearing-care services, including for underserved communities in North Carolina, can apply for the Jill Botkin Hearing Health-Care Accessibility Scholarship, which awards US $5,000 for their studies. Funded by HearUSA, this American Academy of Audiology Foundation scholarship supports future hearing health professionals.

Early-career research scientists in eligible low- or middle-income countries can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award from the National Institutes of Health, with approximately US $140,000 to support mentored health research and career development. North Carolina–based mentors or partners in hearing, vision, or related health fields may collaborate with LMIC investigators on projects aligned with local health priorities.

Early-career research scientists at low- and middle-income country (LMIC) academic or research institutions conducting clinical trials in areas like eye diseases, vision impairment, or hearing disorders can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award, with approximately US $140,000. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help build independent research careers, which may benefit North Carolina collaborators and global hearing and vision health.

Academic and clinical institutions in North Carolina and other U.S. jurisdictions can obtain NIH support for research education that prepares clinician-scientists for careers in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences. The National Institutes of Health offers up to US $2,250,000 for R25 programs emphasizing hearing, communication disorders, and related professional training, which may benefit hearing-focused organizations.

Doctoral-level audiology and hearing science researchers at nonprofit institutions in the U.S. or Canada can seek up to US $20,000 for one-year hearing and balance research projects. With a mission to advance hearing health, American Academy of Audiology prioritizes post-doctoral fellows and academic-clinical partnerships, which may benefit North Carolina hearing and balance care programs.

Doctoral students conducting clinical or rehabilitative audiology research at full-time U.S. academic programs can receive $4,000 grants to support their studies. Focused on hearing disorders and audiology, the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation opportunity may benefit North Carolina students pursuing advanced training in hearing impairment care and related services.

With a mission to advance hearing health, the National Institutes of Health provides North Carolina audiology professionals with research fellowship support for Ph.D.-level training. Clinical audiologists currently enrolled in research doctorate programs may be eligible to develop rigorous biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research careers that ultimately improve hearing care and services.

The NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award (K18) supports established investigators in enhancing or redirecting their research efforts. This program is crucial for acquiring new skills relevant to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language sciences. Key deadlines for applications span from June 2024 to February 2027, including specific dates for AIDS-related grants, ensuring timely funding opportunities for innovative research.

Established investigators conducting research in hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language sciences in the U.S., including North Carolina, can apply for career enhancement support to gain new research skills. The National Institutes of Health’s NIDCD K18 award helps proven researchers expand or redirect their programs in communication and hearing disorders.

Established investigators conducting basic experimental studies with humans on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language can apply for the NIH NIDCD K18 Research Career Enhancement Award; awards support new skill acquisition to redirect or expand research programs. Eligible researchers in North Carolina and nationwide may benefit.

Academic medical institutions and teaching hospitals in the U.S., including North Carolina, can apply for NIH Research Education (R25) funding to provide mentored research experiences in otolaryngology and related biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences; awards up to Up to US $2,499,995. Grants from National Institutes of Health help develop future hearing and communication-disorders researchers through structured research education pathways for medical students and residents.

Audiology students pursuing clinical careers in private practice who are enrolled full-time at U.S. universities can receive scholarship support for their studies; awards are US $1,500 each. Grants from American Academy of Audiology help North Carolina hearing and audiology students, among others nationwide, who have completed their first year and will remain enrolled through Fall 2025.

Full-time graduate students in audiology seeking support for their clinical training and education can apply for this scholarship, which awards US $2,000 to two recipients. With a mission to advance hearing and balance health care, the American Academy of Audiology provides this funding to students at U.S. universities, including those in North Carolina.

Full-time graduate audiology students at U.S. universities, including those in North Carolina, can receive scholarship funding for their clinical training and education. American Academy of Audiology provides $5,000 Empowering Students Scholarships, funded by the Oticon Hearing Foundation, with a portion of the total $30,000 designated specifically to support Black students pursuing audiology careers.

Full-time graduate students in U.S. audiology programs focusing on pediatric audiology can receive scholarship and travel support for AAA 2026+HearTECH Expo through this opportunity, which is open nationwide, including North Carolina. Focused on pediatric hearing care, the American Academy of Audiology awards US $10,000 plus travel funds to three eligible students.

Full-time graduate students in audiology pursuing AuD, PhD, or AuD/PhD programs at U.S. universities can receive $500 to recognize outstanding clinical skills, research potential, and service. With a mission to advance hearing and balance health care, the American Academy of Audiology supports future clinicians, including those serving North Carolina patients with hearing disorders and audiology needs.

Full-time graduate students in audiology at U.S. universities who are minority and/or international and focused on hearing research can receive US $500 to support their academic work. American Academy of Audiology provides North Carolina hearing and vision students with the Sadanand Singh Memorial Scholarship to recognize exceptional promise in audiology research.

The OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Training and Services to End Violence and Abuse Against Individuals with Disabilities and Deaf People Program aims to empower states, local and Tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations to provide crucial training and resources. This initiative focuses on addressing domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and caregiver abuse against individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals, enhancing direct services and support for these vulnerable populations.

The NIDCD Mentored Career Development Award for Postdoctorate Au.D./Ph.D. Audiologists (K01) aims to foster the development of promising audiologists through comprehensive postdoctoral research experiences. This funding opportunity supports individuals in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences, helping them become independent researchers. The deadlines for applications span from June 2024 to May 2027, ensuring ample time for preparation and submission.

The NIDCD Mentored Career Development Award supports postdoctoral Au.D./Ph.D. audiologists in their research and career development. This grant aims to foster independence in scientific health-related research relevant to the NIDCD's mission. Key deadlines for applications span from June 2024 to May 2027, providing numerous opportunities for eligible candidates to secure funding and advance their careers in the biomedical and clinical sciences.

The NIDCD Mentored Career Development Award for Postdoctorate Au.D./Ph.D. Audiologists (K01) aims to support the career development of promising audiologists through rigorous postdoctoral research in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences. This initiative encourages independent investigation in health-related research relevant to NIDCD's mission. Applications are due on various dates, with the next deadline on June 13, 2024, providing opportunities for advancing research in audiology and related fields.

The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21) supports early-stage scientists in establishing independent research careers in areas such as hearing, balance, and language. This grant facilitates small, innovative research projects and aims to generate preliminary data for future R01 applications. It is not intended for thesis work and is designed to enhance research methodologies and technologies in biomedical and behavioral sciences. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.

The Ralph J. Torraco Scholarship for Therapy Sciences, provided by the UNICO Foundation, awards two scholarships valued at $2,500 each to full-time students pursuing degrees in Therapy Sciences, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and continue their studies in the 2026-2027 academic year. This scholarship promotes educational advancement within the community.