Best Hearing and Vision Grants in Delaware

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving communities in Delaware and the broader Southern region can seek funding for health, medical assistance, and related human services projects. Focused on compassionate relief, the Robinson Foundation invites established charities to propose single-year programs with tangible, meaningful impact, which may include services benefiting people with hearing or vision challenges.

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.

Audiology and hearing science researchers at nonprofit U.S. or Canadian institutions can seek funding for one-year basic or applied projects in hearing and balance. With a mission to advance hearing and balance care, American Academy of Audiology provides Delaware and other investigators with up to US $20,000, prioritizing academic-clinical partnerships on screening, patient safety, and access to services.

Eligible U.S. institutions developing research education for clinician-scientists in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences can apply for up to US $2,250,000 to support structured training and mentoring. The National Institutes of Health provides Delaware hearing and communication disorder programs, including audiology and hearing impairment care, with funding to enhance participation in NIDCD-focused research careers.

Early-career research scientists at low- or middle-income country institutions conducting clinical research on areas like eye diseases, hearing disorders, or vision impairment can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award, with approximately US $140,000 and 3–5 years of protected research time. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help Delaware-connected and other LMIC investigators build independent global health research careers.

Early-career research scientists in low- and middle-income countries conducting health-related research, including hearing and vision topics, can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award; awards approximately US $140,000 for mentored career development. This US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health program supports three to five years of protected research time at LMIC institutions.

Early Stage and New Investigators conducting hearing and communication disorders research, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, can apply for R01 funding up to US $2,500,000 from the National Institutes of Health. Grants from National Institutes of Health help Delaware and other U.S. researchers advance work in deafness, hearing disorders, audiology, and related communication sciences.

Doctoral students conducting clinical or rehabilitative audiology research at U.S. academic programs can receive funding from the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation. Focused on hearing disorders and audiology, ASHFoundation invites eligible students, including those whose work serves Delaware hearing impairment care and services, to apply for Student Research Grant in Audiology awards of US $4,000.

Full-time graduate audiology students in the U.S. committed to improving hearing-care access, including in underserved Delaware communities, can apply for the Jill Botkin Hearing Health-Care Accessibility Scholarship, awarding US $5,000 for their studies. Funded through the American Academy of Audiology Foundation, this scholarship supports future audiologists focused on reducing hearing health disparities.

Established biomedical researchers pursuing hearing and communication disorders research in the U.S., including Delaware, can seek career enhancement support to gain new research skills and redirect their programs. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds projects related to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language sciences.

Academic and research institutions conducting hearing, balance, or communication science research in Delaware can seek funding to enhance established investigators’ skills and redirect their programs. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health supports projects acquiring new research skills relevant to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language, with eligibility extending across the U.S. territories.

Established investigators conducting basic experimental studies with humans on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language sciences in Delaware and other U.S. jurisdictions can apply for the NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award (K18). This NIH program supports acquiring new research skills to expand or redirect ongoing communication and hearing-related research programs.

Medical schools, teaching hospitals, and similar institutions in Delaware and across the U.S. can access funding for mentored otolaryngology research education programs through National Institutes of Health grants, with awards up to Up to US $2,499,995. Grants from National Institutes of Health help develop research experiences for medical students and residents in hearing-related biomedical and clinical sciences.

Audiology students interested in hearing disorders and audiology can receive support for their education through this scholarship, open to full-time AuD, PhD, or AuD/PhD students at U.S. universities, including those from Delaware. Grants from American Academy of Audiology provide US $1,500 each to two students pursuing private practice audiology careers.

About the ASHFoundation

ASHFoundation supports innovators and sparks innovation in communication sciences. We give early support to promising students, researchers, and clinicians exploring bold ideas to transform the field and improve people's lives.

Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award

The Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award recognizes an individual’s outstanding contributions to communication sciences and disorders over a period of at least 20 years. The lifetime contribution may have been in clinical service, supervision or administration of clinical service, clinical research, or any other activity that has promoted clinical excellence.

The award is given in honor of Frank R. Kleffner, a former ASHFoundation president and former ASHA president, who worked tirelessly over his lifetime until his passing in 2015 to professionalize and expand the ASHFoundation’s charitable goals.

The awardee receives a commemorative art object with a recognition plaque.

Full-time graduate students in audiology seeking support for their clinical training can apply for the Continued Achievement Scholarship, which awards US $2,000 to two promising future audiologists. With a mission to advance hearing and balance health care, the American Academy of Audiology provides this funding to U.S. students, including those studying in Delaware.

Full-time graduate students in audiology at U.S. universities can receive US $5,000 scholarships supporting their clinical audiology training and education. American Academy of Audiology provides Delaware hearing and balance care students, including Black students prioritized through Oticon Hearing Foundation funding, with merit-based support recognizing exceptional promise as future clinical audiologists.

The Jerry Northern Scholarship in Pediatric Audiology, funded by the American Academy of Audiology, offers $10,000 scholarships and $500 for travel expenses to three full-time graduate students pursuing audiology programs. To qualify, applicants must be in good standing, have completed a pediatric audiology course, and be in their second academic year. This initiative celebrates Dr. Jerry Northern's commitment to advancing pediatric audiology and supports students in their professional development.

The Judith Blumsack Scholarship, offered by the American Academy of Audiology Foundation, awards $500 to a full-time graduate student in audiology who demonstrates exceptional clinical skills and commitment to clinical research and community service. Established in honor of Dr. Judith Blumsack upon her retirement, this scholarship acknowledges her significant contributions to the field and aims to inspire future audiologists to excel in their professional journey.

The Sadanand Singh Memorial Scholarship, offered by the American Academy of Audiology, provides $500 to a minority or international graduate student in audiology who demonstrates exceptional research potential. This scholarship honors Dr. Sadanand Singh, a dedicated educator and advocate for audiology, who passed away in 2010. Eligible candidates must be full-time students in good standing at a U.S. university, showcasing their promise through a resume, rubric, and personal statement.

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.

Postdoctoral Au.D./Ph.D. audiologists seeking mentored research career development in hearing sciences can apply for this U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health award, with funding up to US $105,000. Grants from NIH help Delaware hearing and audiology researchers pursue rigorous biomedical, behavioral, or clinical studies aligned with NIDCD’s mission.

Postdoctoral Au.D./Ph.D. audiologists conducting basic, behavioral, or clinical hearing research in the U.S., including Delaware, can receive up to US $105,000 for mentored career development and research training. Focused on hearing disorders and audiology, this National Institutes of Health K01 award supports the transition to independent, health-related research careers.

Early-career biomedical and behavioral researchers working on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language projects in Delaware and nationwide can seek support for independent research development. With a mission to advance communication and hearing science, NIH provides NIDCD Early Career Research (R21) awards up to US $375,000 for preliminary studies that prepare investigators for future R01 applications.

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.

Musicians and music industry workers facing hearing-related challenges can apply for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund’s Hearing Health Fund, which offers financial assistance for those in need. Eligible applicants in Delaware and across the U.S. must demonstrate financial need and earn at least half their income from music or music industry work.

The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21) supports new scientists establishing independent research careers in areas related to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language. This grant encourages innovative projects such as secondary data analysis, small research initiatives, and technology development, aiming to generate preliminary data for future R01 applications. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.