Best Hearing and Vision Grants in Arkansas

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing health, medical assistance, or related human services in Arkansas and the broader Southern region can seek support for programmatic work from the Robinson Foundation. Focus areas include medical assistance, children and families, poverty relief, disaster relief, and related services that create tangible, meaningful impact rather than capital projects.

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.

Nonprofit and academic organizations in Arkansas and other U.S. jurisdictions can seek NIH support for research education programs that prepare clinician-scientists for careers in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. The National Institutes of Health offers up to US $2,250,000 for R25 projects that may include hearing and communication disorders education and mentoring activities.

Early-career research scientists at low- or middle-income country institutions conducting clinical research in areas like eye diseases, hearing disorders, or vision impairment can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award, with approximately US $140,000 for mentored career development. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help Arkansas-connected and other LMIC investigators build independent research careers over three to five years.

Early-career research scientists in low- or middle-income countries with junior faculty posts at LMIC institutions can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award, offering approximately US $140,000 for mentored health research career development. Projects may include hearing or vision-related research and can involve Arkansas-based U.S. mentors through the National Institutes of Health.

Doctoral students conducting clinical or rehabilitative audiology research at U.S. academic programs can apply for the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation’s Student Research Grant in Audiology, with awards of US $4,000. Focused on advancing hearing science, this opportunity may benefit Arkansas students and programs in hearing disorders, audiology, and hearing impairment care.

Full-time graduate audiology students at U.S. universities who are committed to improving access to hearing-care services can apply for the Jill Botkin Hearing Health-Care Accessibility Scholarship, awarding US $5,000 for their studies. Sponsored by the American Academy of Audiology and funded by HearUSA, Arkansas students meeting SAA membership and enrollment criteria may be eligible.

Audiology and hearing science researchers at U.S. or Canadian nonprofit institutions can seek funding for one-year hearing and balance research projects, including work benefiting patients in Arkansas. With a mission to advance hearing and balance care, American Academy of Audiology provides grants up to US $20,000, prioritizing academic-clinical partnerships and post-doctoral fellows.

Full-time graduate students in audiology at U.S. universities can receive US $5,000 scholarships to advance their clinical audiology training, including work in hearing disorders and audiology. American Academy of Audiology provides Arkansas hearing and vision students with Empowering Students Scholarships funded by Oticon Hearing Foundation, with a portion reserved to support Black students pursuing audiology careers.

Full-time graduate students in audiology seeking support for their clinical training can use this scholarship to advance their education. With a mission to advance hearing and balance health care, American Academy of Audiology provides U.S. audiology students, including those studying in Arkansas, with US $2,000 Continued Achievement Scholarships for promising future clinicians.

Audiology students pursuing hearing disorders and audiology training at U.S. universities, including those from Arkansas, can receive support for their education through this scholarship. Grants from American Academy of Audiology help future clinical audiologists interested in private practice with US $1,500 awards. Eligible applicants must be full-time AuD, PhD, or AuD/PhD students who have completed their first year.

Established biomedical investigators conducting research on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language sciences in the U.S., including Arkansas, can seek career enhancement support to gain new research skills. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health offers these awards to help researchers expand or redirect their programs in communication and hearing disorders.

Established investigators conducting research on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language sciences in Arkansas can seek funding to enhance or redirect their programs through new research skills. The US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health supports these NIDCD K18 clinical trial projects across the U.S., including Arkansas, on standard and AIDS-related submission cycles.

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.

Career musicians and music industry workers in Arkansas facing hearing-related challenges can apply for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund’s Hearing Health Fund to receive financial assistance for hearing health needs. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and show that at least half of their income comes from music or music industry work, with specific criteria for both musicians and industry workers.

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.

Physician-researchers at U.S. or Canadian institutions can seek funding for clinical or basic science projects on auditory and vestibular diseases through the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation, including work benefiting Arkansas patients. Focused on hearing disorders and neurotology, this award supports early-career academic investigators with up to US $25,000 for research costs.

Donald and Mary Frink Scholarship

The scholarship provides support for students who are hearing impaired.

Award Amount:

• Minimum $1,000

Mary Jo DeVleeschower Scholarship

Mary Jo DeVleeschower was a native of South Bend, Indiana, born January 14th, 1941. She graduated in 1968 from Andrew Jackson High School in South Bend, and graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana in 1972 with a degree in “special education.” Mary Jo taught at the Alexander Graham Bell School beginning in 1972 working with students who were hearing impaired. She attended the University of Southern California (John Tracy Clinic) and received her Master’s degree in 1978 from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a teacher at the Alexander Graham Bell School, Mary Jo worked through a grant with Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. for the Wole Language Program for the hearing impaired, publishing a related article in a national magazine. Mary Jo DeVleeschower loved the children with whom she worked, and poured her whole heart into her work. She had a special relationship with her students, demonstrated on the day of her memorial when some shared a tribute to her in American Sign Language. She further demonstrated her love and support for her students through the creation of the scholarship through her will.

Award Amount:

• Minimum $500

Postdoctoral Au.D./Ph.D. audiologists seeking mentored research and career development support in hearing sciences can apply for up to US $105,000 through the NIDCD K01 award, available in Arkansas and other U.S. territories. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help emerging investigators build independent research careers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical audiology fields.

Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives.

Scholarships

CFHZ awards over $1 million in scholarships each year for students to attend schools of higher education throughout the nation. Our scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of donors who invest in our community’s future by furthering the education of others.

All Holland/Zeeland area individuals interested in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for CFHZ scholarships.

The Foundation proudly administers over 100 scholarships, each with unique eligibility criteria that must be met before a candidate can be considered.

Holland Doctors of Audiology Scholarship

• Graduating senior, graduating early college student, or current college student who attends/attended public, private, or home school in the primary service area of the Community Foundation or in Hamilton or Saugatuck
• Enrolling/enrolled at an accredited post-secondary school within the United States
• Financial need (must submit the page of the FAFSA Submission Summary showing the Student Aid Index amount)
• Hard of hearing and hearing aid user and/or admitted and enrolling/enrolled at an accredited program in audiology (graduate-level candidates)
• Hard of hearing and hearing aid user and/or interested in studying audiology or hearing science (undergraduate-level candidates)
• Involvement in the school’s music program preferred.
• Potentially renewable for three additional years.

The Les Paul Foundation Grant supports innovative music education and medical research related to hearing loss. Eligible organizations must be U.S.-based public charities under 501(c)(3) and avoid religious, political, labor, or business affiliations. The foundation prioritizes projects that enhance music production, performance, and STEM/STEAM initiatives, particularly those benefiting individuals in challenging situations. Proposals must detail how they will share Les Paul's legacy in their work.

Postdoctoral Au.D./Ph.D. audiologists pursuing biomedical, behavioral, or clinical hearing research in Arkansas can access mentored career development funding through the National Institutes of Health. Focused on hearing disorders and professional training, this K01 award supports rigorous research and career development experiences, with awards up to US $105,000 for projects aligned with the NIDCD mission.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Kristin & Michael Bauman Scholarship Fund

Kristin Bauman, as a teacher and consultant, taught hearing impaired students in Pennsylvania and Calhoun County, Michigan for over 30 years. She had lost the majority of her own hearing in her youth which served to motivate her to help others with this disability. After retiring, she was approached by a former hearing impaired student who as an adult, wished to return to college. Kristin was reminded of how difficult it was to find the financial resources to go to college. In researching the scholarships available to students with disabilities, she found there were few scholarships offered for students with disabilities especially within the Calhoun County, Michigan area. Students with hearing impairments have to work harder than most to not only obtain but succeed in higher education. Kristin and her family would like to help hearing impaired students, as well as their future teachers, make higher education a reality through this scholarship.

The AHRF Birtman Grant provides up to $75,000 for one year of research focused on hearing and balance disorders related to the inner ear. This grant encourages both basic and clinical studies, covering direct costs such as staff salaries and research equipment. Applicants must hold relevant advanced degrees and be affiliated with a U.S. university or hospital. An alternative budget option of $50,000 is available, enhancing eligibility for Regular grants if not awarded the Birtman Grant.