To prevent and cure hearing loss and tinnitus through groundbreaking research and to promote hearing health.
Hearing Health Foundation backs research across hearing loss, tinnitus, balance disorders, and hearing restoration, with a portfolio built around competitive project grants and early-stage investigator support. Its active programs include Emerging Research Grants, which provide one-year seed funding that may be renewable for a second year, and the Hearing Restoration Project, an international consortium organized to advance hair cell regeneration research. Recent awards show a strong research-university orientation. Mass Eye & Ear received $241,995 for a research grant in 2025, while the University of Southern California received $225,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2023 for research grants. Other large awards went to University of Maryland Baltimore Spa Office, Baylor College of Medicine, Stanford University’s Board of Trustees, and the University of Washington, indicating repeated support for academic and medical research centers working on hearing-related questions. The foundation also supports work that bridges basic and translational science. Its Hearing Restoration Project centers on collaborative research and data sharing toward regenerating sensory hair cells in the inner ear, while Emerging Research Grants cover the full spectrum of hearing and balance, including underfunded areas of otology and early-career projects.
In hearing-restoration research, Hearing Health Foundation supports the Hearing Restoration Project, an international consortium focused on hair cell regeneration, inner ear biology, cross-species epigenetics, and translational hearing restoration research. That program is organized to coordinate projects across species and labs. The foundation also funds hearing-loss research through Emerging Research Grants. These one-year grants support projects on age-related hearing loss, hearing loss in children, central auditory processing disorders, hyperacusis, and hearing health. Its portfolio reaches into clinical and scientific research centers. Oregon Health & Science University received $141,995 for a research grant in 2024, and Stowers Institute for Medical Research received $109,000 in 2025 and $103,500 in 2024, showing support for both disease-focused and lab-based investigation. Prevention is also in scope: the active grant program includes prevention and hearing protection as part of its focus on hearing health.
$2.3M
$14.3M
$4.7M
$4.9M
Most grants fall between $50K and $145K, with a median of $95K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$95K
75th Percentile
$145K
About 8% of grants go to recipients in CA.
ROBERT BOUCAI
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Typical grants cluster in a mid-to-large research range, with a p25 of $49,999, a median of $94,500, and a p75 of $144,850. The active Emerging Research Grants program awards one-year grants that may be renewable for a second year, and it accepts unsolicited applications. The Hearing Restoration Project is structured differently: it is an organized consortium rather than an open-call grant program, and it does not accept unsolicited applications. Recent awards suggest repeated support to the same institutions across multiple years, including University of Southern California, University of Maryland Baltimore Spa Office, Baylor College of Medicine, Stanford University, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Hearing Health Foundation is classified as a regular funder and funds individuals.
Grantmaking is national, and every recent recipient in the sample is in the United States. Arizona appears most often in the broader grant record by recipient count, while New York accounts for 4% of grants. Recent awards are concentrated in research hubs such as Baltimore, Los Angeles, Houston, Palo Alto, Seattle, and Boston. The country distribution shows 71 grants to U.S. recipients, with no non-U.S. recipient countries in the recent-grants set.
It supports hearing loss, tinnitus, balance disorders, hair cell regeneration and hearing restoration, cochlear implant research, prevention and hearing protection, and early-career researcher seed grants. Active programs also include Emerging Research Grants and the Hearing Restoration Project.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals and uses competitive, project-specific grants. Its active Emerging Research Grants program is designed to provide seed funding for research projects across hearing and balance, including early-stage and established investigators.
The typical grant size is p25 $49,999, median $94,500, and p75 $144,850. The active Emerging Research Grants program is described as awarding one-year grants in the $50,000–$100,000 range, with some awards renewable for a second year.
For Emerging Research Grants, yes: the program accepts unsolicited applications. The Hearing Restoration Project is different; it is an organized consortium and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Recent recipients include academic institutions and universities, research centers, and medical schools such as Mass Eye & Ear, the University of Southern California, Baylor College of Medicine, Stanford University, the University of Washington, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Hearing Health Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and hold an appointment at a nonprofit educational, governmental, or other research institution located in the United States. Proposals must address tinnitus.
Deadline: LOIs due December 7, 2026; invited full proposals due April 5, 2027.
Who can apply: Applicants must hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and hold an appointment at a nonprofit educational, governmental, or other research institution located in the United States. Proposals must address Ménière’s disease or acquired pain and/or loudness hyperacusis as specified in the current award guidance.
Who can apply: Applicants must hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and hold an appointment at a nonprofit educational, governmental, or other research institution located in the United States. Proposals must address Central Auditory Processing Disorder.
Who can apply: Applicants must hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and hold an appointment at a nonprofit educational, governmental, or other research institution located in the United States. This award is restricted to Early Stage Investigators. Applicants may not currently have more than $100,000 in outside support in direct costs or have held major federal awards. Early Stage Investigators are no more than 10 years from their most recent terminal degree or medical residency.
Who can apply: Applicants must hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and hold an appointment at a nonprofit educational, governmental, or other research institution located in the United States. Early Stage Investigator awards are restricted to Early Stage Investigators; some award types have additional eligibility requirements. Current medical residents in otolaryngology may also apply; other medical residents and Ph.D. students are not eligible.
Deadline: Letters of intent due December 17, 2026; the next application cycle opened October 13, 2026.
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Deadline: LOIs due December 7, 2026; invited full proposals due April 5, 2027.
Deadline: LOIs due December 7, 2026; invited full proposals due April 5, 2027.
Deadline: LOIs due December 7, 2026; invited full proposals due April 5, 2027.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE SPA OFFICE | BALTIMORE, MD | $259,742 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS (NIDCD) | BETHESDA, MD | $190,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY | PALO ALTO, CA | $175,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| MASS EYE & EAR | BOSTON, MA | $175,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $130,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE SPONSORED PROGRAMS OFFICE | HOUSTON, TX | $125,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $114,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| STOWERS INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH | KANSAS CITY, MO | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY | PORTLAND, OR | $100,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $97,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA 2410 UCC | IOWA CITY, IA | $50,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OFFICE OF RESEARCH ADMINISTRATI | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE SUNY ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO | AMHERST, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO UCSF MAIN DEPOSITORY ACCOUNT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE FOR RESEARCH & SPONSORED PROJECTS ADMIN | TEMPE, AZ | $49,999 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY GROSSMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $49,993 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER AMC AND DC ANSCHULTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS | AURORA, CO | $49,923 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $49,891 | 2026 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA | MELVILLE, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH IN OTOLOGY |
| MASS EYE & EAR | BOSTON, MA | $241,995 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE SPA OFFICE | BALTIMORE, MD | $174,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY | PALO ALTO, CA | $160,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE SPONSORED PROGRAMS OFFICE | HOUSTON, TX | $155,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS (NIDCD) | BETHESDA, MD | $145,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $121,232 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| STOWERS INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH | KANSAS CITY, MO | $109,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OFFICE OF RESEARCH ADMINISTRATI | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY | PORTLAND, OR | $99,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE SUNY ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO | AMHERST, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY GROSSMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $49,996 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA | CHARLESTON, SC | $49,987 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $49,939 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $32,890 | 2025 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $225,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE SPONSORED PROGRAMS OFFICE | HOUSTON, TX | $174,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $165,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE SPA OFFICE | BALTIMORE, MD | $153,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY | PALO ALTO, CA | $152,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS (NIDCD) | BETHESDA, MD | $144,701 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $144,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY | PORTLAND, OR | $141,995 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| MASS EYE & EAR | BOSTON, MA | $127,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE SPA OFFICE
$259,742RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$200,000RESEARCH GRANT
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS (NIDCD)
$190,000RESEARCH GRANT
MASS EYE & EAR
$175,000RESEARCH GRANT
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$130,000RESEARCH GRANT
OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
$100,000RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA 2410 UCC
$50,000RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
$50,000RESEARCH GRANT
RESEARCH GRANT
THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE SUNY ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO
$50,000RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO UCSF MAIN DEPOSITORY ACCOUNT
$50,000RESEARCH GRANT
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE FOR RESEARCH & SPONSORED PROJECTS ADMIN
$49,999RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER AMC AND DC ANSCHULTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS
$49,923RESEARCH GRANT
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
$49,891RESEARCH GRANT
ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
$25,000RESEARCH IN OTOLOGY
MASS EYE & EAR
$241,995RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE SPA OFFICE
$174,000RESEARCH GRANT
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS (NIDCD)
$145,000RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$121,232RESEARCH GRANT
RESEARCH GRANT
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$100,000RESEARCH GRANT
OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
$99,000RESEARCH GRANT
THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE SUNY ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO
$50,000RESEARCH GRANT
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
$49,987RESEARCH GRANT
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES
$32,890RESEARCH GRANT
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$165,000RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE SPA OFFICE
$153,000RESEARCH GRANT
RESEARCH GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$144,000RESEARCH GRANT
OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
$141,995RESEARCH GRANT
MASS EYE & EAR
$127,000RESEARCH GRANT
