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.

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.

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.

Researchers proposing projects on hearing and communication disorders in Arkansas and other eligible U.S. locations can apply for National Institutes of Health R01 funding. Grants from National Institutes of Health help early stage and new investigators from diverse backgrounds pursue independent studies in deafness, audiology, speech-language disorders, and related workforce development, with awards up to US $2,500,000.

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.

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.

Established investigators conducting basic experimental studies with humans on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language sciences in Arkansas can apply for the NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award (K18). This U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health program supports acquiring new research skills to expand or redirect existing research programs.

Grants from the National Institutes of Health help Arkansas medical education and otolaryngology programs provide mentored research experiences in hearing and related biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences. U.S. institutions serving otolaryngology residents and medical students may be eligible for up to US $2,499,995 to build research education pathways in hearing disorders and audiology.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Early-career biomedical and behavioral researchers working on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language projects in Arkansas and nationwide can seek up to US $375,000 to build preliminary data for future R01 applications. With a mission to advance communication and hearing science, US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health provides R21 support for basic, clinical, translational, and technology-development studies.

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.

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 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.