Hearing Health Foundation
Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) is a New York, New York-based public charity that funds hearing and balance research and promotes hearing health. The organization says it is the largest nonprofit funder of hearing and balance research based in the United States and has funded research since 1958.
Hearing Health Foundation at a glance
In short: Hearing Health Foundation gave $2.3M across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $100K), top state Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,290,548
- +24.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +27.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $99,589
- -2.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $97,000
- Total assets
- $14,344,426
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (22% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Hearing Health Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The stated 2026–2027 cycle required a letter of intent, with selected applicants invited to submit a full proposal.
- Review Cycle
- December 5, 2025, for letters of intent for the 2026–2027 cycle; this deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- December 5, 2025, for letters of intent for the 2026–2027 cycle; this deadline has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1397, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 257-6140
Website: https://hearinghealthfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Hearing Health Foundation
Who Hearing Health Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Maryland Baltimore Spa Office ($260K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 41 grants of 90 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ERG applicants must hold an appointment at a nonprofit educational, governmental, or other research institution located in the United States. In filing year 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland (22%), California (16%), Massachusetts (10%), Washington (9%), and Michigan (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Hearing Health Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $213K (2020) to $2.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland Baltimore Spa Office Baltimore, MD | Research Grant | $259,742 |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | Research Grant | $200,000 |
| National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (Nidcd) Bethesda, MD | Research Grant | $190,000 |
| Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Palo Alto, CA | Research Grant | $175,000 |
| Mass Eye & Ear Boston, MA | Research Grant | $175,000 |
| The Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Research Grant | $130,000 |
| Baylor College of Medicine Sponsored Programs Office Houston, TX | Research Grant | $125,000 |
| Creighton University Omaha, NE | Research Grant | $114,000 |
| Oregon Health & Science University Portland, OR | Research Grant | $100,000 |
| Stowers Institute for Medical Research Kansas City, MO | Research Grant | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,344,426 | $4,678,817 | $4,922,908 | $2,290,548 | 23 | $296,929 |
| 2024 | $14,288,360 | $5,260,662 | $4,467,341 | $1,838,039 | 18 | $235,111 |
| 2023 | $12,209,918 | $3,637,053 | $4,848,488 | $2,131,903 | 21 | $524,448 |
| 2022 | $12,401,785 | $5,617,687 | $4,014,188 | $1,504,660 | 16 | $1,078,562 |
| 2021 | $12,344,240 | $5,730,095 | $2,813,567 | $1,055,624 | 12 | $658,223 |
| 2020 | $8,970,796 | $2,938,732 | $1,698,189 | $212,830 | 5 | $361,459 |
| 2019 | $8,412,239 | $2,628,977 | $2,564,141 | $1,268,174 | 17 | $634,739 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
HHF’s mission is to prevent and cure hearing loss and tinnitus through groundbreaking research and to promote hearing health. Its website describes support for research to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure hearing loss, tinnitus, and related hearing and balance conditions, alongside education about hearing health and protection.
ERG supports fundamental and clinical research in specified auditory and vestibular topics. Its award types include Early Stage Investigator Awards, Focused Discovery Awards, and Expanded Discovery Awards. Early Stage Investigator Awards are open to any topic in hearing and balance research; Focused Discovery and Expanded Discovery Awards are restricted to specified topics. HHF’s other research program, the Hearing Restoration Project, brings together international scientists to investigate hair-cell regeneration.
The 2025 filing lists research grants to universities and research institutions. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate that range: Baylor College of Medicine says it integrates patient care, research, education, and community services to advance human health; Stowers Institute for Medical Research describes its mission as contributing to humanity through medical research and improving quality of life; and the Acoustical Society of America says it promotes knowledge and practical applications of acoustics.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, HHF reported 23 grants totaling $2,290,548. Awards ranged from $25,000 to $259,742, with a median grant of $97,000. The largest listed awards went to the University of Maryland Baltimore SPA Office ($259,742), the University of Washington ($200,000), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ($190,000), the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University ($175,000), and Mass Eye & Ear ($175,000). The filing identifies these awards as research grants.
For ERG, HHF’s policy describes annual awards with an initial project period of one year, running October 1 through September 30. The 2026–2027 application process began with a letter of intent reviewed by HHF’s Scientific Review Committee; selected applicants were invited to submit full proposals. Full proposals are reviewed for scientific merit, potential contribution to basic knowledge or clinical application, institutional facilities and personnel, investigator qualifications, and innovation. Applicants must hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and an appointment at a U.S. nonprofit educational, governmental, or other research institution. Current medical residents in otolaryngology may also apply; other medical residents and Ph.D. students are not eligible.
For the Early Stage Investigator Awards, applicants must be no more than 10 years from their most recent terminal degree or medical residency and may not currently have more than $100,000 in outside support in direct costs or hold or have previously held major federal awards. The 2026–2027 Focused Discovery Awards were open to eligible investigators at any career stage and invited proposals on age-related hearing loss, Ménière’s disease, pain and/or loudness hyperacusis, and tinnitus. The stated maximum for Early Stage Investigator and Focused Discovery Awards was $50,000 per year, renewable for a second year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jay Grushkin as chair, Paul Orlin as vice chair, and Robert Boucai as treasurer. Listed directors are Anil Lalwani, Cary Kopczynski, Sophia Boccard, Kazie Metzger, Brenda M. Ryals, and Nancy M. Young. Elizabeth M. Keithley is listed as chair emerita until September 30, 2025.
Hearing Health Foundation is led by Timothy L. Higdon, President & CEO since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 5 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Timothy L. Higdon
President & CEO
CEO → President & CEO, 2020
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$132K (2020) → $292K (2025)
Jay Grushkin
Chair
Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Geissler
Director of Program
Director of Program & Research Support → Director of Program, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$101K (2021) → $125K (2025)
Noemi Disla
Director of Finance & Opns
Director of Finance, Opns & A → Director of Finance & Opns, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$109K (2022) → $123K (2025)
Yishane Lee
Director of Marketing
Director of Marketing & Communications → Director of Marketing, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$125K (2023) → $145K (2025)
Anil Lalwani
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sophia Boccard
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cary Kopczynski
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy M. Young
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon G. Kujawa
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda M. Ryals
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Salmanson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kazie Metzger
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gail Marino
Foundation Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$105K (2023) → $119K (2025)
Elizabeth M. Keithley
Chair Emerita
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Dubno
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Orlin
Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Boucai
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Jason Frank (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Robert Shannon (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Roger Harris (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Laura Estephan (2023–2024) — Development Officer
- Former: Karen J. Skelly (2024) — Development Officer
- Former: Michael Nolan (2019–2023) — Secretary
- Former: David Haynes (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: John Dillard (2019–2022) — Chair
- Former: Ruth Anne Eatock (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jay Grunskin (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nadine Dehgan (2019) — CEO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $292K, to Timothy L Higdon (President & CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Hearing Health Foundation
How much does Hearing Health Foundation give each year?
Hearing Health Foundation gave $2.3M across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 18 grants.
What is Hearing Health Foundation's typical grant size?
Hearing Health Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $97,000, and its average grant was $99,589, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Hearing Health Foundation give grants?
Hearing Health Foundation's top state is Maryland, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (16%) and Massachusetts (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (2 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Hearing Health Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on Hearing Health Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Grant" (22 grants).
Who are Hearing Health Foundation's largest grantees?
Hearing Health Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Maryland Baltimore Spa Office ($259,742), University of Washington ($200,000) and National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (Nidcd) ($190,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hearing Health Foundation?
Hearing Health Foundation reported $14.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What does Hearing Health Foundation fund?
HHF’s mission is to prevent and cure hearing loss and tinnitus through groundbreaking research and to promote hearing health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hearing Health Foundation?
The stated 2026–2027 cycle required a letter of intent, with selected applicants invited to submit a full proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hearing Health Foundation's EIN?
Hearing Health Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1882107. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 24, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hearing Health Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hearing Health Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hearing-health-foundation-morg_6ac81f22bd5e4fddb79465d4b6836bd7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131882107_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hearing Health Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hearing-health-foundation-morg_6ac81f22bd5e4fddb79465d4b6836bd7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Hearing Health Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Hearing Health Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?