Oberkotter Foundation
The Oberkotter Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It supports initiatives to improve listening and spoken language (LSL) outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, with an emphasis on early development, access to services, and family support.
Oberkotter Foundation at a glance
In short: Oberkotter Foundation gave $2.4M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $339K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,371,737
- -39.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -30.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $338,820
- -12.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $155,200
- Total assets
- $214,025,831
- +0.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (61% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Oberkotter Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. It has also announced specific RFP opportunities; the published opportunities described here are past cycles.
- Review Cycle
- The hearing-device wear-time RFP application deadline was May 29, 2026, and has passed.
- Deadline
- The hearing-device wear-time RFP application deadline was May 29, 2026, and has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 123 South Broad Street 1500, Philadelphia, PA 19109
Phone: (405) 418-4151
Website: https://oberkotterfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Oberkotter Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ag Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing ($1.4M). Together the top 7 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 32 grants of 116 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says its programs serve families throughout the United States. In 2025, its reported grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Washington, DC (61%), Illinois (14%), Minnesota (11%), Georgia (7%), and Indiana (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Oberkotter Foundation gives
- Giving fell 96% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2025) to $61.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ag Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Washington, DC | LSL Support-Children and Families | $1,440,000 |
| The University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Research | $332,667 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochesterdivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology Rochester, MN | Research | $250,000 |
| Atlanta Speech School Atlanta, GA | LSL Support-Children and Families | $155,200 |
| Butler University Indianaoplis, IN | Deaf Education Program | $71,978 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center Dallas, TX | LSL Support-Children and Families | $67,892 |
| Hands & Voices Boulder, CO | LSL Support-Children and Families | $54,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $214,025,831 | $15,136,283 | $14,990,085 | $2,371,737 | 7 | $13,787,702 | $15,830,461 | $13,488,114 |
| 2024 | $213,766,716 | $150,007,629 | $15,881,852 | $3,888,802 | 10 | $15,242,595 | $21,144,904 | $7,731,290 |
| 2023 | $89,391,385 | $23,640,065 | $14,743,294 | $3,923,363 | 14 | $14,218,396 | $13,148,213 | $6,840,124 |
| 2022 | $83,021,123 | $23,009,013 | $70,481,656 | $61,584,972 | 47 | $69,882,352 | $10,709,583 | $7,433,292 |
| 2021 | $130,773,093 | $30,304,806 | $17,952,973 | $8,613,916 | 38 | — | $22,275,832 | $10,119,657 |
| 2020 | $119,159,499 | $36,779,907 | $14,981,072 | $7,284,609 | 34 | — | $20,304,529 | $8,166,945 |
| 2019 | $105,652,379 | $16,311,607 | $14,439,540 | $8,314,143 | 32 | — | $11,544,765 | $7,815,960 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Oberkotter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to help families ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing have opportunities to reach their full potential through listening and spoken language. Its funding priorities include early intervention, scalable solutions that improve LSL outcomes, and reducing barriers to services and knowledge for children and caregivers, especially those with limited resources.
Its initiatives include advancing science and innovation, raising awareness about newborn hearing screening and hearing’s connection to brain development, and supporting and connecting families. In 2025, grant purposes included LSL support for children and families, research, and a deaf education program.
Among its 2025 grantees, Atlanta Speech School describes its mission as bringing deep reading to every child so they can find their voice and shape their future. Butler University describes its mission as fostering an equitable, academically excellent learning environment and preparing learners to lead meaningful lives. Hands & Voices says it supports families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and the professionals who serve them, with outreach aimed at helping those children reach their potential.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 7 grants totaling $2,371,737. Grant amounts ranged from $54,000 to $1,440,000, with a median of $155,200.
The largest reported grants were $1,440,000 to AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for LSL support for children and families; $332,667 to the University of Chicago for research; and $250,000 to Mayo Clinic Rochester Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology for research. Other reported grants included $155,200 to Atlanta Speech School for LSL support for children and families; $71,978 to Butler University for a deaf education program; $67,892 to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for LSL support for children and families; and $54,000 to Hands & Voices for LSL support for children and families.
The Foundation’s website lists 14 recipients of its 2025 family-navigation RFP, which sought to establish or expand programs supporting families through early hearing detection, identification, and intervention. It also announced a separate RFP for projects to improve hearing-device wear time in infants and young children.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Teresa Caraway as CEO and David Pierson, Lydia Denworth, Cedric Pritchett, and Bruce Rosenfield as trustees. The Foundation’s website also lists Sarah Sommer as a trustee in 2026.
Oberkotter Foundation is led by Teresa Caraway, CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Teresa Caraway
CEO
CEO & Hearing First → CEO, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$290K (2019) → $523K (2025)
Bruce A. Rosenfield
Trustee
Trustee & Executive Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$400K (2019) → $100K (2025)
David Pierson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$50K (2019) → $75K (2025)
Lydia Denworth
Trustee
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
$46K (2022) → $75K (2025)
Cedric Pritchett
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
$69K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Mildred L. Oberkotter (2019–2024) — Trustee to May
- Former: Amy Newnam (2019–2023) — Associate Executive Director to Feb
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 $523K, to Teresa Caraway (CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Oberkotter Foundation
How much does Oberkotter Foundation give each year?
Oberkotter Foundation gave $2.4M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.9M across 10 grants.
What is Oberkotter Foundation's typical grant size?
Oberkotter Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $155,200, and its average grant was $338,820, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Oberkotter Foundation give grants?
Oberkotter Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (14%) and Minnesota (11%).
Does Oberkotter Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Oberkotter Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "LSL Support-Children and Families" (4 grants).
Who are Oberkotter Foundation's largest grantees?
Oberkotter Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ag Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing ($1,440,000), The University of Chicago ($332,667) and Mayo Clinic Rochesterdivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Oberkotter Foundation?
Oberkotter Foundation reported $214.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $13.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Oberkotter Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to help families ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing have opportunities to reach their full potential through listening and spoken language. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oberkotter Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Oberkotter Foundation's EIN?
Oberkotter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2686151. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Oberkotter Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
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