2026 Impact Grant for Deaf Organizations

2026 Impact Grant for Deaf Organizations

Status: Currently closed (was accepting applications through March 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT). Funding decisions will be announced in May 2026.

Geographic Scope: United States only

Award Amount: $20,000 per grant to ten (10) selected deaf nonprofits and programs (total $200,000 in grantmaking)

Grant Type: Unrestricted one-year grants

Focus Areas

• Community: Immediate, urgent needs such as food, housing, safety, and access to mental health services
• Organization: Sustainable, long-term needs such as cost-sharing of resources among partner organizations, development efforts, and administrative needs

Eligibility

Eligible Organizations:

Eligibility Requirements:

What DOF Cannot Fund

• Capital projects such as construction, renovations, or physical expansions
• Events, festivals, or conferences
• Individuals not affiliated with a nonprofit organization (scholarships, loans, sponsorships, funds for personal assistive devices)
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in good standing or without a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status in good standing
• Organizations based outside the U.S. without a 501(c)(3) tax exempt fiscal sponsor

Evaluation Criteria

• Impact: Alignment between the organization's proposal to its mission and community they serve
• Equity: Degree to which the organization strives to center the experiences and wisdom of deaf community members who have less access to power and representation, or marginalized deaf communities historically excluded from opportunities
• Feasibility: Applicant's ability to meet the goals outlined in their proposal

Reporting Requirements

• Brief interim report halfway through project
• Brief final report at completion
• 3 to 5 questions on reports accessible in American Sign Language and English
• Grantees may respond in ASL, English, or Spanish
• Option to participate in video meeting to answer reporting questions instead of written responses
• Optional participation in at least one video-based meeting with DOF team member
• May be asked to share testimonial via ASL video or written English/Spanish

Contact Information

Deaf Organizations Fund (DOF)
• Tax ID: 92-3792141
• 501(c)(3) public charity
• Website: deaforganizationsfund.org

Additional Information

• Maximum request: $20,000 (as of application deadline)
• One-year grants only (no multi-year funding)
• One application per organization per grant cycle
• Organizations can reapply for future grant opportunities
• Funded projects may be extended past 12 months if organizations need additional time to complete and spend down grant monies
• Fiscal sponsorship agreements must be signed before application submission
• Fiscal sponsors typically charge 3-12% fee
• Application available in American Sign Language, English, and Spanish