How much funding does Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award provide?

Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award provides $2,500 (personal recognition) + $7,500 (for initiative) in funding.

When is the deadline for Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award?

The funder has not published a deadline for this grant.

Who is eligible for Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award?

Eligible applicants: Individuals or teams working on an initiative together (expanded in 2022).

How often is Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award offered?

Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award runs on an annual cycle.

Who has received Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award funding?

American Association of People with Disabilities's IRS filings list 2 awards under this program (2023). Recent recipients include The Arc of Connecticut (Meriden, CT), $7,500 in 2023; Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative (Edgewater, NJ), $7,500 in 2023.

Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award

American Association of People with Disabilities

Foundation Annual Grants for Disabled Social Justice Grants

Funding Amount

$2,500 (personal recognition) + $7,500 (for initiative)

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle: Annual
Tracked since: April 2026

Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

Individuals or teams working on an initiative together (expanded in 2022)

Other requirements

Outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities
Exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community

Overview

Award Amount:

$2,500 in personal recognition
$7,500 to further a new or existing initiative
Total: $10,000 per recipient/team

Geographic Scope: United States

Focus Areas:

Initiatives that increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities
Cross-disability advocacy and leadership
Employment opportunities for people with disabilities

Eligibility:

Outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities
Individuals or teams working on an initiative together (expanded in 2022)
Exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community

Award Details:

Up to 2 awards given annually to individuals or teams
Awarded for outstanding contributions to the disability rights movement
Funds support initiatives that advance disability rights

History:
Hearne, one of AAPD's founders. Paul was a passionate advocate for employment of people with disabilities, who:

Founded Just One Break, an employment agency for people with disabilities in New York City
Led the Dole Foundation for Employment of People with Disabilities in Washington, DC
Was committed to cultivating leaders to advance the disability rights movement

Recognition:
Recipients are honored at the annual AAPD Leadership Awards Gala.

Past recipients of this program

Recent awards under this program (from American Association of People with Disabilities's IRS filings)

The Arc of Connecticut

Meriden, CT · 2023

$7,500
Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative

Edgewater, NJ · 2023

$7,500

2 grants in American Association of People with Disabilities's 2023 filings reference “Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award” in their stated purpose. Amounts and places as reported by the funder.

What American Association of People with Disabilities actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2024

Grants in 2024: 52
Total given: $380K
Median grant: $7,500
Range: $5,000–$18K

By dollars: New York 16%, District of Columbia 11%, Pennsylvania 11%. Top recipient cities: Washington, DC; St. Louis, MO; New York, NY.
0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Example grants

New Disabled South · Atlanta, GA

Rev up program

$18K
Bender Leadership Academy · Moon Township, PA

Disability mentoring day

$10K
Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled Inc (Bcid) · Brooklyn, NY

Rev up program

$10K
Bucks County Center for Independent Living · Bensalem, PA

Rev up program

$10K
Gallaudet Univ Center for Democracy in Deaf America · Washington, DC

Rev up program

$10K