The Oberkotter Foundation is accepting proposals for its 2025 grant opportunity titled “A Family Navigation Approach to Supporting Early Hearing Detection and Intervention.” This funding initiative is designed to enhance timely access to newborn hearing healthcare through the implementation or expansion of navigator programs that support families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. These navigator programs are intended to reduce barriers to diagnosis and intervention, improve follow-up after newborn hearing screenings, and facilitate timely enrollment in early intervention services.
Eligible applicants include registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in the United States with operational and administrative capacity to manage grant funds. Organizations must also demonstrate expertise or foundational knowledge in early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) and relevant social drivers of health access. The Foundation prioritizes proposals that minimize loss-to-follow-up after screening, ensure timely audiology evaluations, and promote access to hearing technology and early services.
Funding may be requested for up to three years. There is no stated minimum or maximum award amount, but all proposals must include a well-justified budget aligned with program needs. Grants will be paid in annual installments. Indirect costs are not eligible for reimbursement. Proposals must include detailed implementation and evaluation plans, sustainability strategies, and potential for cost recovery and long-term integration of navigator services. Projects that only include planning or counseling services without direct navigation elements will not be considered.
Applications must be submitted through the Oberkotter Foundation’s Foundant grant system. The application period runs from October 1, 2025, to November 28, 2025. Technical or clarification questions must be submitted no later than November 7, 2025. Award notifications will be issued by February 27, 2026, and funded projects are expected to begin around April 1, 2026.
Applicants will be evaluated on alignment with the Foundation’s goals, feasibility, potential impact, strength of personnel, budget clarity, and sustainability planning. Those with collaborative projects must submit letters of support from all partners. Successful grantees will be required to submit annual and final reports through Foundant and may be invited to share insights with the broader Foundation community.
Focus on navigator program impact and sustainability. Align with 1-3-6 benchmarks. Include measurable hearing outcomes and navigation impact metrics. No indirect costs. Use Table 1 to guide metrics.
