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If your deaf-centric organization or program intends to apply for our 2025 Impact Grant due October 9th at 5:00 PM CT, and if you have been affected by the recent natural disasters (Hurricanes Helene and Milton), please contact us by October 16th to make alternate arrangements for your submission. 

Otherwise, the application submission window is closed and we will announce our funding decision in January 2025.

Grant Overview

Strong Organizations Strong Communities in dark blue and all capitals. Below is two set of hands signing “community.”
Strong Organizations Strong Communities in dark blue and all capitals. Below is two set of hands signing “community.”

To build a future in which deaf communities have access to a wide array of services provided by thriving, well-resourced organizations, Deaf Organizations Fund (DOF) seeks to provide unrestricted grant funds to support 4 to 6 deaf-centric organizations’ areas of greatest need. We prioritize deaf-centric organizations that serve the most marginalized populations within our deaf communities.

If your deaf-centric organization or program intends to apply for our 2025 Impact Grant due October 9th at 5:00 PM CT, and if you have been affected by the recent natural disasters (Hurricanes Helene and Milton), please contact us by October 16th to make alternate arrangements for your submission.  

Otherwise, the application submission window is closed and we will announce our funding decision in January 2025.

Grant Overview

Strong Organizations Strong Communities in dark blue and all capitals. Below is two set of hands signing “community.”
Strong Organizations Strong Communities in dark blue and all capitals. Below is two set of hands signing “community.”

To build a future in which deaf communities have access to a wide array of services provided by thriving, well-resourced organizations, Deaf Organizations Fund (DOF) seeks to provide unrestricted grant funds to support 4 to 6 deaf-centric organizations’ areas of greatest need. We prioritize deaf-centric organizations that serve the most marginalized populations within our deaf communities.

If your deaf-centric organization or program intends to apply for our 2025 Impact Grant due October 9th at 5:00 PM CT, and if you have been affected by the recent natural disasters (Hurricanes Helene and Milton), please contact us by October 16th to make alternate arrangements for your submission.  

Otherwise, the application submission window is closed and we will announce our funding decision in January 2025.

What We Can Fund

Deaf-centric organizations including deaf-serving programs within hearing organizations. DOF defines “deaf-centric” as: at least 50% of the organization or program’s leadership (e.g., the executive director, staff, advisory committee, and/or governing boards) identify as members of deaf communities. The organization or program must also primarily work with members of deaf communities.
Members of deaf communities include people who identify as Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, or DeafDisabled.
Organizations based in the U.S. with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, or organizations that have a fiscal sponsor based in the U.S. with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.

What We Cannot Fund

Organizations that do not have 501(c)3 tax-exempt status or organizations that do not have a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor.
International organizations without a 501(c)3 tax-exempt fiscal sponsor based in the U.S.
Capital funding projects, such as construction, renovations, or physical expansions.
Requests to sponsor or otherwise fund one-time events, such as camps, festivals, or conferences.
Individuals not affiliated with a nonprofit organization, such as those requesting scholarships or funds for personal assistive devices.

Do you still have questions about what DOF seeks to fund? Come to our webinar on Tuesday, September 10th at 1:00 PM CTThis Zoom call will be facilitated in American Sign Language, and English voice interpreting and captioning services will be provided. A recording of the webinar will provided as soon as possible on the website. Please click this registration link to join the webinar.

Grant Webinar

The presentation materials and recording from our grant webinar on September 10th are now available. Interested applicants can watch the presentation in ASL, with audio, captioning, and transcript provided.

Full transcript is available in YouTube; video must be played in YouTube in a separate browser tab to access transcript.

Two tri-color illstrations of a person signing “Impact” and “Grant”.
Two tri-color illustrations of a person signing “Impact” and “Grant.”

Grant Webinar

Full transcript is available in YouTube; video must be played in YouTube in a separate browser tab to access transcript.

Two tri-color illstrations of a person signing “Impact” and “Grant”.
Two tri-color illustrations of a person signing “Impact” and “Grant.”

The presentation materials and recording from our grant webinar on September 10th are now available. Interested applicants can watch the presentation in ASL, with audio, captioning, and transcript provided.

Grant Review Process

The DOF Grant Review Committee (GRC) will use the linked rubric to evaluate applications and recommend finalists to DOF for grant awards. From the finalist pool, the DOF staff and board, along with our parent organization, Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD), will determine the 2025 grantee cohort.

The grant review process will involve the following individuals:

Kellynette Gomez
GRC Member
 

Kellynette Gomez (she/her) is a dedicated advocate and licensed social worker committed to empowering individuals to achieve their goals. With a background in organizational training, talent searches, and leadership development, she has served various local and national organizations as a community liaison, peer advocate, volunteer, and consultant. Kellynette holds a master’s degree in social work from Springfield College, a bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University, and a certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Institute of Nonprofit Practice (INP).

Currently, she serves as an adult service navigator at the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and as a board member for Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc. She aims to bring a valuable and diverse perspective to the DOF Grant Review committee, ensuring that inclusivity and representation are key considerations in the allocation of resources, reflecting her commitment to creating meaningful and equitable change.

ID: Kellynette is a light-skinned Deaf Latina woman with curly hair styled in a half-up, half-down hairdo, wearing clear glasses, silver hoop earrings, and a blue blouse.

Trinity McFadden
GRC Member
 

Trinity McFadden (she/her) is a Black deafdisabled disability justice advocate, critical thinker, digital organizer, and communicator, with a global perspective. She is passionate about learning and community building. In her personal time, Trinity enjoys expressing herself through poetry, dancing, and cherishing moments with her dog.

ID: Trinity, a dark-skinned Black woman, has a closed, slight smile, standing in front of flowers and trees in the forest. She is wearing a tan headscarf, black short-sleeved shirt, necklace and earrings

Norma Morán
GRC Member
 

Norma Morán (she/ella/her) is the Associate Director of Nuestra Casa/Center for Latine Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University. She is also the chair of the Maryland Advisory Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing in the Maryland Governor's Office of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (ODHH). She also co-authored a toolkit for USAID "Universal Design for Learning to Help All Children Read: Promoting Literacy for Learners with Disabilities (First Edition)". She obtained her Bachelor's from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, and her Master's from American University, Washington DC.

ID: Norma, a Latina with dark brown wavy hair has dark blue eyeglasses and red lipstick. Her earrings and blouse are boldly colored. She is behind an orange wall.

Elena Figueroa Ruiz
GRC Member
 

Elena Figueroa Ruiz (they/them) is a Latine Deaf genderqueer lesbian. They earned a MA degree in Deaf Cultural Studies from Gallaudet University in 2013, and have taught in both K-12 Deaf education and higher education settings in their professional career. Currently, they write, present, and create content regarding diverse Deaf cultural experiences, LGBTQIA community topics, ethnic studies, and more. Throughout their years in the Deaf community, they have been invested in increasing equity for various underrepresented groups and aim to take part in tangible structural change.

ID: Elena, a genderqueer white Latine person is standing outside on a bright day. They have short, curly, dark and silver hair, gold hoop earrings, gold-rimmed glasses, and are smiling. They are wearing a light blue denim collared shirt.

Lee Ann Tang
GRC Member
 

Coming from a large and signing family in New Jersey, Lee Ann Tang (she/her) was adopted from China to the USA at age five. She’s an Asian American Deaf educator (California State University, Northridge ’18 and Gallaudet University ’21). Currently, she works as an Assistant Professor of Deaf Studies at CSUN; she resides in Los Angeles with her lovely family. In addition, she co-founded Asian Signers in 2020 to elevate awareness about diverse people of Asian descent in Deaf and signing communities with a passion for advocating for Asian leadership in community-based education.

ID: Lee Ann, light-skinned Chinese woman with black curly-ish hair, wears a pearl necklace in a dark red dress. She smiles looking at the camera in front of gray-ish background.

Dan Mabashov
DOF Project Manager

Dan Mabashov (he/him) is an experienced Project Manager with eight years of organizing, implementing, and delivering successful projects. As a white deaf gay man, Dan is committed to leveraging his privileges to make an equitable and accessible impact in philanthropy by ensuring DOF’s grant applications and materials are accessible and available in multiple languages, including American Sign Language (ASL). Beyond work, Dan’s always imagining his next travel destination and doting on his adorable nibling, Lux.

ID: Dan, a white male, is seated and smiling warmly at the camera. He has short, neatly styled dark hair and a beard. Dan is wearing a black sweater over a black and white floral-patterned collared shirt. The background is a soft, neutral gray.

Avi Haimowitz
DOF Director of Development

Avi Haimowitz (she/her) identifies as a white deaf cis woman with over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She credits her leadership opportunities at a statewide deaf domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy organization for her broad expertise in fundraising, grant writing, and community work. In her current role, Avi focuses on ensuring Deaf Organizations Fund's ability to support the needs of deaf nonprofits by cultivating and stewarding donor relationships along with coordinating fundraising events.

ID: Avi, a white woman with long brown hair, is seated on a chair in a corner, smiling upward toward the camera. She is wearing a light pink sweater and clear-rimmed glasses.

Sasha Ponappa
DOF Executive Director

Sasha Ponappa (she/her) is a passionate advocate and an endlessly curious learner. She led an agency serving deaf survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence, supported multiple nonprofit networks, and managed various federally funded and state-funded programs. As the executive director of DOF, she works with the board of directors, builds donor relationships, and acts as an organization liaison, directly supporting countless deaf-centric nonprofits across the country! This will be Sasha’s sixth time overseeing DOF’s grant opportunity.

ID: Sasha, a brown woman with long wavy brown hair, is wearing a light blue dress while standing in front of a decorative iron door.

Chris Soukup
CSD Chief Executive Officier
DOF Board Member

Christopher Soukup is a senior leader and advocate for deaf and disability communities. After Chris graduated from Gallaudet University in 2001, he started working at Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), the world's largest deaf-led social impact organization, in a community-based role. In 2014, he was appointed CEO of CSD.

Over the past decade, he has led CSD’s global transformation to become a fully virtualized organization; the development of a disruptive software platform for sign language interpreting service delivery; the creation of the first social venture fund dedicated to deaf and disabled entrepreneurs; the launch of a jobs marketplace for deaf and disabled professionals seeking contract work and full time employment opportunities; the implementation of online learning spaces for both children and adults to access educational and training content in ASL; the introduction of a new community foundation dedicated to strengthening the capacity of nonprofit organizations serving deaf and disabled people; as well as a continuum of innovative direct video communication solutions designed to bolster the relationship between government and corporate entities and their deaf and disabled customers. Most recently, Chris and CSD are seeking to deploy a new health care-focused initiative that will be introduced nationally in phases this year.

In addition to the oversight of these community-focused brands, Chris has played an important role in the advocacy of key legislation and accessibility during crucial cultural events such as the development of the CVTA bill, a COVID-19 hotline in American Sign Language, and the inclusion of interpreters and captioning at White House briefings.

Chris has served on several prominent committees and advisory boards that address barriers faced by deaf and disabled communities including the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee and the Disability:IN Disability Equality Index Advisory Committee.

Chris has been featured in: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Business Insider, Market Watch, Thrive, Forbes, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, INC, HuffPost, NPR, and USA Today.

ID: Chris, a white man, is wearing dark gray polo and black pants, and is sitting in front of wood paneling.

Maria Wilson
CSD Chief Legal Officer
DOF Board Member
 

Maria Wilson (she/her) is a deaf attorney and impassioned human rights advocate. Strategic and intuitive, Wilson is the multi-faceted Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary at Communication Service of the Deaf, Inc. (CSD), serving the CSD parent Board of Directors, along with the Deaf Organizations Fund. As a proactive pragmatist, Wilson has a reputation for delivering under pressure in a rapid and complex environment. She is a trusted and collaborative leader capable of effectively communicating and effectuating change at all professional levels. She received her B.A. with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. She keeps Austin weird with her son, her rose garden, and a small populace of pets.

ID: Maria, a Latina with dark wavy brown hair, is wearing a black blouse underneath a bold red blazer and gold jewelry while seated in front of green vines growing on an outdoor brick wall. Maria is looking upwards at the camera and is smiling.

Thomas Means
CSD Chief Finance Officer
DOF Board Member
 

As the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of CSD and a former Big 4 auditor, Thomas Means (he/his/him) is a leader among Finance circles. This is fitting for Thomas, as a native Texan and alumni of the University of Texas at Austin (BBA, MPA), where they do everything big. Thomas Means’ buoyant charisma allows him to effectively collaborate at all corporate levels and manage CSD’s entire Finance Division with ease and a touch of Southern swagger. Serving as CFO, Thomas also has cross-organizational experience into Technology and Human Capital projects, providing key insight into special projects and development. Thomas serves a wide range of committees and boards, most recently the Deaf Action Center. In 2015, Thomas took a leap of faith leaving Ernst & Young as an Assurance Senior Manager to join a non-profit dedicated to its mission, speaking more volume to his character than any bio could, even this one.

ID: Thomas, a white man with short brown hair and trimmed goatee, is wearing a dark gray, short-sleeved denim button-down with light pants while leaning against a railing outside. Thomas is smiling with his hands clasped in front of him.

Brendan Gramer
CSD & DOF Board Member
 

Brendan Gramer is a UX Design Manager on the Payments team at Amazon, and has been with the company for 16 years. Gramer is passionate about advocating for accessible design at Amazon, and previously served as an internal advisor and stakeholder within the company’s Design Tools & Resources Working Group, AUX (Accessibility to the UX Design Community), and for various initiatives focused on Deaf representation in accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. Brendan recently transitioned out of his 3-year role as the Global President serving AmazonPWD (People with Disabilities) affinity group, and led the creation of Amazon’s first American Sign Language logo. 

Gramer is the recipient of several awards recognizing his work and advocacy, including Honorable Mention at the 2011 FCC Chairman’s Award for Advancement in Accessibility, the Northwest Access Fund’s 2016 Innovation Award, and Amazon’s 2019 Global Accessibility Awareness Month (GAAM) Award in the ‘Relentless Forward Progress’ category. Brendan is an active advocate for the deaf community, and holds various volunteer leadership roles including the Hearing Loss Advisory Council of the Washington Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Deaf Kids Code, United Airlines Accessible Travel Advisory Board, and the Deaf Thrive Steering Committee. 

Brendan was born profoundly deaf in Chicago to a hearing family. He grew up using oral communication, and learned ASL later in life. He currently uses a mix of both modalities, and lives in Seattle with his Deaf wife, and Deaf sons. Gramer uses his life experiences, and passion for self-advocacy and change to help make the world a more inclusive and accessible place for the Deaf community.

ID: Brendan, a white man with gray hair and beard, is wearing a polo shirt while standing in front of a gray wall.

Marilyn Smith
CSD & DOF Board Member
 

Marilyn Jean Smith (she/her) is the founder and former executive director of the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS) in Seattle, Washington and is considered the Mother of the Anti-Violence Movement in Deaf America. She received her B.A. and her M.A. from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Her work at ADWAS brought many awards, including those from President Clinton, Gallaudet University, and the National Association of the Deaf, and Deaf Women United. She received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Gallaudet University in 2004.

ID: Marilyn, a white woman with shoulder-length grayish blonde hair, is wearing a black and white striped shirt. She is wearing pink lipstick and is smiling.

FAQ

Any deaf-centric organization including deaf-serving programs within hearing organizations can apply as long as it is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or has a fiscal sponsor that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)3 of the IRS.

DOF defines deaf-centric as: at least 50% of the organization’s leadership (e.g., the executive director, staff, advisory committee, and/or governing boards) identify as members of deaf communities. The organization must also primarily work with members of the deaf communities.

Members of deaf communities include people who identify as Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, or DeafDisabled.
An unrestricted grant is funding that supports the overall mission of an organization. There are no rules governing how the grant dollars are spent, as long as the spending aligns with the organization’s mission and operations. Applicants are encouraged to submit a proposal that outlines your organization’s area(s) of greatest need.

  • Organizations that do not have 501(c)3 tax-exempt status, or organizations that do not have a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor. 
  • International organizations without a 501(c)3 tax-exempt fiscal sponsor based in the U.S. 
  • Capital funding projects, such as construction, renovations, or physical expansions. 
  • Requests to sponsor or otherwise fund one-time events, such as camps, festivals, or conferences.  
  • Individuals not affiliated with a nonprofit organization, such as those requesting scholarships or funds for personal assistive devices. 
The maximum request for funding is $25,000.
We encourage organizations to submit one application addressing their area(s) of greatest need.

Yes, yes you can! Below, you can access our questions via PDF download in English or Spanish, or via video in American Sign Language (ASL). 

You can answer some or all questions under the following sections in ASL: Organization Overview, Proposal, and Optional Questions.  

To submit an ASL response to a question, you should insert a YouTube URL link of a filmed video response under the specific question that is being answered. You must follow the time restrictions for the video: 

  • Overview Questions: 1.5-minute video per question
  • Proposal Questions: 3-minute video per question 
  • Optional Questions: 1-minute video per question
You can invite others to assist with your application by making them a “collaborator” via the Submittable application portal. At the top of your application portal, click on the “Invite Collaborator” link and send the link to the individuals you want to work with on the grant application. By collaborating with others, you can simultaneously work and review the application together, but you – the account holder – will be the only person who can submit the application when ready.
DOF understands that our deaf communities are small and interconnected. In recognition of this, and to ensure a transparent and fair evaluation process for all applicants, we require full disclosure of any actual or perceived conflicts of interest with anyone on the Grant Review Committee, DOF, or CSD’s staff and board.

Definitions: An actual conflict of interest arises when an applicant has a personal interest or affiliation with member(s) of the grant review process that conflicts with the integrity of the grant evaluation. Similarly, an actual conflict of interest exists where there is an unfair influence on the grant review process. A perceived conflict of interest exists where there may be a public perception of a potential conflict of interest.

Examples of Conflicts: Both actual and perceived conflicts of interest extend to close family members or personal relationships (e.g., an applicant’s spouse holds an affiliation, such as a consultancy or advisory role with DOF). Conflicts of interest may occur when an individual on the Grant Review Committee, DOF, or CSD’s staff and board, is also currently a director, officer, contractor, consultant, agent, or staff member of the applicant organization.

Disclosure of conflict of interest: In the application, organizations should specify who the conflict is with and what the conflict is. Disclosing a conflict will not automatically disqualify an applicant organization. DOF will review all potential conflicts and determine the appropriate actions, including but not limited to ensuring the person(s) involved do not participate in evaluating the application.

If unsure whether something constitutes a conflict, please inform the DOF team and ask for guidance. Failure to disclose conflicts of interest in a timely manner may result in the denial of your grant application.
Grantees will submit a brief interim report halfway through their project and a brief final report at the completion of the project. The 3 to 5 questions on these reports can be accessed in American Sign Language, English, and Spanish; grantees may also respond to the questions in these three languages. Grantees can also choose to participate in a video meeting to answer reporting questions in lieu of submitting written or pre-recorded video responses. Grantees are also invited to optionally participate in at least one video-based meeting with a DOF team member for support, progress sharing, and other dialogue as needed.

Lastly, organizations receiving funding will be asked to share a testimonial via ASL video or written English/Spanish of what they have accomplished and how the money has been spent.
  • Meets eligibility requirements 
  • Sufficient information provided in application to make informed decision 
  • Evaluation rubric can be found here 
    • Impact: The alignment between the organization’s proposal to its mission and community they serve. 
    • Equity: The degree to which the organization strives to center in their work the experiences and wisdom of deaf community members who have less access to power and representation, or marginalized deaf communities historically excluded from opportunities.   
    • Community leadership: The extent to which the organization’s leadership, staff, board, and volunteers are reflective of the communities they serve. 
    • Feasibility: The applicant’s ability to meet the goals outlined in their proposal 
A tri-color illustration of a person inside navy blue circle, and the person is signing “connect”.
A tri-color illustration of a person inside navy blue circle, and the person is signing “connect”.

Have Questions?

We have answers. Reach out to our team today.

Have Questions?

A tri-color illustration of a person inside navy blue circle, and the person is signing “connect”.
A tri-color illustration of a person inside navy blue circle, and the person is signing “connect”.

We have answers. Reach out to our team today.

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Deaf Organizations Fund is a 501(c)3 public charity, tax ID: 92-3792141.
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