By Chris Soukup, Board President of Deaf Organizations Fund

As the CEO of Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD), one of the largest deaf nonprofits that just celebrated 50 years of service, I aim to ensure that other deaf organizations reach and surpass the same milestone. In alignment with this vision, the CSD Board of Directors and I established Deaf Organizations Fund (DOF) in 2021 to fund and resource deaf nonprofits across the United States (US). 

The Gallaudet Research Institute estimates up to 1.5 million deaf people in the US use American Sign Language as their primary way to communicate. Based on the best available data, there are about 319 nonprofit organizations in the country with missions focused on deaf communities. This means there's roughly one deaf nonprofit for every 5,000 deaf people.  

Approximately 35% of those organizations operate with budgets under $25,000 a year. In other words, one in three deaf organizations has little to no income and relies completely on volunteers to keep their work going.  

This is not okay. Deaf organizations are the backbone of deaf communities.

Why This Work Matters

Deaf organizations provide essential, life-changing support to our communities, especially during times of crisis. 
 
Over the years, I've seen and heard countless personal stories that speak to their impact:

"They saved my life."
"They showed up when I needed them most."
"They helped me find a home."
"They helped me get a job."
"They gave me food and clothes when I lost everything or had nothing."

Behind every quote is a person with a story of resilience and a deaf nonprofit that supported them in their journey.

The Road Ahead

DOF, as the only funder in the US committed to deaf organizations, is raising $200K to support the work of 10 nonprofits in early 2026. But we can't do this work alone. Please consider joining us in funding deaf organizations. 

Together we can strengthen the nonprofits that show up every single day to make life better for our deaf communities.  

We know one thing for certain: deaf organizations provide incomparable services to deaf communities, yet many are struggling.  

Since 2020, Deaf Organizations Fund (DOF) has received 300 funding requests from deaf organizations. Nearly half reported operating on less than $100K per year, highlighting the fact that organizations working with deaf communities are underfunded and under-resourced. Their services are fully accessible to their deaf communities, yet they are frequently limited in their capacity to pay rent, expand programming, hire staff, provide training, develop boards, and conduct strategic planning, among countless similar challenges. 

“As an agency that serves the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing, it can be difficult to find funding partners who understand the needs and culture of the communities we serve.” - DOF Impact Grant Applicant 

If you work for a foundation or are a grantmaking institution interested in supporting the work of deaf organizations, we’ve developed a resource to not only foster cross-organizational collaborations, but also to connect you, the funder, with these incredible yet oft-overlooked nonprofits.  

Called the Deaf Organizations and Programs Directory, this resource is a continually expanding list of nonprofits and programs working to meet the needs of deaf communities within the United States. The directory is searchable by geographic region and/or by cause area, such as advocacy, education, racial justice, and more.  

As an example: if you are affiliated with a community foundation that’s interested in locating and potentially resourcing deaf organizations in your state that address a particular need, use our directory to initiate your search!  

With deaf nonprofits receiving less than 1% of the $37.2 billion in grants awarded globally by funders each year, this is an optimal opportunity for you to help leverage the playing field.