Dear friends,

This year has been all about evolution: changing our name, our infrastructure and our funding practice. These changes were all made with one of DOF’s values in mind: the importance of adapting to community-led needs and feedback.

So, why the name change? Previously known as CSD Unites Community Foundation, we became the Deaf Organizations Fund (DOF). It’s been our hope that this new name more explicitly reflects our mission, which remains steadfast: strengthening organizations working with deaf communities.

Why the infrastructure change? We became a subsidiary of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) and are awaiting 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status of our own. This brings us one step closer to being a fully community-led philanthropic entity. After all, the ripple effect of funding and resourcing these amazing deaf-centric organizations ultimately reverberates among our own deaf communities.

Why the change to our funding practice? This was a very natural transition from 2022 and 2023’s capacity building grant program, in which we saw firsthand how much deaf organizations needed space to make their own decisions about where money moved within. Aligning DOF with trust-based philanthropy and its principles helped us shift from capacity building to an unrestricted grant program, with organizations being invited in fall of 2023 to simply tell us their areas of greatest need.

These nonprofits that care for our deaf communities, providing meaningful inclusion and accessible services, often don't conform to the funding interests of traditional philanthropy. While nearly half of all DOF applicants to date somehow subsist on less than $100K annually, just 2% of mainstream grants are made to disability organizations. This is why DOF is so very necessary, and why we are honored to have you join in our work.

In 2023, we were immensely proud to support five amazing deaf organizations through our 2023 Capacity Building Grant. Please read on to learn about their work. Thank you for being part of our efforts to strengthen deaf organizations nationwide.

As a Deaf-led national nonprofit organization, Asian Signers promotes the recognition of diverse Asian representation with a commitment to culture, literature, and education in American Sign Language.

The DOF grant gave Asian Signers the ability to purchase software needed to enhance their team's organization and communication, and to coordinate professional development opportunities. This work will enable Asian Signers’ staff to focus primarily on their mission of strengthening Deaf Asian representation for years to come.

Based in CA, DeafHope’s mission is to end domestic and sexual violence in Deaf communities through empowerment, education, and services.

DeafHope, a repeat grantee, used DOF funding to meet with a financial management consultant and received in-depth coaching to support their vision of financial health for their organization. DeafHope received the first significant contribution to their new endowment fund which brings them one step closer to sustaining their work for years to come.

Deaf Refugee Advocacy (DRA) provides deaf community members in Rochester, NY who are refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers the following services: educational programs, citizenship support, advocacy, and social events.

DRA, a previous grantee, recently evolved from a volunteer-run organization to having paid staff and an office. With DOF funding, DRA was able to successfully develop a robust technological infrastructure to streamline their operations which in turn helped them serve their clients more effectively and reliably.

National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) is an entity with over 30 chapters committed to improving the quality of life and well-being of Black Deaf, Black Deafblind, and Black Hard of Hearing community members all over the U.S.

With DOF funds, they gathered the necessary data to support several chapters with their IRS tax-exempt applications and plan to host 501(c)3 compliance training. This work allows state chapters to receive grants and donations, strengthening NBDA’s ability to support their local communities.

Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc. (ODSC) provides domestic violence and sexual assault services to Deaf survivors throughout the state of Massachusetts.

ODSC recently went through a significant organizational change and as a part of their strategic planning efforts, ODSC addressed financial management, grant management, and board development. These efforts will strengthen their ability to operate for years to come.