What Hearing Health Foundation does

Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as the largest nonprofit funder of hearing and balance research in the United States, with 65+ years of continuous operation since its founding in 1958. Its mission is to prevent and cure hearing loss and tinnitus through scientific research and to promote hearing health through public education. The organization does not sell products or services; rather, it operates a portfolio of programs that deploy donated and granted funds toward research, education, and awareness.

HHF's core programs are the Hearing Restoration Project (HRP), a collaborative research consortium focused on inner ear hair cell regeneration, and the Emerging Research Grants (ERG) program, which provides seed funding to early-stage investigators across 14 hearing and balance research areas. Research output is complemented by educational products: an award-winning quarterly Hearing Health Magazine reaching an estimated 1.3 million print and digital readers, a monthly digital newsletter, a blog updated several times weekly, and hour-long Zoom research webinars moderated by Anil K. Lalwani, M.D., head of the Council of Scientific Trustees. The #KeepListening campaign delivers public-facing prevention education on noise-induced hearing loss, supported by more than 25 promotional partners including WHO, HLAA, AG Bell, and VeDA.

Revenue is generated entirely from individual donations, planned giving (Collette Ramsey Baker Society), workplace giving (Benevity, CFC code 11853), non-cash gifts (stock, QCD, DAF, crypto), magazine advertising, and co-funded research grants from partner organizations such as Hyperacusis Research, Royal Arch Research Assistance, and The Les Paul Foundation. The organization employs 1-10 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors under the leadership of President and CEO Timothy Higdon. Founder Collette Ramsey Baker remains associated with the organization through the planned giving society bearing her name.

Name

Hearing Health Foundation

Legal name

Hearing Health Foundation

Website

https://hearinghealthfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hearing Health Foundation is a 65+ year-old U.S. nonprofit and the largest nonprofit funder of hearing and balance research, funding seed grants, a hair cell regeneration consortium, and hearing health education for affected individuals, researchers, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Hearing and Balance Research

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Health Promotion & Public Health Education (Community Workshops) (EDAAAFAG), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Nonprofit hearing research
• Tinnitus research funding
• Hearing loss prevention
• Otology research grants
• Hearing health education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting hearing loss research and prevention. Options include one-time gifts, monthly sustaining donations (Research Pioneer program), and tribute/memorial gifts.
2. Planned Giving: Bequests through wills or living trusts, beneficiary designations of retirement funds, and beneficiary designations of life insurance policies. Recognized through the Collette Ramsey Baker Society.
3. Advertising: Advertising packages in the Hearing Health magazine and digital channels including newsletter, website, webinar, and social media. The publication has an estimated print and digital readership of 1.3 million.
4. Non-Cash Gifts: Gifts of appreciated stock or ETFs, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) from IRAs for individuals 70.5 and older, and Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) contributions.
5. Workplace Giving: Participates in workplace charity campaigns including Benevity and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC code 11853). Many employers offer matching gifts for employee donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hearing Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization that funds groundbreaking hearing and balance science through its Emerging Research Grants program and Hearing Restoration Project, while promoting hearing health through free educational content including a quarterly magazine, monthly newsletter, blog, and webinars. The foundation also runs the #KeepListening campaign to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Product overview

Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) is a nonprofit research organization operating a multi-channel portfolio centered on funding hearing and balance research and promoting hearing health education. The core research programs include the Emerging Research Grants (ERG) Program, which provides annual seed funding to early-career investigators across 14 hearing and balance research areas, and the Hearing Restoration Project (HRP), a collaborative initiative focused on hair cell regeneration to cure hearing loss. HHF's public engagement products include Hearing Health Magazine (a free quarterly print and digital publication reaching 1.3 million readers), a Monthly Digital Newsletter featuring research updates, a regularly updated Blog updated several times per week, and Research Webinars hosted via Zoom featuring ERG scientists. The #KeepListening campaign is HHF's hearing loss prevention initiative offering educational resources on safe decibel levels, hearing protection, headphone safety, and hearing testing. HHF also operates donation and fundraising programs, advertising partnerships in its magazine, and maintains a comprehensive hearing health resource website covering conditions from tinnitus to Usher syndrome.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hearing Health Magazine: Award-winning quarterly magazine published by HHF, available in print and online, sharing stories and information about hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance conditions.
• #KeepListening
• Hearing Restoration Project (HRP)
• Emerging Research Grants (ERG)
• Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Awards

Products and services

• Emerging Research Grants (ERG) Program HHF's seed funding grant program providing annual grants to early-stage investigators in hearing and balance science, including otology, tinnitus, hyperacusis, cochlear implants, and auditory processing disorders.
• Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) HHF's flagship collaborative research initiative focused on hair cell regeneration to restore hearing, bringing together senior scientists to find a cure for hearing loss.
• Hearing Health Magazine An award-winning quarterly print and digital publication providing relatable stories, research updates, and real-world solutions for people with hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders, with an estimated print and digital readership of 1.3 million.
• Monthly Digital Newsletter A free monthly email newsletter featuring research updates from HHF-funded scientists, news about hearing and balance science, and community stories, distributed to subscribers.
• Research Webinars Hourlong Zoom-based online presentations featuring Emerging Research Grants scientists sharing significant research findings, moderated by Anil K. Lalwani, M.D. of Columbia University.
• #KeepListening Campaign A public health education and awareness campaign focused on preventing noise-induced hearing loss, providing resources on safe decibel levels, hearing protection, headphone safety, hearing testing, and hearing health impacts, with promotional partners and individual advocates.
• Donation and Fundraising Programs Multiple giving options including direct donations, planned giving, monthly sustaining donations, tribute gifts, stock donations, IRA qualified charitable distributions, Donor-Advised Fund contributions, workplace giving via Benevity and Combined Federal Campaign, crypto donations, and fundraising tools.
• Advertising and Partnership Programs Advertising packages in Hearing Health magazine (print and digital, reaching 1.3 million) and partnership/sponsorship opportunities for the Keep Listening hearing loss prevention campaign.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.3 million estimated print and digital readership for Hearing Health magazine
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Cures Within ReachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for clinical repurposing trials in Ménière's disease and related disorders. Request for proposals issued for clinical trials.
• 3 Tiny BonesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• ACIA AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• The Audiology ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Auditory InsightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Clear Digital MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Crystal GuardianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Deaf and HoHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Deaf MetalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• EarPeace FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Healthy HearingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Hearing Health MattersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Hearing Our WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Hearing TrackerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Hear TomorrowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• ISOtunesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Liberty Hearing CentersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Merck ManualsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Ear CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Musicians AidminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• National Veterans Rehabilitation CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• NYC TutoringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner providing Spanish translation services for hearing loss prevention content.
• Quiet CommunitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• SoundPrintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Tinnitus HubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Tinnitus QuestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Tinnitus UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partner in the Keep Listening campaign for hearing loss prevention.
• World Health Organization (WHO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO has collaborated on hearing loss prevention initiatives including the Keep Listening campaign. WHO estimates that 1.1 billion teens and young adults worldwide are at risk of hearing loss from loud sounds.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Tinnitus Association: A nonprofit dedicated to tinnitus research funding and patient support with comparable grantmaking and education programs; directly competes for tinnitus-focused donor dollars and overlaps on research webinars and patient resources.
• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): The leading U.S. consumer advocacy nonprofit for people with hearing loss; HLAA and HHF are active promotional partners in the #KeepListening campaign and serve overlapping patient/community audiences with education and resources.
• Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell): A 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving people with hearing loss through advocacy, education, and listening and spoken language programs; a promotional partner in #KeepListening and a peer in hearing health education for affected families.
• Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA): A patient-focused nonprofit supporting people with vestibular/balance disorders; directly comparable to HHF's balance-disease mission and co-promotional partner in the #KeepListening campaign.
• Cures Within Reach: A nonprofit focused on funding clinical repurposing trials, including a co-developed Ménière's disease initiative with HHF; directly comparable as a disease-specific research grantmaking organization with co-funding relationships.
• Hyperacusis Research: A small nonprofit that co-funds HHF Emerging Research Grants on hyperacusis; directly comparable as a disease-specific grantmaking and education nonprofit with overlap on funded researchers and advisory boards.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): The U.S. federal government's primary funder of hearing and balance research; directly comparable research-funding mission but operates as a government agency at vastly larger scale and is the dominant institutional alternative for hearing researchers.
• Starkey Hearing Foundation: A larger, well-resourced hearing-focused nonprofit affiliated with Starkey Hearing Technologies that funds hearing care access globally; comparable in mission (hearing health) but operates with much greater financial scale and a service-delivery rather than research-funding model.

Others

• American Academy of Audiology: A professional association for audiologists that overlaps with HHF's professional audience (research webinar attendees, magazine readers); not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem participant for clinician education and continuing engagement.

Emerging players

• Ear Community: A smaller community-focused nonprofit for people with hearing loss and microtia/atresia; a promotional partner in #KeepListening that overlaps on patient community-building but at a smaller, more niche scope than HHF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hearinghealthfn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/hearinghealthfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/HearingHealthFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hearing Health Foundation