Beginnings

Name

Beginnings

Legal name

BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Inc.

Website

https://ncbegin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family support services for deaf and hard of hearing children

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

Keywords

• Parent support services
• Deaf hard of hearing
• IEP advocacy services
• Family education support
• Nonprofit disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Grants: Primary funding source was NC state grants, specifically through NC DPI (NC Department of Public Instruction). Loss of state funding in FY26 caused suspension of services effective August 29, 2025.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations. Accepts recurring monthly donations, one-time gifts, memorials, tributes, and matching gifts. Donations support education, training, publications, and outreach programs.
3. Foundation Funding: Funding from foundations including Ragland Family Foundation, SERTOMA Club of Raleigh, SERTOMA Foundation, HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America), and The Junior League of Raleigh for specific programs like the Grants to Parents program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Beginnings is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, impartial support services to families of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (birth to age 22) across North Carolina. Its core offering comprises one-on-one Parent Educator guidance delivered through home visits, school meeting support, and virtual consultations, alongside the Grants to Parents financial assistance program for hearing-related expenses. All services are provided at no cost to families and funded through state grants and donations.

Product overview

BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing is a nonprofit service organization offering a unified portfolio of family support services rather than a technology product. The core offerings include Parent Educator Support Services (one-on-one guidance and advocacy), Virtual Home Visits for newly identified families, the Grants to Parents Program (financial assistance for hearing-related expenses), Educational Resources and Workshops, Monthly Newsletters, Community Connections Events, IEP Advocacy and Support, and a Hispanic Outreach Program with bilingual services. These services work together to provide comprehensive support from diagnosis through the child's transition to adulthood (age 22).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parent Educator Support Services One-on-one support services provided by trained Parent Educators who offer impartial guidance, emotional support, and advocacy assistance to families of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, including home visits and school meeting accompaniment. Services are delivered across 89 North Carolina counties and provided at no cost to families.
• Virtual Home Visits One-hour virtual sessions with part-time contract Parent Educators for families of newly identified children with hearing loss, providing remote access to impartial guidance and support services.
• Grants to Parents Program Financial assistance program providing small grants to NC families for hearing-related expenses including hearing aid accessories, maintenance, transportation costs to audiology appointments, audiological/ENT appointments for self-pay families, and access to chosen communication modalities. Funded by Ragland Family Foundation, SERTOMA Club of Raleigh, SERTOMA Foundation, HLAA, and The Junior League of Raleigh.
• IEP Advocacy and Support Guidance and support for families navigating Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Exceptional Children meetings, 504 Plans, IDEA 2004, and educational rights and procedures. Parent Educators accompany families to school meetings to provide advocacy assistance.
• Hispanic Outreach Program Culturally competent support services including Spanish-language resources, Hispanic Family Retreats in Raleigh and Charlotte, and dedicated bilingual Parent Educators serving Spanish-speaking families of DHH children across North Carolina.
• Online Store Online merchandise store linked from the website (ncbegin.org/online-store.html) generating supplementary revenue to support the organization's family support programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,324 families served in FY 2023-24
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBEGINNINGS participates in HLAA's annual Walk4Hearing event, which is the largest HLAA event since 2006 and brings together communities of support for people with hearing loss.
• NC Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NC DSDHH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState division providing resources, regional centers, and services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. Collaborates on events and provides referrals to families needing support.
• North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program (NC ITP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly intervention program serving children under age three with developmental delays including hearing loss. BEGINNINGS refers families and collaborates on serving children birth to age 3.
• NC Early Learning Sensory Support Program (ELSSP-HI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides direct services to children with hearing impairments birth through two years under Part C of IDEA, collaborating with NC ITP. BEGINNINGS works with families who also access these services.
• National Association of the Deaf (NAD)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational advocacy organization providing resources for parents. BEGINNINGS shares NAD resources with families and references their programs.
• Hands & VoicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent-driven organization supporting families with DHH children regardless of communication method. BEGINNINGS shares their resources with families.
• NC State Employees' Combined Campaign (SECC)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState employees can direct donations to BEGINNINGS through the SECC. Organization is listed as SECC #2534 for workplace giving.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC): National nonprofit dedicated to supporting Deaf/Hard of Hearing children and their families through education, advocacy, and parent-to-parent connections. Highly comparable in mission to Beginnings' parent education and emotional support services.
• Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell): National organization providing educational resources and advocacy for children with hearing loss, focused on listening, spoken language, and communication options. Comparable to Beginnings in serving DHH families and providing impartial guidance on communication choices.
• Center for Hearing and Communication: Nonprofit audiology and family support organization serving Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals, including children, with clinical, educational, and counseling services. Directly comparable in combining direct family services with hearing-loss expertise.
• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): National organization for people with hearing loss that funds Beginnings' Grants to Parents program and co-hosts Walk4Hearing. HLAA is the most directly comparable national peer for advocacy, education, and family support for the DHH community.
• Hands & Voices: National parent-driven nonprofit supporting families with DHH children regardless of communication method. Beginnings explicitly partners with and shares Hands & Voices resources with families, making it the closest direct peer in mission and audience.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): Largest civil-rights organization representing the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in the US. Beginnings already partners with NAD and shares its resources with families; NAD is a broader incumbent serving a wider constituency than Beginnings' parent-focus.
• Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD): National nonprofit providing a broad portfolio of services — interpreting, advocacy, education, and community development — for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. Overlaps with Beginnings on family and community support but operates at much larger national scale.

Emerging players

• Children's Hearing Institute: Nonprofit focused on pediatric hearing loss research, education, and family support. Smaller and more research-oriented than Beginnings but shares the DHH-children-family audience and educational mission.

Regional players

• Beginnings SV (California): Independently operated Beginnings chapter serving families of DHH children in the San Jose/Silicon Valley area. Direct mission and program-model peer operating in a different state geography.
• Ohio Valley Voices: Nonprofit serving children with hearing loss and their families through listening and spoken language programs, audiology, and family support in the Ohio region. Comparable mission, family-support service model, and reliance on donations/grants, but in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNzrFcqr-KEjceGY4TfrvPA/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/NCBegin.org/timeline
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncbeginnings
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beginnings-for-parents-of-children-who-are-deaf-or-hard-of-hearing-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Beginnings