What Starkey Hearing Foundation does

Starkey Hearing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation founded in 1984 by Bill Austin and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The foundation provides free hearing healthcare services, hearing aids, and aftercare to individuals with hearing loss in low- and middle-income countries, and has reached more than 1.5 million people across 100+ countries over four decades. Its core delivery assets are the Starkey Hearing Institute training campuses in Lusaka, Zambia (established 2016) and Manila, Philippines (established 2024 in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas), with a third location planned for Latin America in 2025.

The foundation's underlying technology is the WFA (Wide-Frequency Audibility) Community-Based Hearing Healthcare Program, a proprietary model that combines patient identification, hearing assessments, hearing-aid fitting, counseling, and an Active Care follow-up program. Instead of relying solely on one-off mission trips, the foundation trains local community-based providers through a 10-month curriculum (Zambia) or five-month certification (Philippines), giving graduates a continuing role in serving roughly 50,000 beneficiaries annually. Reusable components include training curricula co-developed with Queen Margaret University Scotland and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and battery supply from Rayovac. The organization also runs a Global Advocacy Initiative that supports National Plans for Ear and Hearing Care in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Rwanda, and Tanzania, in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

The business model is a donations-driven nonprofit. Starkey Hearing Foundation operates entirely on charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and partner organizations (notably Delta Zeta Sorority, which has donated over $6 million since 2006), with no fees charged to beneficiary recipients. Its customer segments are individuals with hearing loss in developing countries, nurses and clinicians receiving training, and governments/health officials developing hearing-care policy. Marketing and fundraising rely on social media (Facebook, YouTube), email newsletters, content marketing, celebrity events, and community fundraising programs. Audited financials are available for 2018-2024, but revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Starkey Hearing Foundation

Legal name

Starkey Hearing Foundation

Website

https://starkeyhearingfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Starkey Hearing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1984, that delivers free hearing healthcare, hearing aids, and aftercare to individuals in low- and middle-income countries while training local providers through its Starkey Hearing Institute network across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Hearing Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM), Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Hearing healthcare services
• Hearing aid missions
• Community hearing training
• Nonprofit hearing programs
• Audiology education

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnesota City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: Starkey Hearing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. Gifts are used where they can do the most good by combining with others to help as many people as possible.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Starkey Hearing Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides free hearing healthcare services—including hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, and counseling—to individuals in need across more than 100 developing countries via international hearing missions. It also operates the Starkey Hearing Institute, a network of training academies (Zambia, Philippines, and a forthcoming Latin America site) that trains local community-based hearing healthcare professionals who deliver ongoing care. Supporting programs include the proprietary WFA® Community-Based Hearing Healthcare Model, the Active Care Program for post-fit follow-up, and a Global Advocacy Initiative that helps governments develop National Plans for Ear and Hearing Care.

Product overview

Starkey Hearing Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization focused on providing hearing healthcare access globally through education, training, and community-based programs. The organization's core offering is the Starkey Hearing Institute network, which includes training facilities in Zambia (established 2016), Philippines (established 2024), and an upcoming location in Latin America (2025). These institutes provide hands-on training programs for community-based hearing healthcare professionals. The foundation's programs also include the WFA® Community-Based Hearing Healthcare Program, the Active Care Program for ongoing patient support, and Global Advocacy initiatives to help governments develop national hearing care policies. The foundation serves individuals across 100+ countries, having provided over 1.5 million hearing healthcare services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Starkey Hearing Institute: Training program for community-based hearing healthcare professionals in developing countries
• WFA (Wide-Frequency Audibility)
• Active Care Program

Products and services

• Starkey Hearing Institute (Zambia) Flagship training institute in Lusaka, Zambia offering a 10-month hands-on curriculum in primary ear and hearing care to community-based healthcare providers from across Africa. Includes classrooms, dormitories, an event hall, a recreation center, a skills lab, and a self-providing farm. As of November 2023, over 100 students had graduated, serving 19 African countries.
• Starkey Hearing Institute Philippines Second institute location in Manila, Philippines established in 2024 in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas, offering a five-month certification course in community ear and hearing healthcare. The first class of 33 students graduated in September 2024.
• Starkey Hearing Institute Latin America Third Starkey Hearing Institute location announced for Latin America, set to open in 2025, expanding the foundation's educational programs to the region with community-based hearing healthcare training.
• WFA® Community-Based Hearing Healthcare Program Proprietary Wide-Frequency Audibility® Community-Based Hearing Healthcare Model using a proven action model to empower local teams in providing basic ear care and hearing aids to individuals in need. Includes patient identification, hearing missions, fitting, counseling, and Active Care follow-up.
• Active Care Program Post-graduation support program providing ongoing care to hearing aid beneficiaries, including counseling, batteries, and free repair or replacement of hearing aids as needed. Delivered through Starkey Hearing Institute graduates and providers.
• Global Advocacy Initiative Advocacy program helping governments and health officials develop National Plans for Ear and Hearing Care, supporting policy development in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Rwanda, and Tanzania in collaboration with WHO.
• Hearing Mission Services Community hearing missions providing hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, counseling, and follow-up services to individuals in need across developing regions. The Philippines mission alone served over 2,000 patients in Manila and Pampanga.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5 million people provided with hearing healthcare services
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• University of Santo TomasflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with University of Santo Tomas (400+ years of academic excellence) for Starkey Hearing Institute Philippines. The institute's first class graduated in partnership with the Anargyroi Foundation and Faculty of Medicine and Surgery UST.
• RayovaccoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016Battery provider for Starkey Hearing Foundation. Rayovac products power the hearing aids distributed to patients, providing reliable power source for hearing devices worldwide.
• Delta Zeta National SororityflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2006Philanthropic partner since 2006. Delta Zeta members have donated over $6 million to the foundation and actively participate in hearing missions worldwide. They have over 285,000 members and 170 active collegiate chapters supporting global foundation activities through fundraising and service hours. Delta Zeta attended missions in the US, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guyana, India, Peru, Tanzania, Zambia, Honduras, El Salvador, Kenya, Guatemala, and Jamaica. They dedicated the new recreation center at Starkey Hearing Institute Zambia.
• The Pete Store / John ArscottminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting partner committed to sustainable difference in communities. John and family have participated in multiple missions helping people in need.
• Gyl & David KasewurmcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerContributed the newly developed state-of-the-art skills lab at Starkey Hearing Institute Zambia. Gyl Kasewurm serves on the foundation board.
• World Health OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarkey Hearing Foundation works in close collaboration with WHO on global hearing health initiatives. Only 42 of 195 countries have national hearing care plans, and the foundation supports developing these globally.
• Queen Margaret University (Scotland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing Starkey Hearing Institute graduates to advance education through HEDip Hearing Aid Audiology coursework. Graduates can obtain university credits and higher degrees in audiology through online program while working in their home country.
• The London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurriculum includes Public Health Approach for District Level Ear and Hearing Health course developed by the institution.
• Karma Thalo FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that conducts medical camps in Nepal; Starkey Hearing Foundation joined to provide hearing services.
• International Hearing FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing research partnership on etiology and treatments of ear-related problems.
• Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of HearingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supports this year-round camp offering programs that inspire, nurture, and foster goodwill for deaf children, adults, and families.
• Peace Over ViolenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation directed support for Deaf & Disabled services program providing linguistically and culturally appropriate intervention and prevention services.
• LDS CharitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with during 2020 graduation to provide AfterCare services to patients served in past hearing missions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Cochlear Foundation: Cochlear's philanthropic arm funding hearing implant access, awareness, and professional training in developing markets, comparable as a corporate hearing-health foundation.
• MED-EL Medical Electronics (Foundation Programs): Implantable hearing device manufacturer supporting hearing loss treatment in underserved regions through grants, donations, and training; relevant adjacent player in global hearing care.
• Lions Clubs International Foundation (Hearing): Massive service-club network with long-standing hearing aid recycling and hearing health programs globally, including partnerships with Starkey; broader in mission but overlapping on hearing aid access.

Others

• AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Nonprofit advancing listening, learning, and spoken language for people with hearing loss through advocacy, education, and scholarships; comparable in mission focus on hearing loss but not in service delivery.
• PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health): Global health nonprofit working on health system strengthening and access in low-income countries; relevant as an institutional peer in the global health delivery and advocacy ecosystem where Starkey operates.

Direct peers

• CBM Christian Blind Mission: International disability-focused NGO delivering ear and hearing care, including community-based rehabilitation and professional training in low- and middle-income countries, with overlapping mission and delivery model.
• Hear the World Foundation: Sonova-backed nonprofit providing hearing care, hearing aids, and hearing loss prevention programs globally to underserved communities, directly comparable as a corporate-affiliated hearing-focused foundation.
• World Wide Hearing: Nonprofit providing affordable hearing aids and audiology services in developing countries, with a comparable community-based delivery model and similar reliance on donations.
• Oticon Foundation: Demant-affiliated philanthropic foundation funding hearing research, hearing care access, and humanitarian audiology projects, comparable as a corporate-backed hearing health nonprofit.
• Sound Seekers (Sound International): UK-based charity delivering audiology services, training local professionals, and supporting ear and hearing care in low-income countries in Africa and Asia — direct operational peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCORLvBNDFARVO9Kf15cVvvw
• Facebookfacebook.com/StarkeyCares
• Xx.com/starkeycares
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/4018823

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Starkey Hearing Foundation