Sertoma
Sertoma, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1912 that operates a federation of 500+ clubs across the US, Canada, and Mexico, providing free refurbished hearing aids, hearing health education, and scholarships to individuals impacted by hearing loss.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1912
- HeadquartersMound City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sertoma does
Sertoma, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic organization founded in 1912 and headquartered in North Kansas City, Missouri (EIN 63-0655922), operating under the motto SERVICE TO MANKIND. Its mission focuses on improving quality of life for individuals impacted by hearing health issues through education, direct services, scholarships, and community-based fundraising. The organization operates a federated network of more than 500 local clubs across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, supported by a small (~7-person) professional headquarters staff led by Executive Director Jason Camis.
Sertoma's product portfolio centers on hearing health. The flagship is the Hearing Aid Project, a national initiative that refurbishes and distributes hearing aids at no cost to qualifying individuals through a network of audiologists, hearing aid manufacturers, and charitable partners. Adjacent hearing-health programs include the Amplified Hearing Program (hearing loop installations in community facilities), CELEBRATE SOUND® (hearing health education, registered trademark), and SAFEEars!® (hearing protection education, registered trademark). The 2024 acquisition of stewardship over the Hear2Help Program added pediatric hearing aid financial assistance serving Missouri and Kansas in partnership with Children's Mercy Hospital and the Overland Park Rotary Club Foundation.
Revenue mechanics are diversified across three streams: the Sertoma Annual Fund (donation-driven, with levels anchored by a $125 Fellow donation), recurring club membership dues across 500+ local chapters, and event-driven club fundraising (golf tournaments, car shows, community festivals). Resources are redistributed through Community Grants ($2,500–$5,000 to National Affiliates), Club Grants ($500–$2,000 to chartered clubs), Professional Education Grants (up to $425 per affiliate staff member), and scholarships (Hard of Hearing/Deaf Scholarship since 1994 plus $1,000 Communicative Disorders Scholarships). Cumulative programmatic output includes 800+ scholarships and $1M+ in grants over the past ten years, with 1,000+ clients served through the Hearing Aid Project and 28,000+ children screened by the Sertoma Foundation's mobile audiology van in the greater Tampa region.
The go-to-market model is community-led and event-driven: member acquisition happens via local club onboarding or direct registration as a national Sertoman, while engagement is sustained through Regional Conventions, the annual International Conference (2026 event scheduled), and the Walk4Hearing partnership with HLAA. No revenue or financial details are publicly disclosed, and the organization has no parent company, subsidiaries, or external funding rounds.
Sertoma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sertoma
- Legal name
- Sertoma, Inc.
- Website
- https://sertoma.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1912
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sertoma, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1912 that operates a federation of 500+ clubs across the US, Canada, and Mexico, providing free refurbished hearing aids, hearing health education, and scholarships to individuals impacted by hearing loss.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sertoma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Hearing Health Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)
Keywords
Where Sertoma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mound City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sertoma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Annual Fund: Sertoma raises funds through its Annual Fund, which is described as the crown jewel of the organization's mission. The Annual Fund supports scholarship programs, Community Grant program, and hearing health programs. Individual donations are solicited at various levels including a 'Fellow level' donation of $125.
- Club Membership Dues: Local Sertoma clubs are membership-driven organizations with members paying dues. Clubs engage in fundraising activities to support community programs.
- Club Fundraising Events: Individual Sertoma clubs conduct various fundraising events in their communities. Examples include golf tournaments, car shows, holiday events, and community festivals. Funds raised stay local to support club programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Community Grant awards range from $2,500 to $5,000 |
| Other | Annual | Professional Education Grant awards up to $425 per fiscal year |
| Other | Annual | Club Grant awards range from $500 to $2,000 |
| Other | Annual | Communicative Disorders Scholarship awards $1,000 each |
| Other | Annual | Fellow level donation is $125 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Sertoma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sertoma is a nonprofit civic organization (501(c)(3)) dedicated to improving quality of life for those at risk or impacted by hearing health issues. It provides free refurbished hearing aids through the Hearing Aid Project, scholarship programs for hard of hearing/deaf students and graduate students in communicative disorders, and grant programs (Community, Club, and Professional Education Grants) to affiliate organizations and local clubs. The organization operates through a network of over 500 clubs across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Product overview
Sertoma is a nonprofit civic organization (501(c)(3)) dedicated to improving quality of life for those at risk or impacted by hearing loss. The organization operates as a unified product portfolio centered on hearing health education, support, and community service. Its flagship offering is the Hearing Aid Project, which provides refurbished hearing aids at no cost through a network of professional providers. The portfolio includes hearing health programs (Amplified Hearing Program, CELEBRATE SOUND, SAFEEars!), scholarship programs (Hard of Hearing or Deaf Scholarship, Communicative Disorders Scholarship), grant programs (Community Grant, Club Grant, Professional Education Grant), the Hear2Help Program for pediatric hearing aid support, youth programs (Serteen & Collegiate), and the Sertoma Annual Fund as the primary fundraising mechanism. The Adopt-An-Agency program connects local clubs with affiliate organizations, enabling access to grant programs. All offerings are unified under the 'Service to Mankind' mission with a focus on hearing health across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hearing Aid Project Sertoma's flagship hearing health program that provides refurbished hearing aids at no cost to qualifying individuals who cannot afford them, through partnerships with hearing aid manufacturers, audiologists, and charitable organizations.
- Amplified Hearing Program A hearing health program that provides hearing assistance and installs hearing loop technology in community facilities to improve accessibility for individuals with hearing loss.
- CELEBRATE SOUND Program A hearing health education and awareness program (registered trademark) that celebrates and supports individuals with hearing health needs.
- SAFEEars! Program A hearing protection and safety education program (registered trademark) focused on preventing hearing damage and providing information to individuals on hearing protection.
- Hard of Hearing or Deaf Scholarship The leading scholarship for hard of hearing or deaf students since 1994, providing financial support for undergraduate students with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss (minimum 40dB) pursuing bachelor's degrees.
- Communicative Disorders Scholarship Scholarships worth $1,000 each for graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in audiology or speech-language pathology at ASHA-accredited institutions in the U.S. Minimum 3.5 GPA required.
- Community Grant Program Grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 awarded annually to Sertoma National Affiliate organizations to advance hearing health missions and programs serving their communities. Applications accepted November 5 to January 31.
- Club Grant Program Grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 supporting chartered Sertoma Clubs in advancing charitable programs within their communities, with bonus points for hearing health projects. Applications accepted September 1 to November 1.
- Professional Education Grant Grants up to $425 per Sertoma fiscal year for Affiliate staff to attend short courses, workshops, seminars, and conferences to enhance professional skills in speech and hearing.
- Hear2Help Program A program that provides financial support to children in need of hearing aids and related care, serving Missouri and Kansas pediatric patients in partnership with Children's Mercy Hospital.
- Adopt-An-Agency Program Program enabling Sertoma clubs to adopt hearing and speech agencies in their area, opening access to Community Grants and Professional Education Grants for those affiliate organizations.
- Serteen & Collegiate Programs
- Sertoma Club Natural Disaster Fund
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 800 scholarships and more than $1,000,000 in grants provided over 10 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sertoma
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Sertoma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Sertoma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- HearUSAcorePartnership through Sertoma's Hearing Aid Project (HAP) to expand hearing aid distribution and access to hearing health services for individuals in need.
- Hello by GrouperminorNew program partnership launched to support Sertoma's mission and hearing health programs.
- Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)coreHLAA is an official National Alliance Partner for HLAA's nationwide Walk4Hearing program. Sertoma serves as the National Alliance Partner, enabling Sertomans across the country to participate in walks that raise funds for Sertoma Scholarships and the Hearing Aid Project.
- Children's Mercy HospitalcorePartnership through Hear2Help program to provide loaner hearing aid devices to pediatric patients facing insurance delays. Sertoma assumed stewardship of Hear2Help in 2024 to support the hospital's pediatric patients in need of hearing aids.
- Overland Park Rotary Club FoundationmajorCollaborated with Sertoma to match funding for Children's Mercy Hospital's Hear2Help program. The combined funding from both organizations allowed the manufacturer to match the donation, securing four devices for the price of two.
- Cochlear (manufacturer)majorManufacturer that matched the combined donation from Sertoma and Overland Park Rotary Club Foundation, allowing Children's Mercy Hospital to secure four hearing devices for the price of two.
- Sertoma FoundationcoreSertoma Foundation operates a mobile audiology van providing pediatric hearing screenings and evaluations, fitting and dispensing hearing aids. Focus is on rural and underserved communities, having screened over 28,000 children and 200+ adults in the greater Tampa region.
- Platte Canyon Sertoma ClubminorLocal Sertoma club that sponsors the Anchor Center for Blind Children as a Sertoma Affiliate since 2017.
- Sarasota Memorial Hospital (Venice)majorThrough collaboration with Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota and local HLAA chapter, the hospital became the first and only fully looped hospital in Florida, improving accessibility for patients with hearing loss.
- Sertoma Kids, Inc.minorFlorida nonprofit providing care and treatment to Florida children with hearing, speech and language needs, supported through fundraising by Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota's annual My Hometown Fest.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sertoma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Hearing Health Foundation: National nonprofit funding hearing-loss research and education. Comparable audience and hearing-health cause but research-grant oriented rather than service-club based.
- National Association of the Deaf: U.S. civil-rights organization serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Shares beneficiary population with Sertoma's scholarships and programs but operates via advocacy rather than direct aid.
- Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Nonprofit supporting listening, learning, and spoken language for people with hearing loss. Overlaps with Sertoma's Hard of Hearing/Deaf Scholarship and hearing-health mission but operates with an educational-advocacy model rather than direct aid provision.
- Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): National nonprofit advocating for people with hearing loss and an official National Alliance Partner of Sertoma's Walk4Hearing. Operates in the same hearing-health advocacy space but with a different model (advocacy and education rather than direct hearing aid provision).
Direct peers
- Civitan International: U.S.-based civic service-club organization with local clubs supporting community programs and people with developmental disabilities. Closely matches Sertoma in civic-club operating model, membership dues, and community grant programs.
- Starkey Hearing Foundation: Major philanthropic organization that donates hearing aids globally, directly comparable to Sertoma's Hearing Aid Project. Competes for hearing-aid philanthropy dollars and corporate manufacturing partnerships.
- Lions Clubs International: Largest service-club organization worldwide with a similar volunteer-driven, club-based model focused on community service including significant hearing-aid recycling (Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project) and vision programs. Direct comparable to Sertoma in structure, mission breadth, and hearing-health activity.
- Kiwanis International: U.S.-headquartered civic service club organization operating through local chartered clubs focused on community service and youth programs. Comparable membership-club operating model, fundraising reliance, and grassroots volunteer structure to Sertoma.
- Rotary International: Global civic service-club network with local Rotary clubs conducting fundraising and community service. Shares Sertoma's club-based service model, dues revenue model, and annual convention structure, though at much larger scale.
- Miracle-Ear Foundation: Nonprofit arm of Miracle-Ear providing free hearing aids to low-income individuals. Direct competitor to Sertoma's Hearing Aid Project in the donated hearing-aid distribution space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sertoma social profiles
Digital presenceSertoma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sertoma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Sertoma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sertoma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sertoma
What does Sertoma do?
Sertoma is a nonprofit civic organization (501(c)(3)) dedicated to improving quality of life for those at risk or impacted by hearing health issues. It provides free refurbished hearing aids through the Hearing Aid Project, scholarship programs for hard of hearing/deaf students and graduate students in communicative disorders, and grant programs (Community, Club, and Professional Education Grants) to affiliate organizations and local clubs. The organization operates through a network of over 500 clubs across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Is Sertoma a public or private company?
Sertoma is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sertoma founded?
Sertoma was founded in 1912. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sertoma based?
Sertoma is headquartered in Mound City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sertoma make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Annual Fund is the primary driver. The others are club Membership Dues and club Fundraising Events.
Who are Sertoma's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Hearing Health Foundation, National Association of the Deaf, Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). Direct peers are Civitan International, Starkey Hearing Foundation, Lions Clubs International, Kiwanis International, Rotary International and Miracle-Ear Foundation.
Does Sertoma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sertoma.
What industry is Sertoma in?
Sertoma's product category is Nonprofit Hearing Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAM, Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations. Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8600.