[American Hearing Research Foundation](https://www.american-hearing.org)

August 15, 2025 (5:00 p.m. Central Time)

$65,000–$75,000 (one-year, paid in lump sum; 1–2 awarded per year)

Selectively funds outstanding research projects on hearing and balance disorders of the inner ear showing exceptional scientific promise.

Awarded at AHRF's discretion; eligibility and application requirements match AHRF Discovery Grants.

--- ## Description The American Hearing Research Foundation (AHRF) Discretionary Grants program provides selective, high-impact funding to one or two research projects annually that demonstrate exceptional promise in advancing scientific knowledge of hearing and balance disorders related to the inner ear. These discretionary awards include the $75,000 Birtman Grant and the $65,000 Richard G. Muench Chairman’s Grant. Recipients are invited to revise their aims and budget to align with the additional funds provided. The program supports both basic and clinical research that aligns with AHRF’s mission to improve hearing health. --- ## Due Dates - Application deadline: August 15, 2025 (5:00 p.m. Central Time) - Award notification: Late November 2025 - Grant period: January 1 – December 31, 2026 --- ## Funding Amount - Birtman Grant: $75,000 (one-year, paid in lump sum) - Richard G. Muench Chairman’s Grant: $65,000 (one-year, paid in lump sum) - Typically, one or two discretionary grants are awarded per year. - Funds may be used for direct costs only (excluding PI/co-PI salary, travel, conference expenses, educational, or indirect costs). --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must hold an MD, PhD, AuD, or equivalent degree. - Must be associated with a university or hospital in the United States. - Applicants are not required to be U.S. citizens, but must be affiliated with a U.S. institution. - Research must focus on hearing and balance disorders of the inner ear. - All eligibility, topic, and reporting requirements are the same as for the AHRF Discovery Grant. --- ## Application Process - Confirm eligibility and research topic relevance. - Prepare application following the AHRF Discovery Grant guidelines and checklist, including: - Title page with project and investigator details - One-page project summary and lay summary - Detailed one-year budget (no PI/co-PI salary, no indirect costs) - Biographical sketches (max 3 pages per investigator) - Main body: specific aims (1 page), background/significance/methods (up to 5 pages) - Progress report (for renewals) - Letter of support (optional, included in proposal) - Save the proposal as a PDF (≤5 MB for online submission). - Submit via the [AHRF online application portal](https://www.american-hearing.org/grant-application/). - Human or animal subjects: IRB or ACUC approval must be applied for by March 31 of the grant year if funded. --- ## Additional Information - Discretionary grants are awarded at the Foundation’s discretion; there is no separate application—applicants submit via the standard process and are considered for discretionary funding if their proposal is deemed exceptional. - Funds must be used for direct research costs only. - Overlapping funds must be returned to AHRF. - Progress and final reports are required. --- ## External Links - [AHRF Discretionary Grants Program](https://www.american-hearing.org/grant/discretionary-grants) - [Grants We Offer & Application Instructions](https://www.american-hearing.org/research-grants/grants-we-offer-2/) - [AHRF Online Application Portal](https://www.american-hearing.org/grant-application/) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.american-hearing.org/frequently-asked-questions-for-grant-applications/) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Email | [info@american-hearing.org](mailto:info@american-hearing.org) | | Phone | (773) 747-7280 | | Contact Form | [AHRF Contact Page](https://www.american-hearing.org/contact/) | | Mailing Address | 4055 W. Peterson Ave., Suite 105, Chicago, IL 60646-6183 | ---

Discretionary Grants

Sign in to see full grant listing