Hear the Impact Fund Awards $147,000 in Grants

Administered by the Minneapolis Foundation, the Hear the Impact Fund supports organizations working to expand access, opportunity, and inclusion for people who are Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing.

This latest round builds on the fund’s inaugural grantmaking, when 17 organizations received a total of $768,000. A follow-up survey found the funding helped grant partners strengthen engagement, improve accessibility, and respond more effectively to community needs. Those insights helped inform this next round of funding.

The Hear the Impact Fund was created to achieve the goals of an anonymous fundholder who entrusted the Foundation with full grantmaking discretion.

“What makes this fund special is what the donor didn’t do,” said Bill Sternberg, a Philanthropic Advisor who stewards the Hear the Impact Fund. “They didn’t hand us a list of organizations or a set of instructions. They came to us with a genuine passion for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing communities, and together we shaped that passion into a focus for the fund. Then our team did the work to bring it to life.”

Sternberg partnered with the Foundation’s Impact team to vet organizations and build a portfolio of grants. Sam Ndely, the Foundation’s Program Officer for Impact and Collective Giving, identified organizations across Minnesota whose work aligned with the fund’s purpose and invited them to apply.

The new grants arrive at a crucial time, helping organizations serving Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans navigate challenges created by federal cuts and an unpredictable funding landscape.

“Providing a second round of funding was especially important because organizations serving these communities are facing growing funding challenges at a time when demand for their work remains strong,” said Ndely. “We hope these investments not only sustain critical services but also raise awareness of organizations that are too often overlooked.”

One grant helped Metro Deaf School offer parent-infant classes for the families of newly identified Deaf and DeafBlind infants, provide a school liaison for families who speak a language other than English, and cover some student extracurricular activity fees. “These funds have allowed students and families to fully engage in school and to feel supported by Metro Deaf School and our community,” said Dr. Susan Outlaw, the school’s Executive Director.

Another grant will support the Deaf Artists Residency Program at the Anderson Center in Red Wing, Minnesota. “I firmly believe in the Deaf Artist Residency program because I lacked access to diverse Deaf artists during my artistic development,” said Residency Coordinator Daniel Katz-Hernandez. “These Deaf artists, whom I later connected with, have profoundly influenced my art direction, and in turn, I have been inspired by them in a similar way. I am committed to giving back by contributing to the program’s growth and becoming an inspiration for the next generation of Deaf artists.”

Hear the Impact grants are supporting the Deaf Artists Residency Program at The Anderson Center (above) and helping Metro Deaf School provide a school liaison for students who speak a language other than English (banner image).

Here is the complete list of grants: 

• The Anderson Center supports creativity throughout Greater Minnesota through residencies, studios, and public engagement. A grant of $27,000 will help transition the Center’s Deaf Artists Residency Program to new leadership while supporting its continued growth. 

• Charles Thompson Memorial Hall has served as a cultural and community gathering place for Minnesota’s Deaf community for more than a century. Its $30,000 grant will a support critical exterior repairs to preserve the building and improve accessibility. 

• Metro Deaf School provides bilingual education in American Sign Language and written English for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing students. It received $30,000 to support family ASL classes, after-school programs, athletics, and a playground shade structure. 

• Minnesota DeafBlind Association provides advocacy, education, community programming, and support for DeafBlind Minnesotans, their families, and professionals. Its $30,000 grant will support programming, provide SSP or Co-navigator services, and ensure interpreting services are available for all events. 

• ThinkSelf serves Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and hard of hearing individuals from all backgrounds, with a focus on adult education and advocacy. Its $30,000 grant will provide flexible operating support for program space and organizational stability.