The donor landscape in hearing aids is limited and fragmented with most funding for N.G.O.s coming from corporate social responsibility (C.S.R.) initiatives. There is no one bilateral donor that is heavily engaged in the hearing space; however, Canada Grand Challenges, G.I.Z., and others have provided limited grant support to N.G.O.s and social enterprises, often through wider disability programmes, around the development of innovations in hearing screening and care, provision of hearing aids, and support of E.H.C. strategies.
Three of the five leading suppliers of hearing aids have set up foundations to channel their philanthropic support: Hear the World Foundation (Sonova); Oticon Foundation (William Demant) and Starkey Foundation (Starkey). These foundations support both in-kind donation of new and refurbished product as well as grants to N.G.O.s.
The Starkey Foundation is the largest donor of hearing aids globally with ~100,000 units donated per year. Starkey Foundation organises and runs community-based hearing programs that include patient identification, hearing aid missions or community camps to fit hearing aids, and aftercare programs in partnership with governments or N.G.O.s. Starkey Foundation hearing missions utilise mostly refurbished, donated hearing aids.
Most N.G.O.s rely on individual donations, corporate donation matching schemes and support from C.S.R. initiatives, such as those from leading supplier to fund their hearing aid screening and provision activities.