Support Hearing Research
Philanthropic gifts to VMBHRC do something federal grants rarely can: they fund the bold, early-stage ideas that catalyze major scientific breakthroughs. Every level of giving has a real, traceable impact on the lives of people with hearing loss and balance disorders.
Lab Equipment Fund
Equips researchers with the specialized tools needed for hearing science — from precision audiometers and electrophysiology rigs to microscopes capable of imaging individual hair cells. Gifts at this level directly expand lab capacity and accelerate ongoing experiments.
Named Research Award
Funds a targeted research award or seed grant that enables a scientist to pursue a promising new idea before federal funding is available. These pilot grants are often the spark that leads to major NIH or NSF funding, multiplying your impact many times over.
One-Year Research Fellowship
Supports a talented postdoctoral researcher or advanced graduate student for a full year, enabling them to dedicate themselves entirely to hearing research. Fellowship support at this level helps VMBHRC recruit and retain the next generation of scientific leaders in the field.
Two-Year Research Fellowship
Provides two full years of support for an outstanding trainee, offering the continuity needed to take a project from initial discovery through proof-of-concept. Multi-year fellowships are particularly valued for their ability to attract top candidates to the program.
Research Program Gift
Establishes or expands a named research program within VMBHRC, funding personnel, equipment, and operations for a defined scientific initiative. Program-level gifts create lasting infrastructure and are often acknowledged with naming recognition on the center's research pages.
Faculty Recruitment Package
Enables VMBHRC to recruit a distinguished mid-career or senior faculty member by providing the startup package — laboratory build-out, equipment, and initial personnel — required to attract world-class talent to Seattle. Faculty recruitment gifts have an outsized and lasting impact on the center's scientific trajectory.
Endowed Fellowship (Perpetuity)
Creates a permanent, named fellowship that supports a hearing researcher in perpetuity. The endowment is invested by UW, with annual distributions funding the fellowship year after year — forever. Named fellowships are among the most meaningful legacies a donor can leave in hearing science.
Endowed Faculty Chair
Establishes a permanently endowed professorship bearing the donor's name, attracting and retaining a leading faculty member at the highest level of academic medicine. Endowed chairs are the most prestigious and lasting form of philanthropic recognition, ensuring your legacy advances hearing research for generations to come.
Ready to take the next step?
“With your support, we can help millions worldwide with hearing loss and balance problems.”
Ali Bessee, our Associate Director of Philanthropy, welcomes conversations about giving at any level — from first-time supporters to major gift donors exploring named endowments.