ASHFoundation Need-Based Emergency Funding

For: Students and Researchers

Award: Awards of up to $10,000 each

Deadline: December 17, 2025

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About

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) Need-Based Emergency Funding will be provided, as scholarship disbursements, to doctoral students and early-career investigators whose work on federally funded research studies in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) were affected by research grant terminations. This supplemental funding is designed to help mitigate the financial impact of such terminations and support the continuation of current CSD research.

Funding is to be directed toward research study activities (ongoing data collection, data analysis, report preparation, or dissemination of findings), and educational expenses (tuition, books, living expenses). Funding for travel (personal or professional) is not an allowable cost for this special initiative.

Eligibility

Applicants:

  • Must be research doctoral students or early-career investigators (within five years of completing their doctoral degree) who were participating in a federally funded research study as principal investigator, co-investigator, or diversity supplement recipient

Original funded study:

  • Must be related to the discipline of communication sciences and disorders
  • Must have been supported by an NIH/NSF mechanism that was terminated in 2025

Eligible Use of Funds

Supplemental funding may be applied to the following:

  • Research Study Activities: ongoing data collection, data analysis, report preparation, or dissemination of findings
  • Educational Expenses: tuition, books, or living expenses

Note: Funding may not be used for travel purposes, whether personal or professional.

Evaluation Criteria

This supplemental funding will provide alternative resources for students and investigators to continue their previously-approved work.  Because the terminated research grants had already undergone rigorous peer review and study activities were underway prior to their termination applications for this supplemental funding will be evaluated based on need and will not undergo further scientific review.

The ASHFoundation requests that students and investigators apply only for education- or research-related expenses that were directly impacted by a terminated research grant or supplement and essential to completing their work. While the ASHFoundation is committed to supporting as many applications as possible, funding for this emergency initiative is limited. Applicants are therefore encouraged to prioritize their most critical needs related to the original study and must disclose any other available sources of funding.

Eligible applications received will be evaluated through a need-based selection process.

Application Requirements

  • Original Funded Study Proposal
  • Documentation of Award Termination (e.g., NIH/NSF termination letter) 
  • Updated Management Plan and Timeline (if funding will be applied to research study activities) 
  • Budget and Justification (for requested need-based funding) 
  • Applicant CV 

Winner Announcement: Applicants are notified of competition results by February 2026.