REAL Sponsorship Criteria- FY 2026

REAL South is committed to advancing early language outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children by investing in high-impact conferences, events, and initiatives. Through sponsorships, REAL supports opportunities that foster collaboration, expand knowledge, and strengthen systems and practices serving children birth through age three and their families.

Sponsorships are reserved for events and initiatives that demonstrate strong alignment with REAL’s mission, priorities, and target population.

Eligibility Criteria (All must be met)

●     Population Focus

The event must have a clear and intentional focus on:

        ○     Deaf and hard of hearing children birth to 3 years 11 months, and/or

        ○     The families and professionals who support them

●     Content Alignment

The event must include content related to:

         ○     Early language and communication development

         ○     Language-rich environments and strategies

         ○     Family-centered early intervention practices

●     Geographic Relevance

The event must:

       ○     Take place within, or

       ○     Directly benefit participants from the REAL South or West regions: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,                   Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Puerto Rico, U.S.                     Virgin Islands, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Montana, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada,                     Wyoming, Idaho, Marshall Islands, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and                           Arizona.

●     Audience Alignment

The primary audience must include:

        o   Families of young DHH children, and/or

        o   Early intervention providers, educators, or system leaders

 

1.  Strong Alignment with REAL Priorities

       ●     Clear connection to early language access and outcomes

       ●     Focus on birth–3 systems, services, or family support

       ●     Opportunities that engage or build capacity for professionals new to the field

       ●     Meaningful opportunities for family participation and engagement

2.  Opportunities for REAL Visibility & Engagement

      ●     Opportunities for REAL to:

             ○     Share resources

             ○     Present or participate

             ○     Connect with families and professionals

Types of Sponsorship Support

REAL sponsorships may include:

     ●     Financial contributions to support event implementation

     ●     Support for family or professional participation (e.g., registration scholarships managed through the event)

     ●     Resource sharing or in-kind contributions

     ●     Participation in event programming (when applicable)

REAL operates on a fiscal year of October 1 - Sept 30. Sponsorship requests must be submitted in advance for the upcoming fiscal year to be considered; requests submitted after the fiscal year has begun or close to the event date may not be reviewed. Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis every six months to support timely and strategic funding decisions.

Sponsorship Expectations

Organizations receiving REAL sponsorship support may be asked to:

     ●     Acknowledge REAL as a sponsor in event materials

     ●     Share event outcomes (e.g., attendance, reach, impact)

     ●     Provide opportunities for REAL visibility (e.g., table, materials, presentation)

What We Do Not Typically Fund

To maintain alignment, REAL generally does not sponsor:

     ●     Events without a clear connection to birth–3 DHH populations

     ●     Opportunities that do not include early language development or family-centered content

     ●     Events with limited relevance to REAL regions or priorities

How to Request Sponsorship

Organizations interested in receiving sponsorship support may submit a request through the REAL Sponsorship/Scholarship Request Form. Requests will be reviewed based on alignment with REAL’s mission, priorities, and available funding.