Community Empowerment Grant

Moebius Syndrome Foundation

The Community Empowerment Grant is an annual grant opportunity sponsored by the Moebius Syndrome Foundation. The purpose of this grant is to support people in the Moebius community who have good ideas for projects that would help to raise awareness about Moebius syndrome, or to provide support and resources for people living with Moebius syndrome and similar conditions.

Community Empowerment Grant Funding

The grant amount is up to $2,000 and may be awarded to one or more persons each calendar year.

Eligibility

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to apply and reside in the United States.

Individuals with Moebius syndrome and similar conditions, and parents or guardians of individuals with Moebius syndrome and similar conditions, are eligible to apply.

How to Apply

The grant application is now open. Please complete this application form to submit your proposal.

The application period will close on October 30, 2026.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact info@moebiussyndrome.org.

Community Empowerment Grant 2025 Recipient

The Moebius Syndrome Foundation is pleased to announce the awarding of the 2025 Community Empowerment Grant to musician and advocate Austin Halls.

Halls plans to release a new album, Disabili-tea, in early 2026. It’s a soundtrack of resilience and joy while shining a light on Moebius syndrome and disability pride. Through these songs, Halls hopes “to break stereotypes, spark conversations, and let people with differences know they are not alone.”

Halls writes, “Living with Moebius syndrome, I know what it feels like to grow up in a world that doesn’t always reflect or celebrate who we are. This project uses music as a way to heal, uplift, and empower, inviting people to love themselves fully and even dance through their struggles.”

We look forward to hearing Disabili-tea!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for supporting my upcoming album. it means more than I can ever fully express. I’ve poured so much love, intention, and emotion into this project, and knowing it will be seen and heard with your support makes it even more meaningful.

This album is rooted in empowerment. In dancing through the pain, transforming challenges into strength, and finding joy in the places where it’s often overlooked. With your support, this project has the power to reach people who need to feel seen, understood, and uplifted. To creating something that can spark conversations, shift perspectives, and remind others that their stories matter too.

Your belief in this music, and in the impact it can have, is something I’m very grateful for. Thank you for standing with me and helping bring this vision to life!

Austin Halls

Image description: Moebius Syndrome Foundation 2025 Community Empowerment Grant. Austin Halls poses passionately, with his head slightly tilted, with a hand on his face. The text from the quote appears with the image.

Community Empowerment Grant 2024 Recipients

Lisa Smant

Project: Provided individuals with Moebius syndrome the opportunity to connect with a professional career coach in private and group settings.

Valeria Garcia

Project: Created Faceless Kids: A Bullying Prevention Program specifically for elementary schools, with a focus on raising awareness about disabilities and facial differences.

Community Empowerment Grant Impact

Hear from the Moebius community how the Community Empowerment Grant awards are making an impact

“My experience with Sean was great. He helped me understand ways to network and interview to learn more about positions I’m interested in. He gave me tools to help understand myself better to find jobs that suit me.” – 2025 Moebius Syndrome Foundation Conference attendee. The 2024 Community Empowerment Grant provided a professional career coach in private and group settings at the 2025 conference.
“I met with Sean Roy during the conference in July. I went with an open mind, hopeful that he would have suggestions on where I should start. He was knowledgeable, patient and kind. Even though we are from different parts of the country, he was able to come up with a plan for me.” – Brian Drexler, 2025 Moebius Syndrome Foundation Conference attendee. The 2024 Community Empowerment Grant provided a professional career coach in private and group settings at the 2025 conference.
“Faceless, an upcoming nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and promoting inclusion for people with disabilities, is thrilled to receive a $1,000 grant from the Moebius Syndrome Foundation. This funding will support the development of one of our first programs, an anti-bullying program focused on educating elementary school children about physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and facial differences. Children with Moebius syndrome, facial differences, and other disabilities face high rates of bullying, which often is a result of a lack of education and understanding. Our society’s “don’t stare, don’t connect” attitude when it comes to facial differences contributes to the isolation and misunderstanding of children with disabilities. This grant will allow Faceless to partner with child psychologists and specialists to build an impactful, research-based program that teaches kids to value differences, connect with empathy, and ultimately help prevent bullying. Thanks to the Moebius Syndrome Foundation’s support, we’re taking a meaningful step towards a kinder, more accepting future for all.” – Valeria Garcia