AOTF’s 2025 Annual Report: Building Evidence to Improve Practice and Health for Over 60 Years

The phrase “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” is a metaphor that means today's progress and achievements are built on the knowledge and work of those who came before. As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), our 2025 annual report showcases just how far that dedication has taken us.

Here’s 60 years of impact by the numbers: 

• $45M+ awarded in research grants and scholarships since 1965 

• 600+ research projects funded nationwide 

• 1,850+ OT students supported through scholarships 

• 15,000+ practitioners empowered by AOTF-funded evidence-based interventions 

But even more compelling than the numbers is the power of early-stage occupational therapy research to transform lives and improve client outcomes. In this report, you’ll learn how a 2022 AOTF Intervention Research Grant helped launch a pilot study that recently received $2.9 million in funding from the Department of Defense to scale up a water-safety intervention program for autistic children.  

In 2025, AOTF added $350,000+ in funding to its grant program, launched two new grant programs advancing community-engaged research, awarded 55+ scholarships, and inspired 58 schools to raise $55,000+ to support AOTF’s Intervention Research Grant. 

None of this would be made possible without our donors, sponsors, partners, and volunteers. Your continued support makes all of this possible.  

The full report provides a glimpse of the Foundation’s impact from 1965 to today and a look at the future research leaders advancing the occupational therapy profession of tomorrow. 

🔗Read The Full Report

Consider making a gift today to support the next 60 years of innovation in occupational therapy research.