Grant Funding Criteria

The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation is seeking grant applications for 2025/26. All applications are due by Friday, February 14, 2025.

The Mission of the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation is: To improve the oral health of New Jersey and Connecticut residents by providing charitable contributions to solve oral health care challenges.

S.M.I.L.E. Grants

The populations our Foundation seeks to serve include uninsured and underinsured:

SMILE Workforce Initiative Grants

Our Foundation will be offering our SMILE Workforce grants again this year. A call for applications will occur in the Fall of 2025. If your program is related to dental assisting and/or dental hygiene, please contact Kim Elmore to determine if you should apply for a S.M.I.L.E. and/or S.M.I.L.E. Mini Grant or if you are eligible for the Fall 2025 Workforce grants. 

The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation's 2025/26 Grant Cycle is based on the S.M.I.L.E. Method. Please be sure to read below to determine if your program meets our strategy and criteria.

What is the S.M.I.L.E. Method?

S.M.I.L.E. - Solution-based: Our Foundation will fund projects and programs that address and solve oral health care challenges facing four critical uninsured/underinsured populations: children, developmentally disabled persons, veterans, and seniors. Our Foundation also seeks to serve dental assisting students via SMILE Grants.

S.M.I.L.E. - Measurement and Impact: Grant Applicants must clearly identify goals and outcomes to show how the program assesses success in the short term and long term.

S.M.I.L.E. - Longevity: Grant Applicants must clearly outline how the Foundation's funding will continue outside of the grant period relating to the sustainability of the program being funded.

S.M.I.L.E. .- Execution: Grant Applicants must focus on applying for solution-based programs for one of the above-mentioned populations explaining how the program will be executed, the anticipated outcomes for that program, and how the program will affect that population's oral health care.

Delta Dental of New Jersey S.M.I.L.E. Grants Funding Requirements:



Funding priorities for each population:

Children	We recognize that dental decay is the number one chronic disease of childhood. We are looking for programs that will have long-term effects by treating children at an earlier age when they can learn lifetime good oral health habits. This can be accomplished through a variety of programs. Our Foundation seeks to support: School-based dental sealant programs Establishing dental homes for children Early childhood dental care access programs for children ages 0-3 Programs that integrate oral health with pediatricians and family practice physicians
Developmentally Disabled Persons	We recognize that developmentally disabled individuals require specialized care to maintain good oral health. The Foundation seeks to fund programs that will improve access to dental care that meets their unique health care needs. This can be accomplished through a variety of programs. Our Foundation seeks to support new or existing dental care programs serving those with: Autism spectrum disorders Down syndrome Cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, vision impairment, and/or other developmental disabilities
Veterans	We recognize that many veterans lack access to dental care and many do not qualify for VA dental benefits. The Foundation seeks programs that will improve veterans’ access to dental care so the men and women who served our country can maintain good oral health. This can be accomplished through a variety of programs. Our Foundation seeks to support: Preventive dental care programs (establish a program or expand a current program) Programs that establish dental homes for veterans Programs that allow edentulous veterans to get dentures Programs that address the total care of the patient and incorporates oral health care into the person's overall health care team (for example, persons with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes)
Seniors	We recognize that health care needs change as we age. Seniors are prone to severe periodontal disease, a condition linked to other health conditions including diabetes, tooth loss, dry mouth, and oral cancer. The Foundation seeks programs that will improve seniors’ access to dental care so they can maintain good oral health. This can be accomplished through a variety of programs. Our Foundation seeks to support: Oral cancer prevention and treatment programs Mobile dental clinics that visit nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior centers, and/or community events for seniors Programs that allow edentulous veterans to get dentures Programs that address the total care of the patient and incorporates oral health care into the person's overall health care team (for example, persons with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes)

 

The above programs can be accomplished in several ways. The types of programs our Foundation will consider funding include, but are not limited to mobile dental units, equipment and capital, supporting dental personnel, and direct patient care.

 

S.M.I.L.E. Mini-Grants

In addition to the S.M.I.L.E. Grants, our Foundation also awards S.M.I.L.E. Mini-Grants. The S.M.I.L.E. Mini- Grants seek to serve the same populations as listed above:

• Children (ages 0 - 17)
• Developmentally disabled persons
• Veterans (ages 18+)
• Seniors (age 65+)

The S.M.I.L.E. Mini-Grants can support direct patient care, as well as support access to dental care for the above populations through supporting workforce development via dental hygiene student scholarships.

NOTE: As of March 2024, a grant opportunity has been made available for dental assisting programs that will help address the workforce shortage currently facing New Jersey and Connecticut dental professionals. If your program is related to dental assisting, please contact Kim Elmore to determine if you should apply for a S.M.I.L.E. and/or S.M.I.L.E. Mini Grant or if you are eligible for the dental assisting grants.

S.M.I.L.E. Mini-Grants can also support dental education programs for any of the above populations to help increase awareness of the importance of healthy smiles, teach proper brushing and flossing techniques, as well as provide oral health tools (toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, mouthwash).

• The Foundation plans to award at least 10 Mini-Grants in 2025
• Applicants should apply for no more than $10,000
• Examples of Mini-Grants the Foundation will consider funding are Give Kids A Smile Day, dental supplies and equipment, direct patient care costs, and dental hygiene student scholarships
• If you are applying for a S.M.I.L.E. Grant and would also like to apply for a S.M.I.L.E. Mini-Grant, please contact Kim at kelmore@deltadentalnj.com

All grant applicants must create an account in Foundant to apply. If you already have an account, please log-in to complete your grant application(s). If there are any questions, please contact Kim Elmore at kelmore@deltadentalnj.com.

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