Minnesota Dental Foundation Grant Program

The Minnesota Dental Foundation Grant Program offers financial support to Minnesota not-for-profit organizations whose projects and programs provide dental care to the underserved and other philanthropic endeavors related to oral healthcare in Minnesota.

The Vision of the Minnesota Dental Foundation is to eliminate unmet oral health needs in Minnesota.

The Mission of the Minnesota Dental Foundation is to:

• • Initiate and support programs that provide dental services to underserved populations and communities;
  • Encourage and support volunteerism within the profession; and
  • Promote careers in dentistry, especially in underserved areas.

The Minnesota Dental Foundation Grant Program seeks to provide grants to organizations that address one or more of the following objectives:

• • Access to Care
    To support programs that increase access to oral health care for underserved children and adults.

• • Prevention Education/Intervention
    To support programs that promote improved oral health, disease prevention and risk assessment.

• • Treatment Programs
    To support not-for-profit organizations and clinics providing direct oral health treatment.

The Minnesota Dental Foundation (MDF) offers financial support for outreach programs that meet the mission of the MDF by providing dental services to underserved populations, by promoting dental health initiatives, or by supporting dental profession career and volunteer opportunities. The focus is on providing resources that will make lasting improvements in the oral health of Minnesotans and enhance the dental profession in the state.

Each year the MDF Board of Directors reviews applications for grants that fit these criteria. Support for programs and oral health initiatives may change each year based upon issues facing the dental profession, but the core principle of benefiting the underserved remains constant. Since 2001, the Foundation has awarded $6.12 million in grants and/or in-kind services to fund over 750 oral health initiatives.

• Eligibility Criteria
• Evaluation of Proposals
• Program Timetable
• Application and Submission Guidelines
• Contact

Eligibility Criteria

Funding generally does not exceed $10,000 and is given to not-for-profit organizations whose projects are located in the state of Minnesota.

Examples of qualified oral health proposals include:

• • Dental supplies, small equipment and other operating expenses for low-income dental clinics
  • Dental health education conducted at schools, health fairs and social agencies, via mobile dental clinics or outreach programs for those underserved children and adults in Minnesota
  • Dental health education efforts in conjunction with preventive programs, such as fluoride and dental sealant application projects for the underserved in Minnesota
  • Other philanthropic endeavors related to providing dentistry to the underserved in Minnesota

Grants will not be awarded to support:

• • Grants to individuals
  • For-profit entities
  • Salary and other staff/volunteer compensation
  • Travel
  • Endowments, fundraising campaigns or general operating expenses
  • Capital costs (purchasing, remodeling or furnishing of facilities)
  • Financial support for political candidates
  • Lobbying of any kind
  • Grants to organizations located outside of Minnesota, unless the event takes place in Minnesota

Evaluation of Proposals

The entire MDF Board of Directors evaluates all of the proposals.

Grants will be awarded based on:

• • Originality, creativity and innovation of program/project
  • Potential for, or history of, continuous program operation
  • Community involvement including volunteer support
  • Provision of actual restorative and preventive services
  • Oral health awareness education and promotion
  • Potential impact on the target audience and/or community

Program Timetable

• MDF will begin accepting completed applications on October 14, 2024
• Complete applications must be submitted online by Monday, December 9, 2024
• Successful Give Kids a Smile grantees will be notified by the end of January 2025
• All other successful grantees will be notified by Monday, April 15, 2025
• If the grant application is not approved, the organization will be notified by May 5, 2025
• Submission of a grant application does not guarantee funding
• Decisions of the Minnesota Dental Foundation are final
• The Minnesota Dental Foundation, its officers, directors, employees and agents are not responsible for any injury or damage resulting directly or indirectly from services provided by funded organizations

Application and Submission Guidelines

2025 Grant Application

The 2025 Grant Application period opens on October 14, 2024. Previous grant awards can be seen here.

• • Please note that you must complete the application once you start. You cannot save and return to complete. You can make a copy of the grant application to work on a draft.
  • Please do not submit additional materials, such as videos, brochures or promotional gifts, as these items will not be considered.

• • Please submit the completed application online. The MDF will no longer accept mailed, faxed or handwritten grant applications.
  • An organization may submit more than one application.

• • The MDF reserves the right to rescind an awarded grant if the funds were used for purposes other than that specified in the grant application without the prior consent of the MDF.
  • All grantees must submit a final summary or project report within 60 days of project end. Failure to do so may jeopardize future funding.
  • If this is a Give Kids a Smile Project (GKAS) project, please complete the GKAS Report Form within 60 days of project end.

• • The MDF strongly encourages organizations to submit authorized photos pertinent to the funded program for use in its communications. Photo releases must be submitted with the photos. Here is a photo release you may use.
  • If you do not receive an acknowledgement email from the Minnesota Dental Foundation within 48 business hours of your grant submission, please contact us at foundation@mndental.org or at 612-767-4251.

Contact

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Foundation at:

Minnesota Dental Foundation
1335 Industrial Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: 612-767-8400
Fax: 612-767-8500
Email: foundation@mndental.org

View the Minnesota Dental Foundation’s Donor Privacy Policy here.