The Delta Dental Foundation is seeking applications for its 2026 Oral Health Access, Advocacy, Education, and Workforce Development Grant.
Donor Name: Delta Dental Foundation (DDF)
State: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/01/2026
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The DDF funds the people and programs that promote oral health equity and align with the five core pillars outlined in the strategic plan. They are especially interested in proposals that promote oral health equity for people with disabilities.
Strategic Plans
For many people who experience barriers to care, having access to a dentist is not enough to achieve good oral health. What they need are fair and just opportunities—and all the resources therein—to live their best, healthiest lives, no matter who they are or where they come from.
- Access to Care
- They will improve access for people and communities that experience barriers to dental care by:
- Expanding the number and type of access points.
- Funding the development of and equipping safety-net dental clinics.
- They will improve access for people and communities that experience barriers to dental care by:
- Workforce Development
- They will strengthen the oral health safety net by:
- Developing and supporting programs that encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in oral health.
- Establishing and supporting new models of care, such as dental therapy.
- Developing and supporting programs that train providers in an equity-based approach to care.
- Funding programs that increase the number of providers practicing in underserved areas.
- They will strengthen the oral health safety net by:
- Education
- They will improve oral hygiene habits and increase dental visits for people and communities that experience barriers to dental care by:
- Advancing campaigns and programs that promote daily oral hygiene habits and regular visits to an oral health professional.
- They will improve oral hygiene habits and increase dental visits for people and communities that experience barriers to dental care by:
- Advocacy
- They will advocate for policies that improve access to care, education and the oral health safety net by:
- Collaborating with Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana’s government relations team to realize shared policy goals.
- Funding programs and initiatives that drive policy change.
- They will advocate for policies that improve access to care, education and the oral health safety net by:
Guidelines
- The DDF evaluates each application on its own merits, and careful consideration is given to each request. Primary considerations include the program’s alignment with the strategic plan; the people and communities who will be served; accountability and fundraising practices; clearly defined measures of success; availability of alternative sources of funding; and program sustainability.
- They offer grants only to nonprofits, government agencies, schools, colleges and universities that serve Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
Limitations
The DDF does not normally provide grants for the following:
- Building construction.
- Normal overhead expenses.
- Indirect costs.
- Individuals (with the exception of recipients of the DDF’s scholarships, research grants and community service awards).
- Organizations that discriminate by race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status or national origin.
- Political activities, organizations or campaigns.
- Loans.
- Projects developed for commercial or proprietary purposes.
For more information, visit DDF.
