Bigger Smiles Grants
Funding Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
Foundation
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Imagination Library programs in selected Tennessee counties
Other requirements
- Programs serving children ages birth to five
- Focus on sustaining growing book costs due to high-volume enrollment
Overview
Funder: Delta Dental of Tennessee and Governor's Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF)
Geographic Scope: Tennessee counties with Imagination Library programs
Program Focus: Support enrollment growth of Imagination Library programs by funding book costs and mailing for preschoolers
Eligibility:
- Imagination Library programs in selected Tennessee counties
- Programs serving children ages birth to five
- Focus on sustaining growing book costs due to high-volume enrollment
What is Awarded:
- Funding to support book and mailing costs for Imagination Library programs
- Helps sustain programs as enrollment grows
Program Details:
- Partnership between Delta Dental of Tennessee, Governor's Books from Birth Foundation, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and local county affiliates
- Tennessee's Imagination Library serves children in all 95 Tennessee counties
- As of 2018, 69% of state's age-eligible population (281,000+ preschoolers) enrolled statewide
- Each enrolled child receives one high-quality, age-appropriate book monthly by mail
- 2018 round awarded 26 grants to support program growth
Background: Research shows children without basic literacy skills by school entry are 3-4x more likely to drop out later. Tennessee studies found Imagination Library participants outperformed non-participants and showed improved kindergarten readiness.
What Smile 180 Foundation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 47
- Total given
- $3.45M
- Median grant
- $36K
- Range
- $5,304–$515K
- By dollars: Tennessee 100%. Top recipient cities: Nashville, TN; Knoxville, TN; Memphis, TN.
- 70% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 21% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Church Health Center · Memphis, TN
Grant for dental clinic operations, capital improvements, event sponsorship, and…
$515K
Christ Community Health Services · Memphis, TN
Grant for dental clinic operations, capital improvements, and dental safety net payments
$396K
Interfaith Dental Clinic · Nashville, TN
Grant for dental clinic operations, capital improvements, and dental safety net payments
$345K
University of Tennessee Foundation · Knoxville, TN
Grant for capital improvements and dental safety net payments
$261K
Neighborhood Health Services · Nashville, TN
Grant for dental clinic operations, capital improvements, and dental safety net payments
$149K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Literacy
- Preschools
Categories
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