Colorado Dental Association Foundation Grant

The Colorado Dental Association Foundation Grant aims to enhance community oral health through funding projects that address documented needs for underserved populations. The CDA prioritizes proposals demonstrating a proven track record of effective service delivery and ensuring sustainable outcomes beyond the grant term. Eligible applicants include charitable nonprofits, government agencies, and dental clinics focused on underserved communities. This initiative seeks to create lasting improvements in access to dental care across Colorado.

The CDA believes in giving back to the community through its charitable efforts. That’s possible because of the CDA Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, that supports the CDA’s access-to-care agenda and Dental Health Matters efforts to increase discussions about oral health and the dental profession in Colorado communities and advocate for smart improvements that increase access to dental care.
The CDA Foundation gives priority to proposals that show the following:
There is a documented need for the proposed project. Through research, statistics, surveys, etc., there is a community need for the activity seeking funding.
A Colorado underserved population is the focus of the proposed project. An underserved population is defined as a group of individuals who have no, or inadequate, access to health services due to limited financial resources, lack of health insurance, geographic isolation, or language/cultural barriers.
The applicant has a proven track record of working with the target population. Individuals and organizations must be experienced, reliable and competent to successfully carry out the proposed project. If seeking funding for an existing program, it is very important to describe the program’s past results and why additional financing support is needed now.
The results of the project will last beyond the grant term. The project must create a lasting or sustainable change in individuals or the community. For example, a new piece of dental equipment at a clinic would benefit numerous individuals for several years, as well as help the efficiency of the clinic. In contrast, asking for funding to pay dental bills of low-income, uninsured individuals will not create a long-lasting change that benefits a large population.

Eligibility

The CDA Foundation will award grants to:A charitable nonprofit organization with tax-exempt classificationA tax-supported institution such as a school or government agencyA dental component societyAn oral health clinic for underserved populationsA CDA initiative

Ineligibility

The CDA excludes the following from funding consideration:Private foundationsFor-profit entitiesGeneral operating supportGrant awards for an indeterminate period of timeMembership drives/fundraising eventsFinancial support for political candidatesResearch projectsLobbying effortsScreening programs without a follow-up component