SMILE Workforce Grants
Funding Amount
$6,500 - $1,000,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Community colleges and technical schools
- Vocational schools
- Universities with dental programs
- Health nonprofits and community health centers
Other requirements
- Health careers academies
- Educational foundations
Overview
Total Available (2026): $2.27 million awarded; $3.5+ million planned over next three years
Geographic Scope: New Jersey and Connecticut
Program Focus:
- Support pipeline of dental assistants and hygienists
- Fund dental education programs
- Modernize educational infrastructure
- Early exposure to dental careers (middle/high school through collegiate and on-the-job training)
- Address dental workforce shortages in both states
Background:
The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation has been committed to expanding access to oral health care for 40 years (as of 2026). The Foundation began awarding SMILE Workforce grants in 2024, with total investment in workforce grants exceeding $5 million across both states.
Eligible Organizations (Examples from 2026 awards):
- Community colleges and technical schools
- Health careers academies
- Vocational schools
- Universities with dental programs
- Health nonprofits and community health centers
- Educational foundations
Context:
According to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, there will be a national shortage of 33,220 dental hygienists and 19,860 general dentists by 2038.
Contact:
- Jackie Zygadlo, MikeWorldWide: (201) 231-6035, jzygadlo@mww.com
- Kim Elmore, Delta Dental of New Jersey: (973) 534-9682, kelmore@deltadentalnj.com
What Metrohartford Alliance Inc actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 14
- Total given
- $655K
- Median grant
- $36K
- Range
- $6,500–$147K
- By dollars: Connecticut 100%. Top recipient cities: Hartford, CT.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 64% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Hartford Prints LLC · Hartford, CT
Economic development
$147K
Urban Lodge Brewing · Hartford, CT
Economic development
$100K
Shelbourne Pratt DVLPMT LLC · Hartford, CT
Economic development
$75K
Akrum Sheikh 207 Main St LLC · Hartford, CT
Economic development
$68K
722 Wethersfield Ave · Hartford, CT
Economic development
$58K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Workforce development
- Dental health
- Education
Categories
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