Northeast Delta Dental Foundation funding guidelines

In keeping with the spirit of the mission, vision, business and value statements of the Delta Dental Plans of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, the Foundation aspires to partner with community organizations and programs that share its passion for increasing the access to, and the quality of, oral health care in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Northeast Delta Dental Foundation funding is awarded to organizations that:

• Have projects or activities that are oral health related.
• Have nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status or are governmental or academic institutions.
• Do not discriminate by race, sex, religion, color, creed, age, national origin, or any other protected class.

The Foundation shall evaluate each application on its merits, in keeping with the following guidelines:

• Only applications requesting funds related to oral health will be considered.
• Requests/programs support one of the following types of oral health initiatives:
  • Educational programs that enhance the awareness of good oral health, with a focus on a specific population such as children, the elderly, or other populations with identified oral health needs.
  • Oral health care programs that are preventive in nature and are aimed at decreasing the incidence, prevalence and severity of dental disease.
  • Dental clinics or centers who have nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status, or are a Federally Qualified Health Center working to make oral health care more accessible and affordable to people in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Most typically, this takes the form of helping with the costs of equipment and dental supplies.
  • The continuing education of dental health professionals
  • Research efforts that will lead to improved oral health outcomes, address an oral health disease or issue or that will lay a sound groundwork for new oral health initiatives.
  • Increase the dental health workforce through scholarship and loan repayment programs.

The Foundation has two funding cycles each year, typically in the spring and fall. Application deadlines and Board meeting dates vary annually. Current dates are posted on our website.

Applicants will be notified of the Board’s funding decision after the meeting scheduled that relates to the relevant application cycle.

Organizations typically receive no more than one grant within a 12-month period. Organizations seeking additional funding after that period must submit a new application.

Grant amounts are determined by factors such as project size and level of need and can vary widely. Request the funding amount your program or project requires. Be sure to include a budget that clearly details the components of your program or project that our funding would support.

Organizations may request full or partial funding for a program or project. The Foundation is more likely to support programs that have funding from other sources. A broad base of support can demonstrate community commitment and increase the likelihood of long-term sustainability.

If you are seeking support for a new building, major renovations, or a multi-year commitment, please contact us at philanthropy@nedelta.com before applying.

These requests typically fall outside the Foundation’s giving guidelines. On occasion, however, they may be considered when they strongly align with our mission, business strategies and philanthropic goals.

• A brief description of your organization’s mission 
• A description of the project or program for which you seek funding, with a particular focus on its objectives (what it will accomplish).
• Contact information for the funding request.
• The geographic area and population that is served.

You will receive an automated response to confirm the successful submission of your application. Occasionally, additional information to support an application is requested after initial review, especially for first-time applicants, and a site visit may be requested.