To eliminate unmet oral health needs in Minnesota by initiating and supporting programs that provide dental services to underserved populations and communities; encouraging and supporting volunteerism within the profession; and promoting careers in dentistry, especially in underserved areas.
The Minnesota Dental Foundation concentrates its grantmaking on oral health access in Minnesota, with a pattern that combines direct service support, clinic capacity, and workforce incentives. Two of the largest recent awards went to Dental Lifeline Network in Denver for the Minnesota Donated Dental Services program, including $97,790 in 2024 and $90,703 in 2025, showing sustained support for free care delivered through volunteer dentists. Other recent grants point to a broad approach to unmet dental needs. The foundation supported Give Kids a Smile Co Mn Dental Association in Minneapolis for free dental care for children in need, and it backed Hope Dental Clinic in St. Paul for dental equipment and the St. Paul Dental Connect project. It also funded Community Dental Care in Buffalo for comprehensive care in a new clinic and Northern Dental Access Center in Bemidji for comprehensive care. Across these awards, the foundation appears to support both service delivery and the infrastructure that makes dental care possible. Its publicly stated mission is to eliminate unmet oral health needs in Minnesota by initiating and supporting programs that provide dental services to underserved populations and communities, encouraging volunteerism within the profession, and promoting careers in dentistry, especially in underserved areas.
A clear theme is free and donated care for people with high barriers to treatment. The foundation gave $97,790 in 2024 and $90,703 in 2025 to Dental Lifeline Network for Minnesota Donated Dental Services, a program that delivers comprehensive free dental care through volunteer dentists. It also supports pediatric access. Give Kids a Smile Co Mn Dental Association received $13,075 in 2025 and $12,575 in 2024 for free dental care for children in need. Another pediatric-focused grant went to Childrens' Dental Health Service in Rochester for small equipment and supplies. Clinic capacity is another thread. Hope Dental Clinic in St. Paul received support for dental equipment and the St. Paul Dental Connect project, while Community Dental Care in Buffalo was funded to help provide comprehensive care in a new clinic. The foundation also backed Northern Dental Access Center in Bemidji for comprehensive care.
$130K
$2.1M
$394K
$663K
Most grants fall between $5K and $11K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$11K
DR STEPHEN F LITTON
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Typical grants cluster around the five-figure range, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $11,288. The recent grants list shows both repeat support and one-time awards: Dental Lifeline Network, Give Kids a Smile Co Mn Dental Association, Hope Dental Clinic, and Care Clinic each received funding in multiple years. The foundation operates a grant program for Minnesota not-for-profit organizations, and several of its active programs accept unsolicited requests. Its structure also includes forgivable loan and reimbursement programs tied to dentist service commitments.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly in Minnesota, with 86% of grants to recipients in the HQ state and all recent grants in the US. Minneapolis, St. Paul, Buffalo, Bemidji, Red Wing, and Rochester all appear in the recent grant list, showing a spread across metro and greater Minnesota. One notable out-of-state recipient is Dental Lifeline Network in Denver, which received the largest recent awards for Minnesota Donated Dental Services.
Its stated mission centers on oral health needs in Minnesota, especially programs that provide dental services to underserved populations and communities. Recent grants show support for free care, pediatric dentistry, clinic equipment and expansion, comprehensive care, and volunteer-driven service programs.
No. The recent grants list includes repeat support for several recipients across 2024 and 2025, including Dental Lifeline Network, Give Kids a Smile Co Mn Dental Association, Hope Dental Clinic, and Care Clinic. That pattern suggests ongoing support for selected programs.
The foundation’s typical grant sizes are $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $11,288 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger commitments, such as the two grants above $90,000 to Dental Lifeline Network.
Its giving is concentrated in Minnesota: 86% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is MN. Recent recipient cities include Minneapolis, St. Paul, Buffalo, Bemidji, Red Wing, and Rochester.
Yes. Active programs include the Martha Mordini Rukavina Loan Forgiveness Program for dentists who commit to practice in the Taconite Assistance Area, and the Dedicated to Minnesota Dentists Loan Repayment for Service Program for dentists serving in rural HPSA areas for five years.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DENTAL LIFELINE NETWORK | DENVER, CO | $90,703 | 2025 | SUPPORT MN DONATED DENTAL SERVICES PROGRAM |
| GIVE KIDS A SMILE CO MN DENTAL ASSOCIATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $13,075 | 2025 | GIVE KIDS A SMILE-FREE DENTAL CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN NEED |
| NORTHERN DENTAL ACCESS CENTER | BEMIDJI, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | TO HELP PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE |
| HOPE DENTAL CLINIC | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PURCHASE DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND FUND THE ST. PAUL DENTAL CONNECT PROJECT. |
| CARE CLINIC | RED WING, MN | $6,000 | 2025 | TO HELP PROVIDE A DENTAL HOME FOR PATIENTS |
| DENTAL LIFELINE NETWORK | DENVER, CO | $97,790 | 2024 | SUPPORT MN DONATED DENTAL SERVICES PROGRAM |
| GIVE KIDS A SMILE CO MN DENTAL ASSOCIATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $12,575 | 2024 | GIVE KIDS A SMILE-FREE DENTAL CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN NEED |
| COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE | BUFFALO, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | TO HELP PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE IN NEW CLINIC |
| HOPE DENTAL CLINIC | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PURCHASE DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND FUND THE ST. PAUL DENTAL CONNECT PROJECT. |
| CHILDRENS' DENTAL HEALTH SERVICE | ROCHESTER, MN | $5,000 | 2024 | TO HELP PURCHASE SMALL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES |
| CARE CLINIC | RED WING, MN | $5,000 | 2024 | TO HELP PROVIDE A DENTAL HOME FOR PATIENTS |
| GILLETTE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $5,000 | 2024 | TO HELP PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO KIDS WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE ISSUES |
| DENTAL LIFELINE NETWORK | DENVER, CO | $86,363 | 2023 | SUPPORT MN DONATED DENTAL SERVICES PROGRAM |
| GIVE KIDS A SMILE CO MN DENTAL ASSOCIATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $11,300 | 2023 | GIVE KIDS A SMILE-FREE DENTAL CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN NEED |
| HOPE DENTAL CLINIC | ST PAUL, MN | $8,000 | 2023 | TO PURCHASE DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND FUND THE ST. PAUL DENTAL CONNECT PROJECT. |
GIVE KIDS A SMILE CO MN DENTAL ASSOCIATION
$13,075GIVE KIDS A SMILE-FREE DENTAL CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
NORTHERN DENTAL ACCESS CENTER
$10,000TO HELP PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE
TO PURCHASE DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND FUND THE ST. PAUL DENTAL CONNECT PROJECT.
Current and upcoming funding from Minnesota Dental Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Not fully specified on summary; applicants should consult the Disaster Relief Fund application for eligibility details.
Deadline: Not specified. Program has a formal committee to respond to disasters; applications made as events occur.
SUPPORT MN DONATED DENTAL SERVICES PROGRAM
GIVE KIDS A SMILE CO MN DENTAL ASSOCIATION
$12,575GIVE KIDS A SMILE-FREE DENTAL CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE
$10,000TO HELP PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE IN NEW CLINIC
TO PURCHASE DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND FUND THE ST. PAUL DENTAL CONNECT PROJECT.
TO HELP PURCHASE SMALL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
TO HELP PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO KIDS WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE ISSUES
GIVE KIDS A SMILE CO MN DENTAL ASSOCIATION
$11,300GIVE KIDS A SMILE-FREE DENTAL CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
TO PURCHASE DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND FUND THE ST. PAUL DENTAL CONNECT PROJECT.
Who can apply: Applicants must be not-for-profit organizations with projects located in Minnesota. Eligible proposals may support dental treatment; dental supplies, small equipment, and operating expenses for nonprofit dental clinics; dental health education at schools, health fairs, social agencies, mobile dental clinics, or other outreach programs; and other philanthropic endeavors related to providing dentistry to underserved Minnesotans. Grants are not awarded to individuals, for-profit entities, salary or staff/volunteer compensation, travel, endowments, fundraising campaigns, general operating expenses, capital costs, political candidates, lobbying, or organizations located outside Minnesota unless the event takes place in Minnesota.
Deadline: The 2027 application period opens October 12, 2026. Complete applications are due online by December 7, 2026. Give Kids a Smile grantees are expected to be notified by the end of January 2027; other successful grantees by April 12, 2027. Unsuccessful applicants are expected to be notified by May 3, 2027.
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