American Dental Association

About American Dental Association

The American Dental Association’s largest recent grant was $14,099,473 to the ADA Forsyth Institute in Somerville, Massachusetts, a signal that its giving includes major public-support funding alongside the association’s own dental ecosystem. The foundation’s recent activity also shows sustained support for state and national dental organizations, with grants appearing to reinforce professional infrastructure across the country. That pattern fits its stated purpose: philanthropy, professional development, recognition of promising leaders in the dental profession, and assistance for dentists and families in need. Recent grants point to a mix of oral-health, professional, and hardship-focused support. The foundation gave $504,000 to the Rhode Island Dental Association in Warwick, Rhode Island, and $357,012 to the ADA Foundation in Chicago, Illinois. Other recipients include dental associations in states such as Georgia, California, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Connecticut, and North Dakota. Active programs extend beyond unrestricted support into research awards, disaster relief, dental student scholarships, and travel grants for leadership training, showing a funding portfolio that supports both dental care delivery and the profession’s internal capacity.

What American Dental Association Funds

Several cause areas appear consistently in the foundation’s program list. In oral health research, the Crest and Oral-B Promising Researcher Award provides $5,000 to a promising researcher focused on preventive dentistry, with support for conference attendance and related expenses. For children’s oral health and access to care, the Give Kids A Smile Product Donation Program supplies free oral-health product kits to registered events serving underserved children. Capacity-building is another clear theme. The GKAS Community Leadership Development Institute awards up to ten travel grants annually to selected GKAS Ambassadors so they can attend a three-day training session and return as regional resources. Professional advancement also appears through the Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award, which provides $5,000 for leadership-program costs such as tuition, travel, meals, and lodging. Disaster response is addressed through the ADAF Disaster Relief Fund, which provides grants to state dental associations and affiliated foundations after disasters.

How American Dental Association Gives