# AAPD Foundation


> The AAPD Foundation (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation) is the nation's largest dentist-led charity dedicated to making dental care accessible to all children. Connected to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and based in Chicago, the Foundation supports community-based programs that provide dental services to children in need by awarding Access to Care Grants to dentist-led nonprofit clinics, dental schools and community health programs that deliver routine cleanings, advanced treatments and ongoing care. Through its Healthy Smile Hero community of donors, volunteers and grantees, the Foundation removes the barriers many children face to dental care, helping kids whose families cannot otherwise afford it regardless of income, background or citizenship status. Since 2010 it has issued more than $12.2 million in grants and commitments to 191 organizations across 41 states, helping provide healthy smiles for more than 904,000 children throughout the United States and its territories. To learn more, visit aapdfoundation.org.


Core Identity
- Purpose: Helping to ensure all little teeth get the care they need by supporting community-based programs that provide dental services to all children, and removing the barriers to childhood dental care.
- Mission in action: Turn donations and grants into meaningful dental care for children in need, guided by pediatric dentist experts who are constantly on the lookout for new ideas that show promise.
- Identity: The nation's largest dentist-led charity dedicated to children's oral health
- Affiliation: The charitable arm connected to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)
- Awarding grants since: 2010
- Headquarters: 211 E Chicago Ave, Ste 1600, Chicago, IL 60611
- Reach: The United States and its territories
- Community: The "Healthy Smile Hero" network of donors, dentists, volunteers and grantees who stand up for kids' oral health


Key Programs
- Access to Care Grants: One-year grants of up to $30,000 to dentist-led, community-based clinics and programs serving underserved and limited-access children
- Multi-Year Access to Care Grants: Three to five years of financial support plus ongoing technical assistance from Foundation-provided pediatric dental advisors, offered to high-impact grantees on an invitation-only basis
- National systemic impact: Seed funding for pilot and expansion concepts with the potential to help children nationwide
- Hero Squad: giving program funding hygiene kits, rideshare vouchers, equipment, clinical supplies and interpretation services
- Hero Library: resource library of printable activities, posters, coloring pages, digital wallpapers, hero badges and turnkey social media posts
- Dental Resource Directory: A frequently updated, state-by-state list of reduced-fee, dentist-led providers for families seeking care
- Oral health education: Parent-focused guidance and FAQs on building lifelong healthy habits
- Dr. Beverly A. Largent Access to Care Innovator Award: Annual recognition of excellence in providing dental care to children, especially vulnerable populations


What Makes Us Different
- Dedicated exclusively to kids: A singular focus on children's oral health rather than general dental charity.
- Backed by child dental experts: The connection to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry brings pediatric dentist expertise to every grant decision.
- Dentist-led by design: Funded initiatives must be led or directly supervised by a dentist, with priority given to pediatric dentist leadership.
- Donations that reach children: 100 percent of donations benefit children in need, directly funding education materials, dental instruments, procedures and more.
- Care without barriers: Support reaches children regardless of income, background or citizenship status.
- Sustained, not one-off: Multi-year grants and technical assistance help the most effective clinics grow and endure.


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## Programs & Grants
- [Types of Grants](https://aapdfoundation.org/types-of-grants/): An overview of the dental care grants the Foundation issues to dentist-led organizations, including what it funds (child oral health care, special health care needs, clinic supplies and equipment, education and outreach) and what it does not (private practices, adult care, direct payments to families, existing debts, personal expenses). Explains one-year, multi-year and systemic-impact funding along with the qualifications to apply.
- [Apply for a Grant](https://aapdfoundation.org/apply-for-grants/): The Access to Care Grant application hub, where eligible nonprofit and community-based organizations can review who can and cannot apply, download guidelines and learn the approved use of funds. Selected applicants can receive one-year grants of up to $30,000, with the next call for applications opening in July 2026.
- [Access to Care Grantees](https://aapdfoundation.org/access-to-care-grantees-2024/): The current grantee network of One Year and Three Year Access to Care Grant recipients, with clinic-by-clinic descriptions of how funding supports salaries, sedation, equipment, bilingual care and comprehensive treatment for children who would otherwise go without.


## Ways to Give & Get Involved
- [Donate](https://aapdfoundation.org/donate/): Sponsor a Smile with a one-time or monthly gift, where every dollar helps provide dental care to a child in need and gift amounts map to tangible items like goodie bags, rides to appointments, fluoride treatments, exams and crowns. 
- [Hero Squad](https://aapdfoundation.org/hero-squad/): The Foundation's monthly giving program, where recurring gifts of any size fund oral hygiene kits, rideshare vouchers, clinical equipment, supplies and interpretation services. Members receive benefits including a Healthy Smile Hero bobblehead, merchandise and exclusive updates.
- [End of Year Giving](https://aapdfoundation.org/end-of-year-giving/): The Foundation's seasonal giving campaign, which highlights grantee work and patient stories district by district and rallies donors to protect children's access to care as federal funding cuts and Medicaid changes put millions of vulnerable kids at risk.
- [Hero Library](https://aapdfoundation.org/hero-library/): A resource hub of printable activity sheets, posters, coloring pages, digital wallpapers, hero badges and ready-to-post monthly social media content for practices to educate caregivers and engage patients.
- [Pledge & Donors List 2025](https://aapdfoundation.org/pledge-donors-list-2025/): Recognition of the people and organizations whose significant pledge commitments and annual contributions support the Foundation, listed by cumulative giving level.
- [Pledge & Donors List 2024](https://aapdfoundation.org/pledge-donors-list-2024/): Donor recognition by giving circle (Legacy, Platinum, Gold, President's and Leader's Circle) for sustained multi-year pledge commitments.


## For Families & Oral Health
- [Find Help for Your Child](https://aapdfoundation.org/find-help-for-my-child/): A resource for parents seeking high-quality, reduced-fee dental care, featuring the state-by-state Dental Resource Directory of dentist-led clinics plus practical do's and don'ts for building healthy habits early.
- [Oral Health FAQs](https://aapdfoundation.org/oral-health-faqs/): Plain-language answers to common parent questions about kids' dental health, covering when to start seeing a dentist, finding a pediatric dentist, preventing cavities, fluoride safety, toothbrush choice and more, drawn from the AAPD, CDC and NIH.


## Our Impact
- [Our Impact](https://aapdfoundation.org/our-impact/): The Foundation's results to date - more than $12.2 million in grants awarded since 2010, over 904,000 children reached and 191 grantee organizations across the US and territories - plus how donations are used (at-home care products, patient care, dental instruments and community outreach) and downloadable annual financial audits. 100 percent of donations benefit children in need.


## FAQs
- What makes the AAPD Foundation different from other dental charities? It is dedicated exclusively to kids, and its connection to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry makes it the largest national dentist-led charity for children's oral health.
- Where can families get dental care they cannot afford? Through the Foundation's Dental Resource Directory of reduced-fee, dentist-led providers, or a local or county health department if no nearby provider is listed.
- Who can apply for an Access to Care Grant? Non-private, dentist-led dental or medical organizations in the US and its territories, including nonprofits, health departments, hospitals, clinics, dental schools and dental societies.
- How much funding is available? Selected applicants can receive one-year Access to Care Grants of up to $30,000, with high-impact grantees eligible for invitation-only multi-year support.
- What ages do grants serve? Care for patients 18 and younger, with particular interest in children ages 8 and younger.
- How early should a child first see a dentist? As soon as the first tooth appears and no later than the first birthday.
- How can someone help? Become a Healthy Smile Hero by donating, joining the Hero Squad, volunteering as a grant reviewer or sharing their story.


## People & Governance
- [Meet Our People](https://aapdfoundation.org/our-people/): Profiles of the Foundation staff who run day-to-day operations, grants, fundraising and marketing, alongside the volunteer Governance Team and the Board of Trustees and its committees (Executive, Development, Finance and Audit, Grants and Programs, Marketing and Nominations).


## Company Information & Resources
- [About Us](https://aapdfoundation.org/about-us/): The Foundation's purpose, the case for why children's oral health matters and the connection between oral health and overall health, built around the principle that oral healthcare is healthcare.
- [Blog](https://aapdfoundation.org/blog/): The Healthy Smile Hero's blog and home of The Smile newsletter and annual reports, with grantee spotlights, patient stories, campaign updates and pediatric oral health news.
- [Share Your Story](https://aapdfoundation.org/share-your-story/): A place for Healthy Smile Heroes and grantees to submit stories and photos about helping a child access the dental care they deserve.
- [Contact Us](https://aapdfoundation.org/contact-us/): General inquiries by form, phone or email.


Contact
- Address: 211 E Chicago Ave, Ste 1600, Chicago, IL 60611
- Email: info@aapdfoundation.org
- Phone: (312) 337-2169
- Pledges: pledges@aapdfoundation.org
- Hero Library access: HealthySmileHero@aapdfoundation.org