STATEWIDE – Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) has released a request for applications (RFA) from Colorado nonprofit organizations interested in implementing projects or seeking general operating support to advance oral health equity in their communities.

This funding opportunity is open to organizations statewide. The goal is to strengthen opportunities for people who have historically been overlooked. There are multiple social determinants – such as race and ethnicity, income, geography and age – that impact Coloradans’ oral health. Fifty-seven of Colorado’s 64 counties are designated a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, more than half of Coloradans over the age of 65 lack dental insurance. Sixty-eight percent of Colorado children ages 0-18 reporting poor oral health live in families with incomes less than 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, per the 2017 Colorado Health Institute Health Access Survey.

The DDCOF RFA is available online at deltadentalcofoundation.org. Applications are due by Friday, August 31, at midnight MST. Hard copy applications can be requested by calling (303) 889-8633 or emailing [email protected]. Through this opportunity, DDCOF will fund:

Community-based interventions.

Clinical interventions and equipment.

Education and awareness programs.

Programs and activities that increase access to affordable, accessible and comprehensive oral health.

Activities that aim to prevent tooth decay in young children, from birth through 4th grade, and pregnant women.

Innovative grant applications designed to meet community need through proven or unproven efforts.

Grant applications for traditional methods proven to improve oral health.

DDCOF’s mission is to elevate the well-being of all Coloradans by advancing oral health equity. The foundation seeks to work with communities to increase access to oral health services and education for Coloradans of all ages. This funding opportunity prioritizes solutions addressing access to care and the prevention of tooth decay. Applications between $10,000 and $100,000 per year will be considered. Single-year or multi-year (up to three years) projects are eligible.