Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation – Super Smiles at School Mini Grants

Up to $2,500 for School-Based Oral Health Programs in Arkansas

The Super Smiles at School Mini Grant program supports school-based oral health education, prevention, and treatment initiatives across Arkansas. These grants are designed to partner with early childhood centers, K–12 schools, districts, and accredited educational institutions to improve oral health outcomes for students.

Organization: Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation
Support Type: Mini grant (rolling, monthly review)
Geographic Focus: Arkansas

About the Funder

Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation works to transform oral health through collaboration, innovation, education, and service. The Foundation funds projects that help Arkansans achieve healthier mouths, with a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Funding Overview

• 💰 Maximum Award: $2,500
• 🔁 Eligibility: One Super Smiles at School Grant per organization within a 12-month period
• 📅 Applications: Accepted year-round (January–December)
• 🗓 Monthly Deadline: First Friday of each month
• 📢 Review Schedule: Committee review on the second Thursday of each month
• 💵 Funding Disbursement: Approximately two weeks after approval
• 📝 Final Report: Due within 30 days after project completion (or as specified in the grant agreement)

Applications received after the first Friday deadline will be reviewed the following month.

What This Program Supports

Super Smiles at School Mini Grants focus on five core areas:

Supply

Provide students with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and other oral health materials.

Educate

Deliver classroom instruction on the importance of oral hygiene and lifelong dental health habits.

Assess

Implement school nurse-led oral health assessments and screenings to identify issues early.

Prevent

Support fluoride varnish programs administered by trained school nurses under physician supervision.

Treat

Connect students and families to routine dental care and ongoing treatment resources.

The aim is to prevent oral health issues, educate students and families, and improve access to dental care across Arkansas communities.

Eligible Applicants

To apply, organizations must be:

• A school, school district, or other registered and accredited educational institution in Arkansas
• Located and operating within Arkansas
• Using all funding within the state

Additional requirements:

• Funding is not awarded directly to individuals
• Organizations must wait 12 months and submit a final report before applying again

Allowable & Non-Allowable Costs

Grant Funds May Be Used For:

• Program or administrative staff time related to oral health programming
• Equipment, supplies, consumable items, and one-time costs
• Denture lab fees
• Operational costs related to the oral health portion of the program
• Educational materials and curriculum

Grant Funds Cannot Be Used For:

• Paying dentists or hygienists directly
• Covering billable treatment costs, procedures, co-pays, or deductibles
• Fundraising events or sponsorships
• Private foundations or endowments
• Organizational debt
• Excessive salaries, travel, or gifts
• Programs that discriminate

Toothapalooza Project Ideas

Schools may also implement activities from the Foundation’s Toothapalooza Playbook, including:

• Free dental screenings and fluoride varnish events
• “Dentist for a Day” education activities
• Flossing demonstrations
• Sealant education programs

Organizations may use these templates or propose other innovative school-based oral health initiatives.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Applications are reviewed based on:

• Clarity and completeness of the proposal
• Expected impact on students’ oral health outcomes
• Committee evaluation and board input

Funding decisions are final. If not selected, applicants may receive feedback and are eligible to reapply in future cycles.

Application Proces

Interested schools and educational institutions should register and apply through the Foundation’s online grant management portal. Applicants should carefully review the Super Smiles at School Grant Guidelines before submission.

Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://www.deltadentalar.com/giving-back/delta-dental-of-arkansas-foundation/funding-opportunities/super-smiles

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is ideal for:

• Arkansas schools seeking modest funding to expand student health programming
• Districts implementing preventative health initiatives
• Educational institutions addressing barriers to dental care access
• Schools serving students from families with limited access to oral health supplies and services

The Super Smiles at School Mini Grant provides flexible, school-centered funding to strengthen oral health outcomes and reduce preventable dental issues among Arkansas youth.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Rolling (monthly review cycle)
Typical Award: Up to $2,500
Best Suited For: Arkansas schools and educational institutions implementing oral health education, prevention, and access programs