Grant Archives

2024 RECIPIENTS

In 2024, MDF gave $301,221 in cash to 36 projects. Some of the recipients may have received assistance on more than one project. All of the funded programs help increase access to care for underserved populations or help to build a sustainable oral health workforce in Minnesota.

Give Kids a Smile

The following community clinics received funding for the two-day charitable program in February that provides free preventive and restorative dental care to children from low-income families. Grant monies help defray the costs for dental supplies and oral health education materials for the children seen at non-profit clinics. In 2024, 2,501 children were seen in 57 community clinics and private dental offices. The value of the services provided was approximately $1.16 million by 745 volunteers, which included 128 dentists.

CentraCare Dental Clinic, Willmar
Central Lakes College, Brainerd
CHI St. Joseph’s Community Dental, Park Rapids
Children’s Dental Services, Minneapolis
Community Dental Care, Buffalo
Community Dental Care, Maplewood
Community Dental Care, Robbinsdale
Community Dental Care, Rochester
Community Dental Care, St. Paul
Lake Superior College Dental Hygiene Clinic, Duluth
Minnesota State University, Mankato
University of Minnesota GKAS, Minneapolis

Community Outreach and Allied Dental Education Programs

A number of community-based clinics and outreach programs provide critical dental services to children and adults who otherwise would not have access to oral health care.

CARE Clinic, Red Wing
CentraCare Foundation, Willmar
Central Lakes College, Brainerd
Children’s Dental Health Services, Rochester
Ely Community Health Center, Ely
Family HealthCare, Fargo, ND
Gillette Children’s Hospital Foundation, St. Paul
Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Minneapolis
Hope Dental Clinic, St. Paul
Just Kids Dental, Two Harbors
Lake Superior Community Health, Duluth
Lakewood Health Systems, Staples
Let’s Smile, Inc., Owatonna
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mission Outpost Dental Clinic, Burnsville
New Beginnings Pregnancy & Family Support, Grand Rapids
Northern Dental Access Center, Bemidji
Ready, Set, Smile PA, Minneapolis
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Oral Health Task Force, Grand Marais
Sharing and Caring Hands, Minneapolis
The Salvation Army’s Good Samaritan Dental Clinic, Rochester

Internal Programs

Funding has been provided for five internal programs – Donated Dental Services, Give Kids a Smile, Minnesota Mission of Mercy, Retired Dentist Program, and Martha Mordini Rukavina Loan forgiveness Program.