Grant Archives

2025 RECIPIENTS

In 2025, MDF gave $385,183 in cash to 37 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 2025, 1,245 children were seen in 48 community clinics and private dental offices. The value of the services provided was $858,305 by 969 volunteers, which included 154 dentists.

CentraCare Dental Clinic, Willmar
Children’s Dental Services, Minneapolis
Community Dental Care, Buffalo
Community Dental Care, Crystal
Community Dental Care, Maplewood
Community Dental Care, Rochester
Community Dental Care, St. Paul
Lake Superior College Dental Hygiene Clinic, Duluth
Minnesota State University, Mankato
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry 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.

Apple Tree Dental, New Brighton
Bright Smiles Community Clinic & Dental, Minneapolis
CARE Clinic, Red Wing
Children’s Dental Health Services, Rochester
Community-University Health Care, Minneapolis
Cook Area Health Services, dba Scenic Rivers Health Services, Cook
Gillette Children’s Hospital Foundation, St. Paul
HealthFinders Collaborative, Inc., Faribault
Herzing University, Minnesota Campus, St. Louis Park
Just Kids Dental, Two Harbors
Let’s Smile, Inc., Owatonna
Mission Outpost Dental Clinic, Burnsville
Mobile Loaves Twin Cities, Minneapolis
Northern Dental Access Center, Bemidji
Ready, Set, Smile PA, Minneapolis
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Oral Health Task Force, Grand Marais
Sharing and Caring Hands, Minneapolis
Southern Minnesota Women’s Center, Austin
Team Smile, Riverside
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.