Access to Care Grants

The MDS Foundation distributes funds in various amounts to applicants located in Massachusetts for projects benefiting the residents of the Commonwealth. Priority is given to proposals that have measurable improvement goals, show strong community support for the project, and are innovative in nature.

Access to Care Grant Application Process

The deadline to apply for an Access to Care grant is October 1 each calendar year. A properly completed grant application, including all required documents, must be submitted on or before October 1, 2023. Packets can be mailed to MDS Foundation - 2 Willow St, Suite 200, Southborough MA, 01745 - or emailed to foundation@massdental.org. Funding decisions will be announced in early 2024, and funding is for one year only. Multi-year projects must reapply each year.

The MDS Foundation Grant Review Committee evaluates all proposals and makes recommendations for funding to the MDS Foundation Board of Directors. Considerations for grant approvals include:

Originality, creativity, and innovation
History of, or potential for, continuous program operations
Community involvement and collaboration, including volunteer support
Potential impact on the target community or audience
Established matching funds and/or long-term funding relationships

The MDS Foundation may change these guidelines or make grants that do not fall within the range of these guidelines at its discretion.

Grant Application and Required Attachments

In addition to the grant application, the following documents must be included in your grant request:

IRS documentation of non-profit, tax-exempt status
Letters of support from collaborators, co-sponsors, or local District Dental Societies
Detailed project budget and amount requested, including other financial co-sponsors and the amount of their contributions
Bio-sketches of key project personnel (do not send resumes or CVs)

Please Note:

Do not send videos, recordings, PowerPoint presentations, or binders/folders.
If you require notification that the MDS Foundation received your grant request, please request delivery notification from your mailing service.
Successful grantees will be required to submit a progress/final report on the status of the project to the MDS Foundation.

Recipients of the MDS Foundation "Expanding Access to Dental Care" Grants are asked to submit a Final Project Report by December 31.

Mailing Instructions and Additional Information

Applications can be mailed or emailed. Send one original and one copy of the completed application (proposal and attachments) to:

Mr. Kevin Monteiro
MDS Foundation, Inc.
Two Willow Street, Suite 200
Southborough, MA 01745-1027
foundation@massdental.org

Additional Information

Additional information may be requested by the MDS Foundation Grant Committee to fully evaluate the application. The Foundation may share information from any submitted proposal with outside reviewers or other external sources of information about the applicant, the affected community, or the proposed work. By submitting the application, you give permission for the sharing of this information.