Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation Announces 2026 Grant Application Window Now Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Sep 9, 2025) — The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is pleased to announce the window is now open for 2026 grant applications. Non-profit organizations that work with underserved populations of all ages through oral health and nutritional programs are invited to apply. Applications will be accepted for both dental and non-dental programs alike, including food banks, after-school and weekend food programs for children, and senior delivery programs.

This year, community grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 in funding are available. In addition, for the first time ever, the Foundation will also award innovation grants.  These two-year grants will total $100,000 in funding for each recipient.

“The Innovation Grant will fund projects by non-profit organizations that are unique and original in nature resulting in real-world impact. The projects should have the potential to make a meaningful, measurable difference in the community,” said Michael Jones, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Arizona and chair of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation.

Applications for both the community and innovation grants are due on Thursday, October 16 by 5 p.m. Grant recipients will be notified in late 2025, with funding made available soon after.

“Since 2010 alone, the Foundation has given more than $20 million to support oral health education and disease prevention programs for underserved and uninsured communities statewide, and we look forward to supporting organizations making truly meaningful impacts in 2026,” said Barb Kozuh, executive director of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation.

To give perspective, according to Kozuh, the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation selected 39 non-profit organizations across the state as recipients of its 2025 grant cycle. These funds, totaling $799,524, were awarded to support projects and services promoting good oral health practices and increasing access to dental care among underserved children, pregnant women, seniors and adults, as well as nutritional access programs such as food banks, after-school and weekend food programs for children, and senior delivery programs.

Guidelines and application materials are available at https://www.deltadentalaz.com/foundation/grants/.

Grants are only one type of investment Delta Dental of Arizona makes to support access to health and wellness statewide. According to the Delta Dental Institute’s 2024 Community Impact Report highlighting the philanthropic investments that Delta Dental companies made last year to support the oral and overall health of communities across the country, Delta Dental of Arizona contributed $1.8 million, positively impacting 426,166 people across the state’s 15 counties.

By the numbers:

• $1.8 million was donated to improve health and wellness in Arizona
• 135 Arizona nonprofits were touched by Delta Dental of Arizona’s good works
• 160,885 toothbrushes, 150,888 tubes of toothpaste, and 140,914 dental floss pods were donated in Arizona
• 1,100 hours of volunteer service were completed by Delta Dental of Arizona employees
• 55,772 children received free dental screenings through Delta Dental of Arizona
• 1.5 million meals were provided for Arizona families through Delta Dental of Arizona

“Delta Dental of Arizona is deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the state—not only through affordable dental and vision benefits, but also through strategic, community-driven philanthropy. With a mission to create a path to better health and wellness, the organization places a strong emphasis on supporting programs that serve underserved and uninsured Arizonans,” said Jones.