$166,000 awarded in grants during the Q1 cycle

The Patterson Foundation is proud to announce our first quarter of grant awards for the 2025 calendar year. Across our three funding areas of nonprofit oral health organizations, assistance dog organizations and emergency dental events like Give Kids a Smile and Mission of Mercy events, are awarding over $166,000 in grants across nine organizations, three of which are new grant partners to our program.

More details about the awards are outlined below:

Native American Community Clinic — $20,000
Minneapolis, MN
NACC, founded in 2003, is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in Minneapolis’ American Indian Cultural Corridor. NACC provides Medical, Behavioral Health, Dental, Harm Reduction, Outreach, Traditional Healing, and Substance Use Treatment services. By integrating mental health, primary care, and spiritual care, NACC promotes the health and wellness of AI/AN families. This year’s award of $20,000 is supporting a large capital expansion project on their campus. This is their second award since 2023, with our support totaling nearly $40,000.

Mission Outpost — $26,000
Burnsville, MN
Mission Outpost Dental Clinic (MODC) was launched at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in 2014 to help improve community health for the county by providing access to dental care, connecting resources, and promoting oral health education to individuals experiencing financial hardship. This year’s award of $26,000 is supporting their dental program, as well as expanded hours for their dental assistant. This is their tenth award since 2013, with our support totaling nearly $110,000.

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation — $20,000
Monona, WI
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s mission is to assist in rebuilding the smiles and lives of adults who’ve suffered dental injuries from domestic and sexual violence, through compassionate cosmetic dental services and support programs. This year’s award of $20,000 is supporting their Give Back a Smile program. This is their sixth award since 2016, with our support totaling over $100,000.

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission — $18,000
Seattle, WA
NEW RECIPIENT Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission was started in 1932 to feed and care for those suffering from the Great Depression. From a simple, borrowed soup kettle, they now provide support to individuals in need of mental health services, enhanced emergency shelters, spanish ministries, post-hospital recovery, dental services, legal services, prison ministries, long-term recovery programs, housing assistance, continuing education, and job training. This year’s award of $18,000 is supporting a capital expansion project taking place at their clinic. This is their first award from the Patterson Foundation.

Footbridge, Inc. — $25,000
Lexington, NC
NEW RECIPIENT Footbridge, Inc. provides free dental clinics to vulnerable populations within North Carolina who otherwise would not have access to treatment. This year’s award of $25,000 is supporting a capital expansion project taking place at their clinic. This is their first award from the Patterson Foundation.

Community Dental Clinic — $15,000
Maplewood, MN
NEW RECIPIENT Community Dental Care (CDC) provides culturally sensitive oral health care, preventive education, professional training, and to advocate for access for all with the vision of all people having access to high quality, affordable dental care to improve their overall health in a convenient, caring, and respectful environment. This year’s award of $15,000 is supporting a capital expansion project taking place at their clinic. This is their first award from the Patterson Foundation.

Guide Dogs of America — $35,000
Sylmar, CA
The vision of this assistance dog organization is to create service dog partnerships that help break down barriers to equitable access and opportunity that people with disabilities traditionally face. The Patterson Foundation awarded funds to help support the renovation and updates needed for their on-site puppy kennels. This is the fifth grant to Guide Dogs of America, and since 2018, we have awarded their organization over $84,000 to support their work.

Special Olympics of Missouri — $3,500
Jefferson City, MO
As a part of their ‘Community Cares Celebration’, Special Olympics of Missouri will be offering a heath screening, providing essential health assessments and early detection of potential concerns. This will be a multi-chair event, hoping to serve 150 patients with 18 volunteers. This is their first award for funding with the Patterson Foundation.

Dental Days — $3,500
Flagstaff, AZ
Northern Arizona Community Dental Days (NAZCDD) is a collaborative that was formed in March 2023 with a mission to provide no-cost preventive, surgical, and restorative dental care to underserved and vulnerable adults in Coconino County. This will be a multi-chair event, hoping to serve 100 patients with 80 volunteers. This is their first award for funding with the Patterson Foundation.

About the Patterson Foundation grants program

Patterson Foundation operates off of a quarterly grant cycle and offers an open, two-part process for applicants beginning with a letter of intent (LOI) and a full application. All content is to be submitted using our online grants management system and LOIs are requested to be submitted at least one prior to our application deadline. Our mission is to fund organizations who are increasing access to oral health care, providing life-changing assistance dogs by raising, training and placing dogs with individuals in need, and offering free dental care through pop-up clinics like ‘Give Kids a Smile’ events or Missions of Mercy.

More information about our application process, grantmaking guidelines and our funding exclusions can be found here.