Advancing Equity Through Oral Health Fund

The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing systemic change in oral health through grantmaking, advocacy, research, and education. With a focus on health equity and access to care, CareQuest provides strategic funding opportunities designed to dismantle unjust structures and elevate community-driven solutions within the oral health ecosystem across the United States and its territories. The Institute operates with the conviction that everyone should have access to quality oral health care, and its funding priorities are structured around promoting policy reforms, building community capacity, innovating care models, and leveraging data to improve outcomes. The “Advancing Equity Through Oral Health Fund” is a multi-priority funding initiative targeting systemic transformation through a range of policy, advocacy, and research efforts. Applicants are invited to explore funding across several strategic areas. These include expanding or protecting dental coverage within Medicare and state Medicaid programs, engaging underserved communities in shaping oral health policies, testing person-centered care delivery models such as medical-dental integration, and conducting community-based research to inform system change. Organizations applying under these funding areas are expected to use a racial and health equity lens, especially when working with historically marginalized populations including BIPOC communities, rural residents, individuals with disabilities, and low-income groups. Eligible applicants include nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations based in the United States or its territories. CareQuest explicitly does not fund individuals or for-profit organizations. Additionally, funds are not available for capital expenses, direct services, mobile vans, or payments for dental procedures. The grant is flexible regarding award sizes and does not enforce a specific ceiling or floor, instead encouraging applicants to align requested funding with project scope and impact. Matching funds are not required. The application process is conducted in two phases through the Fluxx online portal. In Phase 1, applicants submit a 500-word concept outlining the issue being addressed, a project summary, and the rationale for funding. This concept can be submitted at any time within the submission windows. If the concept aligns well with CareQuest’s priorities, the applicant is invited to submit a full proposal, which includes a detailed narrative, budget, and work plan in Phase 2. Applicants are encouraged to contact the grants team at grants@carequest.org for guidance prior to submitting a concept. CareQuest maintains a rolling set of funding cycles throughout the year. For 2025, there are five application windows with corresponding proposal deadlines. For example, concepts submitted between September 16 and November 22, 2024, have a proposal deadline of January 8, with final determinations anticipated by early April 2025. Subsequent cycles follow a similar pattern through November 2025. While funding is not rolling, the structured and recurring timeline allows applicants multiple entry points annually. The grant evaluation process prioritizes community engagement, alignment with health and racial equity goals, potential for systems-level change, and use of innovative models supported by research. The CareQuest Institute's grants team is available to support applicants throughout the process. All applications and inquiries should be directed through the Fluxx portal or by contacting the grants team directly. For more information, applicants may also reference CareQuest’s education tools and application guide available online. The institute’s main office is located at 465 Medford Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02129-1454.

Applicants must ensure that their proposals clearly articulate how their projects will address the fund's focus areas and contribute to the transformation of oral health systems.