The Hawaii Dental Service Foundation (HDS Foundation) Smile Fund supports innovative and collaborative outreach projects that improve oral health in Hawaiʻi. The fund is currently accepting applications throughout the year while funds remain available.
Funding and timing
Grants are limited to a maximum of $5,000 per award. Applications are accepted throughout the year as long as funds are available. HDS Foundation does not publish a fixed closing date, time, or time zone for the Smile Fund, so Atlas does not infer one. Projects should be completed within 12 months after funds are distributed, and an organization may receive a Smile Fund grant once per calendar year.
Eligibility and priorities
Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and governmental programs. Projects must improve oral health in Hawaiʻi. HDS Foundation gives special consideration to projects aligned with its Dentist by One, Seal Away Decay, and Kupuna Smiles initiatives.
Restrictions and documentation
The Smile Fund does not support individuals, endowments, political organizations or campaigns, research projects, loans, fundraising events, operational expenses for United Way organizations, or organizations that discriminate on protected characteristics identified in the guidelines. Smile Fund dollars also cannot be used for salaries or benefits. An organization cannot request Smile Fund support for a project related to another HDS Foundation grant it received during the same year. The supporting documentation listed in the current guidelines is an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. Governmental applicants should follow the live application instructions for any nonprofit-specific attachment treatment rather than inventing substitute documentation.
Atlas analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 88/100. This is a verified, rolling healthcare microgrant with a clear $5,000 ceiling and strong fit for community oral-health outreach, school sealant and prevention activity, kūpuna oral-health initiatives, and underserved-population access projects. N9+ Fit Score: 8/100. The fund is specifically oral-health focused and the current guidelines do not establish a telehealth, remote physical-exam, or general medical-device pathway. Applicant outreach, when otherwise permitted, should focus only on the Smile Fund and Atlas grant assistance.