Chicago-based Delta Dental Plans Association has committed nearly $3 million to five organizations through its 2026 Future Workforce Fund.
The three-year grants will support programs that introduce young people to oral health careers and build pathways into the profession, according to an Oct. 21 news release from Delta Dental Plans Association.
The five 2026 awardees are the American Dental Education Association, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Hispanic Dental Association, Mentorships in Dentistry and Planet Smilez.
Since 2023, Delta Dental has committed more than $5.6 million to the Future Workforce Fund.
“A strong oral health workforce requires more than promising ideas — it requires sustained investment, collaboration, and a commitment to learning what works,” James Hutchison, president and CEO of Delta Dental Plans Association, said in the release. “Through this three-year funding commitment, we will help proven organizations deepen their impact, strengthen evaluation and share approaches that can be replicated across communities.”
