Philanthropy

Addressing complex and upstream drivers of oral health disparities by investing strategically and providing collaborative, capacity-building support that leads to healthier communities.

Image 1: A smiling woman in a wheelchair. Image 2: woman writes on paper at table

CareQuest Institute’s Unique Approach to Philanthropy

Philanthropy team members talk about how they work to improve the oral health of all — by promoting a "no wrong door" policy and investing in marginalized communities.

By the Numbers

  • 96 grants awarded in 37 states to support healthier communities
  • $13,253,873 grant dollars awarded
  • 20% of grantee organizations have 50% or more BIPOC leaders
  • 684 grant concepts received from applicants
  • 175 oral health advocates at the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN) Annual Meeting

Community Partners

Image 1: two women stand in front of monitor and smile at camera. Image 2: dental hygienist wearing gloves and mask examines man's teeth. Image 3: two women behind a table look at woman holding paper. Image 4: group of people have discussion while sitting next to each other. Image 5: group of people stand in front of sign that says NNOHA and smile at the camera.

A Voice for the Unheard: Improving Oral Health in Connecticut

The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI) team and partners discuss how support from CareQuest Institute and a growing network of like-minded organizations is improving oral health access, quality, and equity in the state.

Becoming a Leader in Health Philanthropy

In 2023, Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, was honored with the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy by Grantmakers In Health, recognizing her innovative and courageous contributions to the field of health philanthropy.

In selecting Dr. Minter-Jordan, this year’s committee members were particularly impressed by her ability to call out inequity and injustice wherever she sees it and by her leading meaningful action to drive change on this issue throughout her career.

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  • “CareQuest Institute is supporting our work to bring together all of the oral health advocacy that is going on in our state — to reduce barriers to access. So, whether we are working with oral health professionals, dentistry programs, or just people that have been affected and understand the need for us to have oral health care access, we are bringing all these things together for a healthier Alabama.”

    Jennifer Harris, Senior Health Policy Advocate, Alabama Arise

  • “We wanted to ensure that every Medicaid member, regardless of who they were, had access to all of the services that would enable them to be healthy, and that dental benefit was one of the final pieces that we really needed to see come to fruition.”

    Sarah Bedard Holland, Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Health Catalyst

  • “With the funding that CareQuest Institute provided, we are surveying Connecticut residents on their oral health . . . to actually uncover what the greater need is. And then we can turn those results into policy recommendations.”

    T.J. Clarke II, MBA, Executive Director, Connecticut Oral Health Initiative

    Our 2023 Grantees

    • “Ultimately, our goal with the promotora program is to build power within our served communities, to be part of a solution. There needs to be community-led solutions.”

      Anid Naranjo, EDDA, Community Dental Health Coordinator, Kids in Need of Dentistry

    • “What it came down to is proving to [legislators] that oral health care is not a cost. It’s actually a key to a sustainable public health system.”

      Dennis Borel, Executive Director, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities

    • “CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is one of our largest supporters here at COHI. They give us the support and the resources we need to enact real change in the state of Connecticut for oral health.”

      Gary Turco, Community Engagement Specialist, Connecticut Oral Health Initiative

      woman speaks into microphone on stage while colleagues smile behind her