Programs

Category I: Grant
Definition of Purpose: Category I is a grant providing relief to a dentist, his/her dependents, or former dependents of a deceased dentist if an accidental injury, advanced age, physically-debilitating illness, or medically-related condition prevents him/her from gainful employment and results in undue financial strain.

The initial grant covers a period of six (6) months and may be eligible for a twelve (12) month renewal period following reapplication with supporting documentation. This annual reapplication must be reviewed and approved by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee before submission to the ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Programs Committee for approval. Grants not approved by the ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Programs Committee for initial or renewed funding may be funded, at the discretion of the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee, through a CDA Foundation exclusive grant.

Category II: One-Time Emergency Grant
Definition of Purpose: Category II is a one-time, single installment grant to a dentist, his/her dependents, or dependents of a deceased dentist if after a full explanation of all pertinent circumstances, it is determined by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee that a case of special emergency circumstances exist. This may include, but is not limited to, sudden situations or occurrences of a serious nature requiring immediate attention, such as eviction or foreclosure from a living space, sudden illness without medical insurance, and sudden death with no financial resources for food, clothing and shelter for the remaining spouse which results in undue financial strain.

Grant applications are reviewed and approved by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee before submission to the ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Programs Committee for approval. Grants not approved by the ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Programs Committee for initial or renewed funding may be funded, at the discretion of the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee, through a CDA Foundation exclusive grant. A Category II grant application can be used in conjunction with a Category I grant application.

Category III: CDA Foundation Disaster Grant
Definition of Purpose: Category VI provides grants to eligible beneficiaries or nonprofit organizations providing assistance to eligible beneficiaries who qualify for aid following a natural disaster (tornado, earthquake, flood, tidal wave, fire, or hurricane), act of war, terrorism, arson, riot, or similar event of substantial and widespread proportion deemed appropriate for relief effort at the discretion of the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee.

Program Rules
Applications for any CDA Foundation program will be evaluated based on the rules set forth by the ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Programs in the Relief Grant Program Rules, Manual & Criteria.

A.  Eligibility for Assistance: All applicants must be experiencing undue financial strain. Applicants are not required to be members of the American Dental Association (ADA), the California Dental Association (CDA) or a local dental society. No information shall be sought from applicants to ascertain their membership status and no consideration shall be given to that status in evaluating applications.

B.  Policy on Emergency Assistance: The CDA Foundation Relief Fund may award immediate assistance for meeting emergency needs and daily living expenses of a qualified applicant. Under these circumstances the executive director of the CDA Foundation may approve a request for emergency assistance subject to ratification by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee.

C.  Amount of Assistance: All applications will be reviewed by a local component dental society executive director. The CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee has the final review to determine approval or denial of the application and the amount of assistance needed.

In determining the amount of assistance to be awarded, the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee will take into consideration the particular circumstances of each applicant and all factors it deems relevant.

D.  Form and Duration of Assistance: Relief may be in the form of a grant or a loan. A loan may be interest-free or interest bearing. Relief is provided at the discretion of the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee and is not deemed a right or entitlement. Any undistributed portion of a grant or a loan is subject to revocation if the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee determines that the applicant is no longer eligible for assistance.

Beneficiaries of relief are required to report to the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee any material change in financial conditions that occurs during the time relief is being received.

E.  Origin of Applications: An application for assistance must be initially processed by a local dental component society.

F.  Completion of Application Forms: All requests for assistance must be made on an application form designated by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee. The applicant must answer all questions on the application form carefully and comprehensively. The CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee will regard all submitted information as confidential.

A local dental component society, CDA Foundation staff, or the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee reserves the right to request more information from an applicant if necessary to determine if the applicant is experiencing undue financial strain.

G.  Handling of Application Forms: When an application form has been completed and reviewed by a local component dental society, the completed application and required documentation will be sent to the CDA Foundation office for review by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee. If appropriate, the application will then be forwarded to the ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Programs Committee.

H.  Consideration of Application by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee: Copies of the application, required supporting documentation, and a recommendation from the CDA Foundation staff regarding approval or denial will be sent to all members of the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee. Applications may be approved or denied by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee during a regular meeting, a conference call, or by mailed ballot. A majority vote by the CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee is required. The CDA Foundation Grant Selection Committee has final and ultimate authority for approval or denial of all Relief Fund applications.

I.  Payment of Approved Grants/Loans: Checks will be processed according to existing procedures. If relief is being exclusively funded by the CDA Foundation Relief Fund, the CDA Foundation staff will forward a check to the recipient. If relief is through a grant funded equally by the CDA Foundation Relief Fund and the ADA Relief Fund, the CDA Foundation staff will forward a check to the ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Programs department for the CDA Foundation Relief Fund’s share of the grant. The ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Programs department will forward the check to the recipient.