The Community Oral Health Priorities grant seeks to improve access and outcomes in oral health by funding North Carolina organizations to elevate community voices, especially those often overlooked in health solution development. This grant emphasizes understanding the oral health needs, experiences, and attitudes of community members and aims to support non-clinical organizations engaged in advocacy and educational outreach for practice and policy change. Organizations are encouraged to develop projects that focus on community-defined priorities, with a goal of addressing and reducing disparities in oral health access across the state.

Each grantee can receive up to $100,000 per year for two years, totaling $200,000, to cover costs such as staff time, community compensation, training, language services, and community engagement tools. Eligible applicants include North Carolina-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding those primarily focused on clinical care), fiscally sponsored programs, or coalitions that meet eligibility requirements. Coalitions are encouraged to present a cohesive strategy for equitable funding distribution among partners.

Key dates include a question submission deadline on November 7, 2024, and an application due date of December 5, 2024. Applicants selected to proceed will engage in conversations in February 2025, and final grantees will be notified in April 2025. Additional guidance, including FAQs, will be available on the foundation's website.