REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE RFP]
BACKGROUND
The NADP Foundation supports initiatives that expand access to oral healthcare and enhance the administration of dental benefits. After its revitalization in late 2023, the Foundation awarded funding for three projects in 2025 and four projects in 2026, focusing on research, education, and related activities. For details on last year’s grantees, see the Foundation press release.
The Foundation is now accepting proposals for its 2026–2027 funding cycle.
Organizations that have previously received NADP Foundation funding are eligible to apply for future funding cycles. Prior funding does not guarantee additional awards, and all proposals, new or returning, will be evaluated competitively using the same criteria outlined in this RFP.
PURPOSE / MISSION
The mission of The NADP Foundation is to promote research and education to improve the oral health of the population through access to and the administration of oral health services.
As part of the NADP Foundation's research and data strategy, we seek research and education opportunities aligning with our mission. This Request for Proposals (RFP) aims to invite researchers and educators to apply to undertake projects that align with the NADP Foundation's mission. Focus areas include activities that:
- Demonstrate improvements in access to oral healthcare
- Demonstrate innovations in oral healthcare delivery
- Support the advancement of the administration of dental benefits
- Enhance the dental insurance and dental benefits knowledge of oral health professionals and dental students
OBJECTIVE
The NADP Foundation expects to fund three to four projects in 2027 that advance one or more of the strategies above. Up to $50,000 may be awarded for any one project.
TIMELINE: Proposals open September 1, and there is a Q&A Time Period from September 15, 2026 – October 12, 2026. Proposals are due November 2, 2026 @5:00PM CST to the Foundation Application Portal. Awards will be announced on January 12, 2027.
PROPOSAL
Proposals must be submitted in English in a commonly-used 11 or 12 point font. Required contents are listed below. There is a 1,500-word limit for the proposal (not including appendices).
- Information describing the applicant organization and third-party partners that will be involved in the project.
- Each proposal should speak to and include the following headings:
- Project Objectives
- Methodology
- Timeline (up to five milestones with dates)
- Deliverables and Expected Outcomes
- Final deliverable should be a summary report, including collateral materials developed during the project, to the NADP Foundation summarizing the project and its outcomes.
- Project Generalizability/Replicability
- Total Cost of Project
- Contact information of submitter.
- Collaboration among multiple institutions and stakeholders is permitted.
- Proposals should demonstrate innovation, feasibility, and potential impact.
The following appendices are required:
- Description of applicant’s capacity to perform the project (up to one-page) and/or letter of support from immediate supervisor
- Resume or CV of project director or principal investigator and co-investigators
- Budget submitted on NADP Foundation template (including in-kind contributions)
- Note: NADP Foundation does not fund an organization’s indirect costs.
The NADP Foundation encourages proposals that consider diversity, access barriers, and social determinants of health.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Potential Impact and Significance
- Capacity, Feasibility, and Methodology
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Broader Industry Impact/Potential for Generalizability and Replication
- Alignment with NADP Foundation's mission and objectives
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Interested applicants should submit their proposals electronically in Microsoft Office formats or PDF to the Foundation Application Portal no later than November 2, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
DUE DATES
- RFP Release Date: September 1, 2026
- Q&A Time Period: September 15, 2026 – October 12, 2026
- Proposal Submission Deadline: November 2, 2026
- Evaluation Period: November 2, 2026 – January 3, 2026
- Award Notification: January 12, 2026
Award recipients will be required to execute a grant agreement with the NADP Foundation.
NADP FOUNDATION CONTACT
For inquiries and clarifications regarding this RFP, please contact: