KinderSmile Foundation

What KinderSmile Foundation does

KinderSmile Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes in response to the death of a 12-year-old Maryland boy from an untreated dental infection. Headquartered in Bloomfield, New Jersey, the organization delivers comprehensive dental care and oral health education to underserved children (birth to age 13), perinatal mothers, and their families. It operates three fixed Dental Home facilities — Bloomfield (est. August 2016), Newark at the Boys and Girls Club (est. July 2019), and Trenton as a 13-chair clinic (est. October 2020) — supplemented by offsite school and community-based preventive services. In 2025 the organization served 8,800+ patients and delivered $21M in in-kind dental services, with 95% of patients covered by Medicaid or uninsured.

The organization's product portfolio centers on four programs: the KinderSmile Oral Health Program (KSOHP) for school- and community-based education and prevention; the Perinatal Health & Wellness Program providing culturally-sensitive oral health training to pregnant and postpartum women; the Community Service Learning Program (CSLP) that has mentored 320+ students with 70+ dental school acceptances; and the Give Back a Smile Program engaging licensed volunteer providers. Teledentistry is used for emergency consultations, particularly during the COVID-19 closure period. KinderSmile also produces the award-winning documentary 'Toothache: The Painful Truth About Oral Health Care Inequity' as an advocacy and awareness tool. Technology is operational rather than proprietary — physical clinics, teledentistry infrastructure, and a mobile digital denture lab partnership with Remote Area Medical.

KinderSmile's revenue model is a hybrid typical of community health nonprofits: (1) Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare reimbursement accounting for the majority of patient volume; (2) private dental insurance (~6.6% of patients); (3) an affordable sliding-fee schedule for uninsured families (~9.7%); (4) donations and grants from foundations including Healthcare Foundation of NJ, George H. and Estelle M. Sands Foundation, Delta Dental of NJ Foundation, Princeton Area Community Foundation, The Burke Foundation, and corporate sponsors; and (5) NJ State Appropriations funding secured in FY2025 and FY2026. GTM is community-led via 80+ partnerships with schools, Head Start programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, healthcare providers, maternal health organizations, and ER referral pipelines. Customer concentration is high both by payor (over 83% Medicaid) and by geography (NJ only).

Name

KinderSmile Foundation

Legal name

KinderSmile Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://kindersmile.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KinderSmile Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three Dental Homes in New Jersey that provide comprehensive dental care, oral health education, and perinatal wellness services to underserved children, mothers, and families — 95% of whom are Medicaid-insured or uninsured.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Dental Health Services

NAICS

Offices of Dentists (621210), Offices of Dentists (6212), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Public Health Dentistry Clinics (FQHC/School-Based/Nonprofit) (HLABAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preventive & Wellness Pediatric Dentistry (Cleanings/Fluoride/Sealants) (HLABAGAA), Special Needs Pediatric Dentistry (HLABAGAD)

Keywords

• Community dental services
• Public health dentistry
• Oral health education
• Pediatric dental care
• Nonprofit dental programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Insurance Reimbursement: Reimbursement from Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare for dental services provided to covered patients. This constitutes the majority of patient volume (83.7% of patients are Medicaid-insured). New Jersey Medicaid fees have been frozen for nearly 20 years and MCOs pay even less than fee-for-service rates.
2. Private Insurance: Accept most private dental insurance plans for patients who have coverage (approximately 6.6% of patients).
3. Affordable Fee Schedule for Uninsured: Offer an affordable fee schedule for uninsured families (9.7% of patients). Services are provided at reduced rates based on ability to pay.
4. Donations and Grants: Revenue from private donors, grantors, and corporate sponsors including Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, George H. and Estelle M. Sands Foundation, Delta Dental of NJ Foundation, and others. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 56-2635166) relying on village of donors to offset high costs of dental care.
5. State Appropriations: KinderSmile Foundation was included in the FY2025 and FY2026 NJ State Appropriations Act, receiving state funding to support operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KinderSmile Foundation provides comprehensive dental care and oral health education to underserved children, perinatal mothers, and families in New Jersey. It operates three Dental Home clinics (Bloomfield, Newark, Trenton) delivering preventive, restorative, and emergency dental services, and runs school- and community-based oral health programs regardless of patients' insurance or immigration status. The foundation supplements clinical services with a perinatal oral health training program, a student mentorship/Community Service Learning Program, and a Give Back a Smile volunteer dentist program, supported by donations, grants, and state appropriations.

Product overview

KinderSmile Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing oral health care and education services through a portfolio of programs. The core offerings include four main programs: the KinderSmile Oral Health Program (KSOHP), the Perinatal Health & Wellness Program, the Community Service Learning Program (CSLP), and the Give Back a Smile Program (GBAS). These programs are delivered through a network of three Dental Homes located in Bloomfield, Newark, and Trenton, New Jersey. The organization also produces the award-winning "Toothache" documentary to raise awareness about oral health inequities. Services are provided regardless of insurance status, with focus on underserved children, perinatal mothers, and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Toothache Documentary: Award-winning documentary titled 'Toothache: The Painful Truth About Oral Health Care Inequity' exposing oral health disparities and advocating for policy change.
• KinderSmile Community Oral Health Centers (KSCOHC)

Products and services

• KinderSmile Oral Health Program (KSOHP) Flagship program that brings oral health education, diagnostic, and preventive dental services to schools and community centers through partnerships with schools, early childhood and Head Start programs, schools serving children with special needs, and family-service agencies, providing a prompt link to a Dental Home.
• KinderSmile Perinatal Health & Wellness Program (PHWP) Culturally-sensitive oral health training program for pregnant and recently postpartum women covering maternal oral health and its impact on the developing fetus and young children; qualified graduates earn free dental care and are linked to a Dental Home for mother and child.
• Community Service Learning Program (CSLP) Volunteer and mentorship program for high school through graduate school students, offering clinical shadowing and nonprofit internships spanning pre-dental, public health, education, and business disciplines to develop future philanthropic and healthcare leaders.
• Give Back a Smile Program (GBAS) Program that enables licensed dentists and dental hygienists to donate services to uninsured and underserved children in New Jersey at KinderSmile Dental Homes or at their own practices, with participating specialists offering otherwise unattainable care and professional volunteers earning CEUs.
• KinderSmile Community Oral Health Centers (Dental Homes) Three dental clinic locations in Bloomfield, Newark, and Trenton, New Jersey providing comprehensive dental care for children starting at age 0 or from the eruption of their first tooth (Trenton also welcomes adults). Accepts Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare, most private dental insurance, and offers affordable fee schedules for uninsured families.
• Toothache Documentary Award-winning documentary 'Toothache: The Painful Truth About Oral Health Care Inequity' that exposes oral health disparities and advocates for innovative solutions, screened at dental schools, film festivals, and community events to raise awareness and promote public health dentistry careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,800+ patients served in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Brace Face FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partnership expansion announced April 2026 to address the limited access to orthodontic treatment for underserved populations. Treatment is too costly and unattainable for many families.
• Boys and Girls Club of NewarkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2019Partnership to establish KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Newark within the Boys and Girls Club of Newark facility. A three-chair dental facility was established to serve BGCN members and the surrounding Newark community. This partnership enabled access to oral health care for an underserved population in a medically underserved area designated by the Commissioner of Health.
• Capital Health Regional Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ER physicians to refer patients with dental emergencies to KinderSmile Dental Homes. Dr. Samson, an ER physician, referred an 11-year-old with severe dental infection directly to KSCOHC Trenton. Partnership helps reduce ER burden and connects patients to dental homes.
• Mercer County Community CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create an Introduction to Dental Assisting Program at the James Kerney Campus in Trenton. Aims to create job opportunities in the Trenton area and provide a pathway to the dental profession for Black and Hispanic residents. KinderSmile Dental Home provides clinical environment for student internships and volunteer work.
• Somos AmigosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational charity organization that partnered with KinderSmile Foundation for the annual mission trip to Naranjito, Dominican Republic in 2018. Allowed volunteers to work alongside dental and medical professionals from across the US, UK, Haiti, and Dominican Republic.
• Dental Volunteers for IsraelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization. Dental Volunteers for Israel team visited KinderSmile Foundation to learn about their work and shared mutual commitment to helping others and tikkun olam.
• Remote Area Medical (RAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for large-scale free dental and vision events. RAM brings state-of-the-art mobile digital denture lab to events. KinderSmile Foundation hosts events providing 100% free dental screenings, vision care, glasses, and dentures.
• Mercer Street FriendscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for RAM dental and vision events in Trenton, providing support and coordination for free service events.
• University of Maryland School of DentistrymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Student National Dental Association to screen 'Toothache' documentary and promote Public Health Dentistry. Hosted screenings during National Children's Dental Health Month coinciding with Black History Month for D1-D4 dental students.
• Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to screen 'Toothache' documentary and promote Public Health Dentistry. Hosted screenings for dental students to raise awareness about oral health care inequities and the need for public health providers.
• CareQuest Institute for Oral HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the OPEN (Oral Health Progress and Equity Network) Day on the Hill advocacy efforts. Provides platform for KinderSmile Foundation to advocate for oral health policy changes nationally.
• New Jersey Department of HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Medicaid and Oral Health 2025 advisory committees. KSF's advocacy efforts have included presentations to NJ Department of Health and inclusion in state appropriations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zufall Health Center: New Jersey-based FQHC operating dental homes for Medicaid and uninsured patients across the state. Directly comparable in mission, target population, and FQHC/nonprofit-funded Dental Home model serving NJ underserved communities.
• Henry J. Austin Health Center: Trenton-based FQHC with adult and pediatric dental services for uninsured/Medicaid populations in Mercer County — the same geography as KSF's Trenton Dental Home, and a direct competitor for the same patient population.
• CAMcare Health Corporation: Federally qualified health center serving southern New Jersey with on-site dental care to Medicaid/uninsured patients. Directly comparable in FQHC structure, NJ footprint, and Medicaid-centric dental service model.
• Saint James Health: Newark-based FQHC providing pediatric and adult dental services to underserved Newark residents. Directly overlaps with KSF's Newark Dental Home geography and patient segment.

Regional players

• Metropolitan Family Health Network: NJ FQHC providing comprehensive dental services to uninsured/Medicaid patients in northern NJ. Comparable as a community-based safety-net dental provider in an overlapping region.

Broad incumbents

• Dental Lifeline Network: National nonprofit coordinating pro bono dental care for vulnerable populations including disabled, elderly, and medically fragile individuals. Comparable in mission to KSF's Give Back a Smile Program and Dental Home access model.
• CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: National nonprofit focused on oral health equity, advocacy, and innovation. Direct partner in KSF's OPEN Day on the Hill advocacy efforts and aligned in policy reform mission for Medicaid dental access.

Emerging players

• America's ToothFairy: National children's oral health nonprofit providing resources and 'In the Gap' grants to safety-net dental clinics — already a direct partner/funder of KSF for uninsured pediatric care.
• Columbia University College of Dental Medicine – Community DentCare Network: Dental school-affiliated community pediatric dentistry network in Northern Manhattan providing school-based care and a dental home model for underserved children — analogous to KSF's school-to-dental-home pipeline.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities – Mobile Dental Care (and similar mobile dental programs): Nonprofit mobile dental programs targeting underserved children, comparable in school-and-community outreach model and reliance on donations/corporate sponsorship for sustainability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kindersmilefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kindersmile-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/kindersmile_foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/KinderSmileFoundation
• Xx.com/kindersmile_
• TikToktiktok.com/@kindersmile_foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KinderSmile Foundation