Arcora Foundation

What Arcora Foundation does

Arcora Foundation is a Seattle-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit foundation, founded in 1985 (originally as Washington Dental Service Foundation, renamed in 2017) and fully funded by Delta Dental of Washington. It is the largest foundation in Washington state dedicated to oral health, operating a portfolio of prevention and access programs including DentistLink (a free dental referral service), SmileMobile (a 3-chair mobile dental office serving Washington since 1995), Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD), MouthMatters (medical-provider training on pediatric oral health), community water fluoridation support, tribal partnerships, and three Local Impact Networks (Pierce County, North Sound, Smile Spokane). The foundation also delivers ADA CERP-recognized continuing education for dental and medical professionals, distributes multilingual printed and digital educational materials, and publishes Tableau-based data dashboards including the Smile Survey and Apple Health dental utilization data.

The foundation is governed by its own board of trustees and operates with a 22+ person staff led by President and CEO Vanetta Abdellatif, with functional leadership across policy, tribal partnerships, children's programs, operations and finance, data and evaluation, and communications. Arcora's funding model is philanthropic: Delta Dental of Washington provides the operating budget, and Arcora re-deploys capital as grants ($3.5M in 2024; $13.9M cumulative 2019-2024), sponsorships ($1,000-$10,000 per request), program operations, and educational services, all provided at no cost to Washington state residents and organizations.

Arcora's served populations are concentrated in Washington state and prioritize BIPOC communities, children on Apple Health (Medicaid), low-income and uninsured residents, tribal communities, pregnant people, and adults with diabetes on Medicaid. The foundation combines direct service delivery (SmileMobile, DentistLink), professional training, community-based partnerships, policy advocacy enabled by 501(c)(4) status (notably on fluoridation legislation), and data publishing to pursue its mission of bending the arc of oral health toward equity.

Name

Arcora Foundation

Legal name

Arcora Foundation

Website

https://arcorafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arcora Foundation is a Seattle-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit, fully funded by Delta Dental of Washington and the largest oral-health foundation in the state. It advances oral health equity through grants, the SmileMobile mobile clinic, DentistLink referrals, ABCD, professional training, policy advocacy, and data dashboards serving BIPOC, Medicaid, tribal, and low-income Washington residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

School/Community-Based Preventive Dental Programs (HLABAHAM), Infant Oral Health & Early Childhood Caries Programs (HLABAGAH)

Keywords

• Oral health equity
• Dental access programs
• Community dental services
• Oral disease prevention
• Dental professional training

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding from Delta Dental of Washington: Arcora Foundation is fully funded by nonprofit Delta Dental of Washington, the state's largest dental benefits company. Delta Dental of Washington was formerly Washington Dental Service and formed Arcora Foundation (formerly Washington Dental Service Foundation) in 1985.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arcora Foundation is a nonprofit oral health foundation that advances oral health equity across Washington state through prevention programs (community water fluoridation, healthy behaviors, social determinants of health) and dental access initiatives including the SmileMobile mobile dental clinic, DentistLink referral service, Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD), MouthMatters training, Local Impact Networks, and tribal partnerships. The foundation provides grants, sponsorships, professional training, data dashboards, and educational resources at no cost.

Product overview

Arcora Foundation operates as a non-profit foundation dedicated to advancing oral health across Washington state. The organization offers a multi-faceted portfolio of programs and services organized around prevention and access priorities. Core programs include DentistLink (a free dental referral service), the SmileMobile (a 3-chair mobile dental office), Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD), and MouthMatters (training for medical providers on pediatric oral health). Prevention initiatives include community water fluoridation support, healthy behaviors programs, and social determinants of health addressing. Access initiatives encompass tribal partnerships, local impact networks (LINs) in Spokane, Pierce County, and North Sound regions, oral health advocacy, and increased diabetes benefits. Professional training offerings include ADA CERP recognized continuing education courses, MouthMatters training for medical professionals, Community Health Worker curriculum, and caregiver training. Educational resources include The Mighty Mouth consumer platform, printed materials, classroom curricula (10 Minutes for Teeth, Cavity Free Kids), and videos. Data and reporting tools include the Smile Survey Dashboard, Apple Health Dental dashboards, Access to Dental Care Dashboard, and Oral Health Status Dashboard—all built on Tableau. The foundation primarily serves BIPOC communities and those experiencing health disparities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DentistLink Free dental referral service for Washington state residents with Apple Health (Medicaid) or no insurance. Connects users to dentists and related resources including medical care, behavioral health, and transportation support.
• SmileMobile Three-chair modern dental office on wheels that delivers oral health services across Washington state, serving children, pregnant/postpartum people, and adults at designated clinics with limited dental access.
• Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) Program connecting Apple Health (Medicaid) eligible children from birth to age 6 and children with special health care needs through age 12 with specially-trained dentists, focusing on tooth decay prevention.
• Continuing Education (CE) Courses ADA CERP recognized provider offering continuing dental education courses for dental professionals including courses on AI integration, dental therapy, culturally responsive care, pediatric dentistry, brain health, and practice management.
• MouthMatters Training for Medical Professionals Training program for primary care medical providers to deliver preventive oral health services to children during well-child visits, including a MouthMatters Resource Center with documents for medical teams.
• CHW Curriculum Training designed for Community Health Workers and others to improve oral health understanding and community engagement.
• Cavity Free Kids Oral health education curriculum for young children and families designed for use in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
• Caregiver Training Training for caregivers covering oral health basics, denture care and cleaning, and improving oral health for clients with dementia.
• Community Water Fluoridation Support Program providing education, technical expertise, and funding for equipment to help communities provide fluoridated water, identified as the most cost-effective and equitable way to prevent tooth decay.
• Local Impact Networks (LINs) Community-based partnerships including Pierce County LIN, North Sound LIN (Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties), and Smile Spokane that center community-driven solutions for oral health equity.
• Tribal Partnerships Partnership with Northwest tribes, native communities, and native-led organizations to improve oral health of American Indian/Alaska Native people through workforce and service delivery models.
• Grants and Sponsorships Funding opportunities for Washington state organizations working to reduce barriers to oral health care and prevent disease. In 2024, Arcora Foundation invested $3.5 million across 18 Oral Health Impact grants, 103 sponsorships, and 3 capital grants.
• Smile Survey Dashboard Interactive Tableau-based dashboard providing state and county-level data on children's oral health from the Washington Smile Survey 2023-2024, with comparison views and self-service data tables.
• Apple Health Dental Program Facts and Figures Dashboard Dashboard showing utilization data for adults and children on Apple Health (Medicaid) dental program by county in Washington state.
• Access to Dental Care Dashboard Interactive dashboard showing oral health care access data and its impact on overall health and quality of life.
• Oral Health Status Dashboard Interactive dashboard providing data on health disparities examples including rates of tooth decay, pain, and tooth loss across Washington state communities.
• The Mighty Mouth Consumer-focused blog and resource platform providing tips, tools, and resources for keeping mouths and bodies healthy, including content for parents, healthy living, and Spanish-language materials.
• Printed Educational Materials Printed oral health education materials including brochures, posters, and info cards on topics including prenatal care, children's oral health, older adults, diabetes, and dental treatments. Available in multiple languages including English and Spanish.
• 10 Minutes for Teeth Curriculum Free comprehensive oral health education curriculum for elementary school children developed by a practicing Washington state dental hygienist.

Quantifiable outcome

• 52,000+ clients served and 63,000+ visits by SmileMobile since 1995
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seattle Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership since 2006 to support the SmileMobile program - a 3-chair modern dental office on wheels that delivers oral health services across Washington state. Seattle Children's Hospital partnership continues to strengthen the mobile dental clinic serving children, pregnant people, and adults with barriers to care.
• Washington State Health Care AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership for DentistLink - a free dental referral service fully funded by Arcora Foundation and Health Care Authority. Also partners on the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program as a public-private partnership.
• Project Access NorthwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded partnership with DentistLink where Project Access Northwest handles calls and texts for referrals, connecting users to comprehensive care including medical, behavioral health care, and transportation resources.
• Northwest Tribes and Native CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partnerships supporting new workforce and service delivery models and community-led approaches to address social determinants of health. Includes grants to Kalispel Tribe ($130,000) and Quileute Tribal Health Center ($140,000) for dental clinic expansions.
• Asia Pacific Cultural CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on social media campaign for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities to address sugary drink consumption and diabetes risk. Campaign delivered 14 million+ ad impressions.
• Pacific Islander Health Board of WashingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on social media campaign to help Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities reach their full health potential and reduce diabetes risk related to sugary drink consumption.
• Tahoma Peak SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative-woman owned firm leading healthy behavior curriculum work with tribal partners. Developed Native Infusion: Rethink Your Drink curriculum encouraging water consumption and traditional medicinal teas.
• University of Washington School of DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ABCD program and dental student training on the SmileMobile. Also involved in the Arcora Foundation Dr. Burton H. Goodman Presidential Scholarship to expand diversity at the school.
• Harvard University's 100 Million Mouths InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to integrate oral health into UW School of Medicine's curriculum, teaching medical students to deliver oral health services during well-child and other exams.
• Spokane Regional Health DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Smile Spokane Local Impact Network in participatory budgeting process to allocate anchor strategy funds for oral health initiatives.
• Local Impact Network Partners (Pierce County, North Sound, Smile Spokane)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based organizations, health care providers, local health jurisdictions, and others who blend resources to improve oral and overall health opportunities for people who need them most. Includes Pierce County LIN with dental resource days.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: National nonprofit focused on oral health equity, access, and research; the closest national-scale counterpart to Arcora's prevention-and-access model with philanthropic funding and policy advocacy.
• DentaQuest Foundation: Philanthropic arm of a major dental benefits company funding oral health equity, disease prevention, and access initiatives; structurally analogous to Arcora's Delta Dental-of-Washington sponsorship model.
• National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA): Nationwide nonprofit supporting oral health access for underserved populations through safety-net providers; comparable mission and grantee/partnership model to Arcora's Local Impact Networks.

Broad incumbents

• ADA Foundation: The philanthropic arm of the American Dental Association; a much larger, national oral health grantmaker with overlapping programs in education, access, and disaster relief, though broader and less equity-targeted than Arcora.
• Delta Dental of California Foundation (and affiliated state foundations): Other Delta Dental state-affiliated oral health foundations with similar grantmaking, prevention, and access missions; serve as the most natural structural peers given Arcora's parent-funder model.
• Pew Charitable Trusts (Oral Health Program): Major national funder with a dedicated oral health portfolio focused on prevention, dental workforce, and Medicaid policy; a larger-scale operator with comparable policy-advocacy approach to Arcora's.

Regional players

• Washington State Dental Association Foundation: State-level dental association foundation operating in the same Washington geography with overlapping access and education programs; a direct in-state collaborator/competitor for grantees and policy influence.
• Community Health Network of Washington: Washington-state association of community health centers delivering dental and medical services to underserved populations; comparable target population and a likely downstream delivery partner for Arcora-funded programs.

Others

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Large health-focused foundation funding upstream health-equity and social-determinants work that complements Arcora's SDoH and equity priorities; not a direct oral-health operator but a relevant funding ecosystem peer.
• W.K. Kellogg Foundation: National foundation with significant investments in children's health, equity, and community-led initiatives; a relevant comparison for Arcora's ABCD program, tribal partnerships, and community-driven model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Arcorafound
• Facebookfacebook.com/arcorafoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arcorafoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Arcora Foundation