Hope Smiles
Hope Smiles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that delivers free and subsidized dental care to underserved communities in Nashville, Tennessee, and Uganda through a hub-and-spoke model of mobile outreaches, permanent clinics, and a US dental center, funded via donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBrentwood, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hope Smiles does
Hope Smiles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 26-0829468) founded in 2005 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The organization delivers emergent and restorative dental care — including extractions, fillings, root canals, cleanings, dentures, and oral health education — to underserved populations who cannot access or afford high-quality dental services. Its core operations span a US hub (the state-of-the-art Nashville Dental Center, opened in 2023, with 7,000+ US patients treated in 2024) and an East African operation in Uganda, built around a hub-and-spoke model of mobile outreaches returning four times yearly plus permanent partner clinics staffed by locally trained dental professionals. It also runs the SMILE Tennessee collective impact initiative and a leadership development program that identifies, trains, and scholarships local individuals into the dental profession.
The underlying technology is conventional dental practice infrastructure and mobile outreach equipment, supplemented by Open Dental practice management software and basic digital outreach channels (website, email newsletter, social media). There is no proprietary software platform, AI/ML capability, or API documented. The organization's leadership is founder-led by Dr. Phillip Kemp (Founder and Chief Dental Officer / Board Chair), with Dr. Enock Kibulabuguzi leading Uganda operations, Amy Harper as COO, and approximately 35+ staff members in Uganda and a small US team.
Hope Smiles is funded entirely through philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. Revenue streams include individual donations (anchored by the Hope Collective monthly giving program with tiered subscriptions from $50 to $1,000 per month), corporate and foundation grants from 25+ partners, Amazon Smile affiliate donations (0.5% of purchases), stock/securities gifts, and in-kind donations of dental supplies and equipment. Patient services are provided free of charge or at subsidized rates to uninsured and low-income populations in Tennessee and Uganda.
Hope Smiles firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hope Smiles
- Legal name
- Hope Smiles
- Website
- https://hopesmiles.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hope Smiles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that delivers free and subsidized dental care to underserved communities in Nashville, Tennessee, and Uganda through a hub-and-spoke model of mobile outreaches, permanent clinics, and a US dental center, funded via donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hope Smiles industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Community Dental Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Dentists (6212)
- SIC
- Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community & Public Health Dentistry Clinics (FQHC/School-Based/Nonprofit) (HLABAAAF)
Keywords
Where Hope Smiles is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brentwood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Hope Smiles business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual donors through the Hope Collective monthly giving program and one-time gift options. Recurring donors provide stable, sustainable support enabling long-term projects.
- Corporate/Foundation Grants: Support from foundations, corporations, and organizations listed on the Partners page.
- Amazon Smile: 0.5% of Amazon purchases donated through Amazon Smile program.
- Stock/Securities Donations: Donations of securities offer financial benefits to donors while supporting operations.
- In-Kind Donations: Dental supplies, equipment, and services donated by partners and supporters.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | $50/month - Two beautiful fillings |
| Subscription | Monthly | $100/month - One denture |
| Subscription | Monthly | $250/month - Two zirconia crowns |
| Subscription | Monthly | $500/month - Annual dental school tuition |
| Subscription | Monthly | $1,000/month - Orthodontic treatment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Hope Smiles product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hope Smiles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free or low-cost emergent and restorative dental care to underserved populations in Nashville, Tennessee, and Uganda. Services include extractions, fillings, root canals, cleanings, dentures, and oral health education delivered through a Nashville Dental Center hub, mobile outreach teams, permanent partner clinics in Uganda, and a SMILE Tennessee network of partner clinics. The model combines direct patient care with a leadership development program that trains local dental professionals through scholarships, certificates, and degrees to establish ongoing community clinics.
Product overview
Hope Smiles is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of dental care services focused on underserved communities. The core offerings include Mobile Outreaches that provide urgent care in remote areas, Dental Clinics operated by locally trained professionals, and Leadership Development programs that train dental professionals through scholarships and mentorship. The organization operates a Nashville Dental Center as its US hub and has extended its model internationally through Uganda operations. SMILE Tennessee is a collective impact initiative expanding access in Tennessee, while Hope Collective is the monthly giving program that provides sustainable funding. The organization can be characterized as a multi-service nonprofit with facilities, programs, and donation vehicles working together to restore hope through dentistry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mobile Outreaches
Quantifiable outcome
- 110,000+ patients served
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hope Smiles
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hope Smiles technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hope Smiles partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- University of TennesseecoreLong-standing partnership since Hope Smiles founding in 2005, providing mentoring and leadership development opportunities for dental students.
- Meharry Medical CollegecoreLong-standing partnership since founding, providing mentoring and leadership development opportunities for dental students alongside University of Tennessee.
- ColemansupportingCorporate partner supporting Hope Smiles mission through the partners program.
- DentsupportingCorporate partner supporting Hope Smiles mission through the partners program.
- DynaflexsupportingCorporate dental partner supporting Hope Smiles mission.
- NDIsupportingCorporate partner supporting Hope Smiles dental care mission.
- EcelsupportingCorporate partner in Hope Smiles network.
- EkisasupportingPartner organization in Hope Smiles ecosystem.
- Kemp DentalsupportingDental practice partnership with Hope Smiles founder Dr. Phillip Kemp supporting global impact.
- FlintsupportingCorporate partner in Hope Smiles network.
- GemsupportingCorporate partner supporting Hope Smiles mission.
- BatessupportingPartner organization in Hope Smiles network.
- HenrysupportingCorporate partner supporting Hope Smiles.
- KulnzersupportingDental industry partner.
- Long Hollow DentalsupportingDental practice partner providing volunteer oversight and mentorship for SMILE Tennessee program.
- Love OnesupportingPartner organization in Hope Smiles collaborative network.
- Ministry of Health (Uganda)coreUgandan government health ministry partnership for establishing dental care infrastructure and operations in Uganda.
- One More ChildsupportingChild-focused organization partner in Uganda operations.
- One WorldsupportingInternational organization partner.
- Open DentalsupportingDental software technology partner providing practice management solutions.
- Our VillagesupportingCommunity-focused partner organization.
- Project JesusupportingFaith-based partner organization in Uganda.
- TaslafsupportingPartner organization in Hope Smiles network.
- VanderLaansupportingCorporate partner.
- Vision for AfricasupportingAfrica-focused vision organization partner.
- Street ChildsupportingChild welfare organization partner working in Uganda.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hope Smiles competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mission of Mercy: A nonprofit providing free dental care to underserved communities through volunteer-driven clinics and events in multiple states — directly comparable to Hope Smiles' Free Dental Day events and volunteer mobilization strategy.
- America's Dentists Care Foundation: Organizes large-scale volunteer dental clinics (MOM events) serving uninsured and underserved patients, operating with a similar event-based, volunteer-mobilized nonprofit dental model.
- Remote Area Medical: Operates mobile free dental, medical, and vision clinics for underserved populations across the US, matching Hope Smiles' mobile outreach and volunteer-driven delivery model for low-income and uninsured patients.
- Christian Medical & Dental Associations: Faith-based professional organization mobilizing dental and medical professionals for domestic and international service missions — overlapping Hope Smiles' faith-aligned, volunteer-serve-trip approach.
- Dental Lifeline Network: National nonprofit coordinating volunteer dentists to deliver free, comprehensive dental care to people with disabilities, elderly, and medically fragile — a closely comparable donated-care nonprofit dental model.
- National Children's Oral Health Foundation: National nonprofit focused on eliminating children's preventable suffering from pediatric dental disease through community-based nonprofit programs — comparable in mission orientation and donor-driven care delivery.
- Global Dental Relief: Volunteer-driven nonprofit providing dental care to children in underserved areas across multiple developing countries — directly comparable to Hope Smiles' Uganda volunteer serve-trip model.
- Community Dental Care: Nonprofit community dental clinic operator serving low-income and uninsured patients across multiple locations — closely mirrors Hope Smiles' permanent dental clinic + SMILE Tennessee model.
Emerging players
- Mary's Center: Federally qualified health center providing integrated medical, dental, and social services to underserved populations — overlapping Hope Smiles' community dental clinic + wraparound services positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Smile Train: Large-scale global nonprofit focused on cleft care, including dental/oral surgery capacity building in developing countries — adjacent in nonprofit global health and local-professional training model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hope Smiles social profiles
Digital presenceHope Smiles compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Hope Smiles financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hope Smiles leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Hope Smiles funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hope Smiles M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hope Smiles
What does Hope Smiles do?
Hope Smiles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free or low-cost emergent and restorative dental care to underserved populations in Nashville, Tennessee, and Uganda. Services include extractions, fillings, root canals, cleanings, dentures, and oral health education delivered through a Nashville Dental Center hub, mobile outreach teams, permanent partner clinics in Uganda, and a SMILE Tennessee network of partner clinics. The model combines direct patient care with a leadership development program that trains local dental professionals through scholarships, certificates, and degrees to establish ongoing community clinics.
Is Hope Smiles a public or private company?
Hope Smiles is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hope Smiles founded?
Hope Smiles was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hope Smiles based?
Hope Smiles is headquartered in Brentwood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hope Smiles make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate/Foundation Grants, amazon Smile, stock/Securities Donations and in-Kind Donations.
Who are Hope Smiles's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mission of Mercy, America's Dentists Care Foundation, Remote Area Medical, Christian Medical & Dental Associations, Dental Lifeline Network, National Children's Oral Health Foundation, Global Dental Relief and Community Dental Care. Mary's Center is listed as an emerging player. Smile Train is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Hope Smiles have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hope Smiles.
What industry is Hope Smiles in?
Hope Smiles's product category is Nonprofit Community Dental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLABAAAF, Community & Public Health Dentistry Clinics (FQHC/School-Based/Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 6212 and its SIC code is 8090.