American Association Of Orthodontists Foundation

What American Association Of Orthodontists Foundation does

The American Association of Orthodontists Foundation (AAOF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation established in 1994 as the philanthropic arm of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the world's oldest and largest dental specialty organization, which represents 19,000 orthodontist members across the United States, Canada, and abroad. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with 51–100 employees, AAOF operates a portfolio of programs that fund orthodontic education, faculty development, and research; provide disaster relief grants of up to $5,000 to AAO member orthodontists affected by natural disasters; deliver donated orthodontic treatment to children from low-income families (Gifted Smiles, formerly Donated Orthodontic Services, with 350+ volunteer orthodontists and 1,000+ children served); and run the Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection Project, a digital database of 842 subjects and over 18,900 longitudinal radiographs accessed by researchers at 45 universities worldwide. The foundation also operates the CORE (Classes for Orthodontic Resident Empowerment) six-module virtual curriculum and the Rapid Assessment of Evidence Program, which convenes expert panels to evaluate manufacturer product claims.

AAOF's underlying technology consists of a digital platform for research database hosting and charitable program management, including the Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection website, a custom learning management system for the CORE program, and a volunteer-matching system for Gifted Smiles. Its business model is entirely donation- and grant-funded: there are no commercial products or services sold. Funding is raised through a tiered Corporate Partner Program (Supporter $5,000 up to Platinum $1,000,000+), individual donations, the Century Club monthly giving program, Keystone Society planned/estate giving, stock gifts, and IRA charitable contributions. AAOF distributes funds primarily through the PARC-administered Grant Awards Program (Biomedical Research Awards, Center Awards, Orthodontic Faculty Development Fellowship Awards, and Research Aid Awards); since 1994, it has disbursed $17.7 million supporting 297 Fellowship Awards and 405 Research Awards yielding 500+ published articles and abstracts. The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors with AAO oversight, holds Federal Tax ID 43-6056320, and maintains an active multi-channel presence (website, The Wire newsletter, podcasts, YouTube, social media, conferences) to engage orthodontists, residents, donors, and corporate partners.

Name

American Association Of Orthodontists Foundation

Legal name

American Association Of Orthodontists Foundation

Website

https://aaofoundation.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The American Association of Orthodontists Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that funds orthodontic education, research, and faculty development through grants, disaster relief, and the Gifted Smiles program connecting low-income children with volunteer AAO orthodontists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Foundation - Orthodontic Education and Research

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Orthodontic education funding
• Dental research grants
• Charitable healthcare programs
• Orthodontic residency support
• Professional association foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: The AAOF operates as a charitable foundation receiving donations from corporate partners, individual orthodontists, and constituent societies. Funding is distributed as grants for orthodontic education and research.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AAOF is a charitable 501(c)(3) foundation that funds and operates programs supporting orthodontic education, research, and patient care. Its primary offerings include the Grant Awards Program (research and faculty fellowships), the Gifted Smiles program (donated orthodontic treatment for children from low-income families), the Disaster Relief Fund (grants to orthodontists affected by natural disasters), the CORE resident business education program, and the Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection research database. The foundation collects donations from corporate partners, individual orthodontists, constituent societies, and planned giving programs and distributes those funds as grants and charitable services.

Product overview

The American Association of Orthodontists Foundation (AAOF) is a charitable foundation that operates as a collection of programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include: the Grant Awards Program providing funding for orthodontic education and research; Gifted Smiles (formerly Donated Orthodontic Services) connecting children lacking financial resources to volunteer orthodontists; the Disaster Relief Fund offering grants to orthodontists affected by natural disasters; and CORE, a business fundamentals course for residents. Supporting programs include the Rapid Assessment of Evidence Program (which reviews manufacturer claims), the Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection Project (a research database), Corporate Partner and Keystone Society planned giving programs, and the Century Club monthly giving initiative. These programs work together to advance orthodontic education, support those in need, and ensure the specialty's future through research funding and faculty development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CORE (Classes for Orthodontic Resident Empowerment): A program funded by AAOF that provides a six-module virtual course on business fundamentals for orthodontic residents, led by Dr. Bill Layman.
• Donated Orthodontic Services (DOS)

Products and services

• Grant Awards Program AAOF's primary funding mechanism providing millions of dollars in grants to orthodontic education programs and research, including Biomedical Research Awards, Center Awards, Orthodontic Faculty Development Fellowship Awards, and Research Aid Awards.
• Gifted Smiles A charitable orthodontic program that serves as a conduit to orthodontic treatment for children who lack access to care due to financial difficulties. The program matches approved applicants with volunteer AAO member orthodontists and has served over 1,000 children.
• Disaster Relief Fund Provides grants of up to $5,000 to AAO member orthodontists who are victims of natural disasters to assist in restoring, repairing, or reconstructing their practice facilities, equipment, and supplies.
• CORE (Classes for Orthodontic Resident Empowerment) A six-module virtual course on business fundamentals for orthodontic residents led by Dr. Bill Layman, covering accounting basics, strategy, financial basics, insurance, leadership lessons, and patient management.
• Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection Project A complimentary website and database of nine collections from U.S. and Canada containing longitudinal craniofacial growth records (842 subjects, over 18,900 radiographs) in untreated children and adolescents, serving as a resource for orthodontic teaching and research.
• Rapid Assessment of Evidence Program A service providing AAO members access to an expert panel that reviews research substantiating manufacturers' claims about orthodontic products, determining whether claims are supported by the evidence provided.
• Corporate Partner Program A sponsorship program with tiered partnership levels (Platinum $1M+, Diamond $750K, Gold $500K, Silver $250K, Bronze $200K, Ambassador $150K, Founder $100K, Fellow $50K, Regent $25K, Mentor $20K, Benefactor $15K, Patron $10K, Supporter $5,000) for companies supporting orthodontic education and research.
• Keystone Society A recognition society for individuals who have made the commitment to include AAOF in their estate plans through trusts, donor-advised funds, and other planned giving vehicles.
• Century Club A monthly giving program allowing donors to provide ongoing support to AAOF's mission through recurring contributions.
• Estate Planning and Planned Giving Various vehicles for donors to include AAOF in their estate plans, including trusts, donor-advised funds, IRA charitable giving, and stock gifts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 1994, AAOF has provided $17.7 million in funding, supporting 297 fellowship awards and 405 research awards
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection Steering CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Dr. Heesoo Oh, Dr. Mark Hans, Dr. James McNamara and Mr. Sean Curry Oh. Steering committee directing the Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection project.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Smile for a Lifetime Foundation: National charitable organization providing free orthodontic treatment to children who cannot afford care. Closely comparable to AAOF's Gifted Smiles program in mission, beneficiary profile, and volunteer orthodontist model.
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation (OMSF): Grantmaking foundation for another dental specialty. Similar in scope: research awards, fellowships, and donor-driven fundraising tied to a specialty society membership base.
• Dental Lifeline Network: National nonprofit coordinating donated dental services to vulnerable populations. Operates a parallel 'donated services' model to Gifted Smiles, with volunteer dentists serving low-income patients.
• American Academy of Periodontology Foundation: Foundation of another dental specialty society. Closely analogous operating model — specialty-specific research grants, faculty fellowships, and member disaster relief — supported by industry corporate partners.
• Academy of General Dentistry Foundation: Foundation affiliated with a large US dental membership organization. Comparable in operating model — grants, member education support, and corporate partner tiers — but serving general dentists rather than orthodontists.
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation: Charitable foundation of a dental specialty society. Directly comparable in structure (specialty society foundation), mission (grants for education/research, access-to-care programs), and donor base (members + corporate partners).
• American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation: The charitable arm of the American Dental Association, the largest US dental professional society. Directly comparable as a specialty-society-affiliated grantmaking and charitable care foundation serving dental education and research.

Regional players

• Oral Health Foundation (UK): UK-based independent oral health charity. Comparable as a grantmaking and education-focused oral health nonprofit, but operating outside the AAOF's North American footprint.

Broad incumbents

• American College of Dentists Foundation: Honor society-affiliated foundation supporting dental ethics, education, and research grants. Overlaps with AAOF in education/research grantmaking but is broader in scope (all of dentistry) and honors-based rather than specialty-based.

Others

• Patterson Companies Foundation: Corporate foundation of a major dental distributor. Comparable as a dental-industry-aligned grantmaking entity funding oral health access and education, though driven by a single corporate sponsor rather than a member society.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aaofevp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPMYEHcFuFkBNrYd_V_Fuhg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AAOFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/aaof.info
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-association-of-orthodontists-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Association Of Orthodontists Foundation