National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped

Dental Lifeline Network (DLN) is a national charitable organization whose mission is to improve the oral health of people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile and have no other way to get help. DLN accomplishes its mission by developing and coordinating collaborative relationships that provide essential resources for direct-service programs, especially charitable care.

Through our flagship program, Donated Dental Services (DDS), dental care is provided through a national network of over 15,000 volunteer dentists and 3,400 volunteer laboratories. The restored oral health that DDS provides its patients brings freedom from pain, the ability to eat a normal, healthy diet, and an enhanced quality of life. We provide real help for real people with real problems. Every dollar donated to Dental Lifeline Network generates $8.87 in care through our flagship program, Donated Dental Services (DDS).

Ongoing organizational strategic goals include maximizing effectiveness of all programs; increasing philanthropic support; optimizing the network of volunteers, partners and supporters; improving organizational infrastructure; and increasing funding through cause-related marketing efforts. DLN continually monitors its progress toward annual service goals and long-term strategic goals and adjusts activities accordingly.

Other important organization initiatives include "Will You See One Vet?" which encompasses our effort to recruit dental volunteers with an interest in helping a particularly vulnerable population: our nation's military veterans. The campaign was launched in 2018 to attract more volunteers to help veterans with special needs. Through the WYSOV campaign, 1,000 dentists have offered to treat veteran patients.

Dental Lifeline Network (DLN) possesses the capabilities to accomplish our goals and objectives with its experienced professional staff and more than 15,000 volunteer dentists and 3,400 donating dental labs. Since 1975, we have honed our programs and objectives and amassed a trove of data to guide our strategic planning. We benefit from many important strategic partnerships with industry professionals, including the American Dental Association and most state dental associations. These partners are instrumental in providing promotional assistance as we recruit new volunteers and in identifying and cultivating donor relationships.

Since the inception of DLN's DDS program, we have provided life-changing dental care to more than 165,000 individuals who are either have a disability, are elderly or are medically fragile. The total value of care donated exceeds $500 million! Last fiscal year, DDS provided over $22 million in donated dental treatment to 7,908 individuals nationwide! The current strategic goal is to increase the annual number of patients served to 20,000, a milestone we intend to achieve within a few years.