The CDA Foundation is now accepting applications through May 31 for its Webb Family Grant, which provides up to $5,000 annually to support the education and training of dental professionals across California.
The grant is designed to help reduce educational costs and strengthen the state’s dental workforce by funding eligible individuals and institutions for approved academic and training expenses. In most cases, the program awards funding to one qualifying recipient each year.
Eligibility extends to a broad range of dental professionals, including dentists, dental students, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and individuals enrolled in accredited dental hygiene or dental assisting programs. Board-approved dental education programs are also eligible to apply.
Individual applicants must have graduated from an accredited dental school, dental hygiene program, or dental assisting program in California within the past three years, or be expected to graduate within the next six months. Applicants are also required to have received student loans from government or licensed commercial lenders in the United States.
Additional requirements apply to specific roles. Dentists and registered dental hygienists in alternative practice (RDHAPs) must provide proof of employment with a licensed California dentist or documentation of self-employment.
Educational institutions must be approved by the Dental Board of California, the Dental Hygiene Board of California, or the Commission on Dental Accreditation. They are also required to submit a curriculum summary along with a description of how grant funds will be used.
Established in 2014, the Webb Family Grant is named in honor of Dr. Russell Webb and Kathi Webb, founding contributors to the CDA Foundation. The couple has long been recognized for their commitment to volunteerism in dentistry, including early joint service at a free clinic in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
“Helping others is why Kathi and I have dedicated our lives to dentistry,” Dr. Webb said.
The CDA Foundation said the grant reflects the Webbs’ dedication to supporting individuals and programs that demonstrate strong service and volunteerism within the dental community.
Applicants may receive additional consideration if they have lived or worked in a Health Professional Shortage Area, come from disadvantaged backgrounds, or have developed cultural and linguistic competencies that support diverse communities across California.
The 2025 recipient, Dr. Kelsey Sloane, graduated from the University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 2022 and now practices with United Indian Health Services, serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities in rural Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Profiles of past recipients are available through the application portal.
The CDA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the California Dental Association, supports initiatives aimed at improving oral and overall health in California by helping dental professionals better serve community needs through grants and awards.
Alongside the Webb Family Grant, the Foundation is offering several additional funding opportunities in 2026. These include the Arthur A. Dugoni Award (Jan. 1–April 17), the Humanitarian Award (April 1–May 31), and the Public Health Leadership Award (April 1–May 31). Other active programs include the Dental School Wellness Grant (open until funds are exhausted) and the Dr. Gale Kloeffler Award (April 1–May 31), while the Dental Materials & Supplies Grant has been paused for 2026.
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