Grants and Awards

Funded primarily by annual gifts from CSPD members and corporate sponsors, the CSPD Foundation supports programs through grants that enhance pediatric dentistry education at all levels. Since its inception, the Foundation has invested more than $1.5 million in this effort.

In addition to the grant programs below, the CSPD Foundation proudly supports the Warren Brandli Internship Program, the Santos Cortez Legislative Advocacy Internship Program, continuing education programs at the CSPD/WSPD Annual Meeting, pediatric dentistry student interest groups at California dental schools, and lunch-and-learn sessions for pediatric dentistry residents statewide.

Grant Availability & Application Process

Scroll down to review available grants and click the Apply button for each program.

Once the application is completed, email it to beckily99@gmail.com.

Grant Opportunities

Research Grants

1. Maximum award: $10,000 (one per year, per person).
2. Eligible applicants: resident/graduate student, recent graduate (within 2 years), or educator (0.5 FTE or more).
3. Applications accepted year-round; reviewed quarterly.
4. Awards announced and funded upon approval.
5. Application must include project goals, details, and a completed budget.
6. Application must be co-signed by the department chair or program director. A faculty advisor must be listed. The co-signer and advisor must be CSPD members.
7. A report is due to the Foundation upon project completion or within two years, whichever occurs first.
8. The Foundation must be acknowledged in all resulting presentations and publications.

Apply (PDF)

Program Enhancement Grant (PEG)

PEG supports proposals that enhance pediatric dentistry training programs. The Foundation favors proposals offering new solutions to existing problems.

Examples:

• Strategic planning retreat for all faculty
• Transportation fund to improve patient appointment compliance
• Perks acknowledging volunteer and part-time faculty (e.g., parking, lunch meetings)

Applications (up to $8,000) are accepted at any time; proposals are considered and awards are announced quarterly.

Apply (PDF)

CSPD Foundation Continuing Education (CE) Grant

1. Introduction
   The CSPD Foundation sponsors an educational grant to support speaker honoraria for continuing education (CE) programs, enabling high-quality CE opportunities for practicing California pediatric dentists.
2. Purpose
   • Enhance the availability, quality, and diversity of CE opportunities for pediatric dentists in California.
   • Encourage practice with current, research-based, and safe innovations in the specialty.
   • Promote academic and professional growth through conferences, workshops, seminars, and other educational events.
3. Availability
   Available to California non-profit organizations offering CE units related to pediatric dentistry and certified by a provider recognized by the Dental Board of California.

Examples:

• Local California study clubs
• Alumni organizations of California dental residency programs
• Professional organizations (e.g., the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry)
• Hospitals offering CE units to residents, doctors, and staff on pediatric dentistry topics

Not eligible: CE on business administration, financial development, or topics not specific to pediatric dentistry; general support for a study club’s ongoing existence. Residency programs should apply to research grants, PEG, or the Steven Niethamer CSPD Foundation Educational Grant for Scholarly Activities.

1. Grant Amounts
   Award amounts vary by activity scope and available funds. Considerations include:
   • Topic alignment with the CE Grant purpose
   • Delivery format (online, live, hands-on, etc.)
   • Number of CE units
   • Expected attendance
   • Speaker honorarium
   • Program budget and number of applications
   Typical awards range from $500 to $5,000; exceptional proposals may be considered for larger events.
2. Application & Selection
   Submit the CSPD Foundation CE Grant application with required documents. Applications are accepted year-round and are reviewed quarterly by the CSPD Foundation Board of Directors for alignment and quality.
3. Reporting & Accountability
   • Use funds strictly for the approved CE activity/topic.
   • Submit a post-event report documenting fund use and outcomes.
   • Acknowledge the CSPD Foundation CE Grant in related publications or presentations.
4. Contact
   Email: click here to email

Apply (PDF)

Steven Niethamer Faculty Enhancement Grant

1. Introduction
   This educational grant supports scholarly activities by junior faculty engaged in academic and research pursuits that enhance pediatric dentistry education, foster innovation, and contribute to academic excellence.
2. Purpose
   • Support research and projects that advance the specialty.
   • Enable junior faculty to pursue scholarly activities not otherwise financially feasible.
   • Promote growth through conferences, workshops, seminars, and related educational events.
3. Availability
   • Pediatric Dentistry Junior Faculty (0.5–1.0 FTE) in California
   • Active members of the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry
4. Grant Amounts
   Typical awards range from $1,000 to $5,000; amounts vary by activity scope and available funds. Considerations include academic merit, impact, demand, and program budget.
5. Application & Selection
   Submit the Steven Niethamer CSPD Foundation Educational Grant for Scholarly Activities application and required documents by the stated deadline. The CSPD Foundation Board of Directors evaluates academic achievement, relevance, significance, and feasibility of the proposal and supporting materials. Final decisions are communicated by email.
6. Reporting & Accountability
   • Use funds strictly for the approved purposes.
   • Submit a completion report detailing use of funds and outcomes.
   • Acknowledge the grant in resulting publications or presentations.

   Failure to comply may result in forfeiture and/or repayment of funds.

7. Contact
   Email: click here to email

Download Application (PDF)