At Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, we know that periodic self-assessment is essential for growth and improvement. Taking time to reflect on our work allows us to adapt to changing needs, deepen our impact, and stay true to our mission. With this in mind, we recently undertook a strategic planning process to ensure our resources and efforts are aligned with the greatest opportunities to drive meaningful change in advancing oral health equity.
Our updated theory of change, shown at the top of the page, is our North Star over the next five years and defines our goals, our communities of focus, and what methods and levers we’ll use. All the elements come together to support our mission of improving the well-being of all Coloradans by improving oral health equity.
Our 2025-2029 strategic plan will be focused on the following initiatives and goals:
- Proactivity: Anticipate and address oral health needs and opportunities
- Prevention: Maintain and improve oral and overall health
- Access: Ensure oral health is accessible and available to all by engaging providers and stakeholders
As a result of this process, our foundation is shifting its funding priorities to better reflect our refined strategic goals. We recognize the importance of supporting our existing grantees during this period of change and are offering transition grants to select partners. Transition grants are a way for us to honor the valuable work our grantees have accomplished and offer stability, enabling grantees to explore new funding sources or adjust their programs as needed. We believe this support is critical in ensuring continuity and empowering organizations to sustain their impact.
Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to announce a new grant opportunity set to launch in the fall of 2025. We will also continue to offer Mission-Related Investments (MRIs), expanding our financial support by offering low-interest capital loans to further meet the needs of organizations working to further oral health care access.
Our Process
This journey involved several key steps, all centered on listening, learning, and collaborating. We began by doing three rounds of listening tours, where we engaged directly with a range of voices — including team members, grantees, partners, board members, and community stakeholders. This process helped us gather insights, experiences, and feedback to better understand the strengths of our current work and the opportunities for growth. Listening to those who are closest to the challenges and solutions was crucial in shaping a path forward that is responsive, inclusive, and impactful.
Next, we partnered with a consultant to help us organize and structure our approach. Together, we clarified our mission, assessed our current strategies, and identified areas where we could refine our focus to maximize effectiveness.
Finally, we collaborated with our strategic partner, the Colorado Health Institute (CHI), an organization that specializes in health data and research with a focus on equity. Their expertise ensured that our decisions were informed by robust data and that we maintained a mindful approach to health disparities. This partnership allowed us to critically examine where and how we can best drive meaningful change and promote oral health equity.
Looking to the future
Our refined strategic direction is a renewed commitment to advancing oral health equity for all Coloradans. These changes will allow us to work more effectively, partner more deeply, and respond more proactively to the needs of our communities.
We are so grateful our community partners—grantees, fellow foundations, oral health care providers, and advocates. Your passion, dedication, and innovative spirit are the heartbeat of our collective work—inspiring us every step of the way. Thank you for your commitment on our journey to creating healthier smiles.
As we step into this next chapter, we’re excited to join forces in new ways to promote oral health equity and improve the well-being of all Coloradans. Together, with our community partners, we can turn these strategic goals into tangible progress and build a future that expands access to oral health care for all Coloradans.