The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) announced that its philanthropic arm, formerly known as the Institute for Oral Health (IOH), will now operate under the name ADHA Foundation. The name change is effective immediately.
According to the association, the rebranding reinstates the organization’s original name, which it held from 1978 to 1986. The change is intended to clarify the foundation’s connection to ADHA while maintaining its mission to support the dental hygiene profession through scholarships, research, and community service grants.
“We are excited to return to our foundational identity as the ADHA Foundation,” said Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, BSDH, MS, FADHA, ADHA Foundation chair and ADHA immediate past president. “This name change makes our connection to ADHA much clearer while reinforcing our commitment to supporting dental hygienists at every stage of their careers. The foundation’s mission remains unchanged — we continue to empower the next generation of dental hygienists and advance our profession through meaningful financial support.”
According to the association, the name change is part of an effort to increase recognition of the foundation’s contributions to the profession. Over the past three years, the foundation has awarded more than $461,000 in scholarships and grants to 155 ADHA members.
“After years of fundraising for ADHA’s Institute for Oral Health, it amazes me how many ADHA members still don’t really understand what IOH is and does,” said LeeAnn Winkler, RDH, BSDH, FADHA, a regional liaison for the foundation. “Rebranding to the ADHA Foundation will help people better understand the organization’s impact through scholarships, research grants and community service projects, and increase donations and applications.”
The ADHA’s charitable funding entity was initially established in 1956 as the Educational Trust Fund. It was renamed the ADHA Foundation in 1978, and in 1986 the name was changed to the Institute for Oral Health to reflect a broader scope of support for research, education, and practice initiatives within the profession.
The current rebranding coincides with the start of ADHA’s new fiscal year and the rollout of new leadership and programming. All existing scholarship and grant program names will remain unchanged, except for the IOH General Research Grant, which will now be titled the ADHA Foundation General Research Grant.
According to the association, two new scholarships will be added for fall/winter 2025. The Sensodyne Better Everyday Health Scholarship will offer $2,500 to bachelor’s-level students focused on everyday oral health promotion. The Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Scholarship will award $1,000 to master’s-level students who demonstrate commitment to improving children’s oral health through community service.
The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the ADHA umbrella. It supports students, professionals, and oral health initiatives nationwide and retains its tax-exempt status through the name transition.
The foundation’s website is now located at adha.org/foundation, replacing the previous URL. The organization’s email address has also changed to foundation@adha.net. Updated branding materials, including logos and promotional resources, are being provided to state liaisons and affiliated stakeholders.
The foundation continues to accept donations and maintains donor recognition programs. These include the Donor Honor Roll at the ADHA Annual Conference and events recognizing major supporters.
