Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The William J. Spence ICD Memorial Foundation (ICD)

The William J. Spence ICD Memorial Foundation is the charitable arm associated with the International College of Dentists – Canadian Section. It exists to channel donations from fellows, partners and the public into financial support for humanitarian and educational dental projects. Rather than delivering all activities directly, the foundation uses its resources to back initiatives that expand access to oral health care, promote dental education and improve community well-being in Canada and internationally.

According to the Donation page, contributions to the foundation are pooled and then allocated to selected service, outreach or training activities that align with the ICD’s values of integrity, leadership and service. Typical beneficiaries may include volunteer dental missions, community clinics, student or continuing education projects, and other oral health programs with a clear public benefit. This makes the foundation a grant-making body within the dental sector.

The foundation focuses on projects that support underserved or vulnerable populations by improving access to dental care and oral health information. It also pays particular attention to educational initiatives that strengthen the skills and capacity of dentists, students and allied oral health professionals. While individual program names, deadlines or grant sizes are not detailed on the Donation page, the emphasis on both humanitarian service and education suggests a portfolio of small to medium-sized project grants.

As a memorial foundation linked to a professional organization, the William J. Spence ICD Memorial Foundation typically operates within the governance structures of ICD Canada. The Donation page stresses that funds are used to support designated humanitarian and educational purposes, providing donors and applicants confidence that resources are directed toward mission-aligned projects. Reporting is generally oriented toward demonstrating impact in oral health outcomes and professional development.

Through its association with the International College of Dentists, the foundation can leverage a network of dental professionals across Canada and abroad. This network helps identify promising projects, volunteer efforts and collaborative programs that can benefit from financial support. In this way the William J. Spence ICD Memorial Foundation functions as a specialized funder within the broader health and charitable landscape, focusing on oral health and dental education.