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Smiles on Wheels

EIN 20-5964788 · Jackson, MI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE DENTAL SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED PEOPLE IN VARIOUS COUNTIES IN LOWER MICHIGAN AND OVERSEE TWO GRANT PROGRAMS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
14.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
40
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$116,374, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.8 million spent. WITH PUBLIC ACT 161 IN 2005, THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ALLOWED FOR DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO PRACTICE IN APPROVED PUBLIC DENTAL PROGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS UTILIZING A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT WITH A SUPERVISING DENTIST. SMILES ON WHEELS (SMILES) WAS FORMED IN 2006 TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. SMILES IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE PUBLICS TOTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY ORAL HEALTH CARE. SMILES RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES SEAL MICHIGAN DENTAL SEALANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DENTAL SEALANTS TO STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM INITIALLY COVERED STUDENTS IN JACKSON COUNTY. SERVICES ARE NOW PROVIDED TO SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN 14 COUNTIES IN LOWER MICHIGAN AND 11 COUNTIES IN THE UPPER PENINSULA. ALL CHILDREN WITH A POSITIVE PERMISSION SLIP RECEIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION. WHILE PROVIDING SEALANTS, SMILES SAW THE NEED FOR QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, AND AVAILABLE ORAL HEALTH CARE. SERVICES EXPANDED TO INCLUDE FLUORIDE TREATMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, ONSITE SERVICES TO ELDERLY MEN AND WOMEN IN ASSISTED LIVING OR GROUP HOMES, HOMELESS SHELTERS, AND OTHER HUMAN HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SMILES SUPPORTS. SMILES ALSO PROVIDES KINDERGARTEN ORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS (SIMILAR TO HEARING AND VISION SCREENINGS) TO STUDENTS UPON ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. THIS SERVICE IS TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS WITH UNMET DENTAL NEEDS AND PROVIDE REFERRALS FOR EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT TO HELP CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. WITH PUBLIC ACT 161 IN 2005, THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ALLOWED FOR DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO PRACTICE IN APPROVED PUBLIC DENTAL PROGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS UTILIZING A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT WITH A SUPERVISING DENTIST. SMILES ON WHEELS (SMILES) WAS FORMED IN 2006 TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. SMILES IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE PUBLICS TOTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY ORAL HEALTH CARE. SMILES RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES SEAL MICHIGAN DENTAL SEALANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DENTAL SEALANTS TO STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM INITIALLY COVERED STUDENTS IN JACKSON COUNTY. SERVICES ARE NOW PROVIDED TO SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN 14 COUNTIES IN LOWER MICHIGAN AND 11 COUNTIES IN THE UPPER PENINSULA. ALL CHILDREN WITH A POSITIVE PERMISSION SLIP RECEIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION. WHILE PROVIDING SEALANTS, SMILES SAW THE NEED FOR QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, AND AVAILABLE ORAL HEALTH CARE. SERVICES EXPANDED TO INCLUDE FLUORIDE TREATMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, ONSITE SERVICES TO ELDERLY MEN AND WOMEN IN ASSISTED LIVING OR GROUP HOMES, HOMELESS SHELTERS, AND OTHER HUMAN HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SMILES SUPPORTS. SMILES ALSO PROVIDES KINDERGARTEN ORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS (SIMILAR TO HEARING AND VISION SCREENINGS) TO STUDENTS UPON ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. THIS SERVICE IS TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS WITH UNMET DENTAL NEEDS AND PROVIDE REFERRALS FOR EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT TO HELP CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.