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Dientes Community Dental Care

EIN 77-0311752 · Santa Cruz, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE LASTING ORAL HEALTH FOR THE LOW-INCOME CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND SENIORS OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES SO THAT EVERYONE HAS THE DIGNITY THAT COMES FROM A HEALTHY SMILE.

Income
$17.3 million
Spending
$16.4 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
165
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$309,658, exec vp of ops

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 17 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $13.2 million spent. DIENTES PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL CARE FOR 61,345 VISITS TO 17,041 PATIENTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, ADULTS AND SENIORS. THEY SERVE MEDI-CAL RECIPIENTS AND OFFER SLIDING SCALE FEES FOR THOSE WIHTOUT INSURANCE. 97% OF THEIR PATIENTS ARE AT OR BELOW FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. THEY PROVIDE DENTAL EDUCATION AND AFFORDABLE TREATMENT TO IMPROVE ORAL HEALTH.
  2. $434,503 spent. OUR MOBILE OUTREACH PROGRAM ADDRESSES TRANSPORTATION ISSUES FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY RESIDENTS AT MANY VENUES INCLUDING SCHOOLS, SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, SENIOR CENTERS, DIABETES HEALTH CENTER, REHABILITATION CENTERS, AND SHELTERS INCLUDING OUR 1-CHAIR CLINIC AT HOUSING MATTERS. OUR PARTNERSHIPS BRING HIGH-QUALITY DENTAL CARE TO THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO RECEIVE CARE. WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES AT OUR OUTREACH SITES INCLUDING PREVENTATIVE CARE, RESTORATIVE CARE, ORAL SURGERY AND REMOVABLE PROTHODONTICS. IN ADDITION, OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM BRINGS ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION TO RESIDENTS OF OUR COUNTY VIA PRESENTATIONS AND TABLING AT LOCAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE DIABETES FAIR, SCHOOL EVENTS AND MANY MORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.