The Smile Train Uk

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity: 1114748
• Annual Expenditure: £10.4-11.8 million (FY 2023-2024)
• Grant Contribution per Surgery: £200-320 (approx. $250-$400)
• Decision Time: Rolling applications with quality assurance review
• Geographic Focus: 90+ countries globally (low- and middle-income countries)
• Number of Partners: 1,100+ partner hospitals, 2,100+ partner surgeons
• Treatment Model: Sustainable, local partnership model

Contact Details

Main Office:

• Address: York House, Wetherby Road, York YO26 7NH
• Phone: +44 (0)300 124 5205
• Email (General): ukinfo@smiletrain.org
• Email (Partnership Applications): partner@smiletrain.org
• Website: www.smiletrain.org.uk

UK Director: Jason Shauness (jshauness@smiletrain.org)

Overview

The Smile Train UK (registered 2005) is the UK fundraising arm of Smile Train Inc., the world's largest cleft-focused organization. Over 25 years, Smile Train has supported over 2 million safe cleft surgeries across 90+ countries. With annual UK expenditure of £10-12 million, the charity operates a unique sustainable model by training and funding local medical professionals to provide cleft treatment in their own communities, rather than relying on short-term medical missions.

The organization's strategic approach emphasizes empowering local healthcare systems, ensuring patients can access comprehensive cleft care 365 days a year. Under President & CEO Susannah Schaefer's leadership since 2013, Smile Train has expanded to partner with 1,100+ hospitals and 2,100+ surgeons worldwide. In FY2023 alone, they transformed the lives of 105,000+ children through free, high-quality, comprehensive cleft care, while launching 57 new surgical centers across 26 countries including Algeria, Barbados, North Macedonia, and Oman.

The charity uses proprietary technology including the Smile Train Express database (the world's largest cleft-centered patient registry with over 1 million clinical records) and a free 3D virtual surgery simulator to maintain quality standards and democratize access to advanced training globally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Smile Train offers eight distinct grant categories to medical partners, all delivered on a rolling application basis:

1. Surgical Treatment Partnerships - Core funding for cleft lip and palate surgeries (average contribution £200-320 per surgery depending on country)

1. Education and Training Grants - Funding ensures medical professionals in developing countries access quality educational opportunities including simulator training, fellowships, and specialized courses

1. Equipment and Supplies Grants - Resources ranging from basic cleft surgical sets to pulse oximeters and medical transport vans that expand patient reach

1. Patient Logistics Grants (Smile Grants) - Financial assistance for poorest patients covering transportation to hospital, food and shelter during treatment stays

1. Comprehensive Treatment Grants - Support for follow-up care including speech therapy, nutritional support, dental and orthodontic care

1. Outreach Grants - Support for mission groups in areas lacking qualified surgeons, with mandatory skills transfer requirements

1. Awareness Grants - Funding for public education campaigns about clefts and available surgical programs to reduce stigma

1. US/UK Cleft Team Grants - Domestic initiatives addressing underserved cleft patients through comprehensive care or travel support within UK/US

Priority Areas

Medical Partner Criteria:

• Hospitals and medical centers in low- and middle-income countries with high cleft incidence
• Surgeons certified in maxillofacial or plastic surgery (or trained in cleft surgery)
• Facilities committed to providing free treatment for patients who cannot afford care
• Teams willing to participate in Smile Train Express database and quality monitoring
• Organizations committed to comprehensive care model beyond surgery

Focus Countries (Among 90+):

The UK charity's expenditure supports global programs across Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Burma, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Jordan, Laos, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Recent Expansion Example:

In June 2025, Smile Train fully funded a $2 million cleft center at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana—Africa's largest cleft care center. The nearly 30,000 square foot facility can support up to 500 surgery patients and 350 comprehensive care patients annually.

What They Don't Fund

Patient Exclusions:

• Children under 3 months old (lip repair) or under 6 months (palate repair)
• Patients weighing less than 5kg
• Patients with active fever, upper respiratory infections, severe anemia
• Patients with certain associated congenital anomalies requiring specialist assessment
• Families who can afford treatment through private means
• Treatment where government or insurance programs can provide funding

Program Exclusions:

• Organizations not committed to providing free care for patients in need
• Mission-based programs without local capacity building/skills transfer
• Hospitals unwilling to participate in quality assurance monitoring
• Programs focusing on conditions other than cleft lip and palate

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• Michael Andrew Williams (Chair, appointed 2022) - Solicitor
• Roy Evan Reichbach (appointed 2014) - Attorney
• Sarah Dransfield (appointed 2018) - Director
• Susannah Schaefer (appointed 2013) - President & CEO of Smile Train globally and Trustee of Smile Train UK
• Tatiana Poliakova (appointed 2017) - Managing Director

Governance Assessment:

The charity received a governance score of 9/10, with positive ratings for good trustee age range, dynamic board composition, and gender-balanced board. The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association (last amended 2012), with trustees appointed by resolution of the sole member for renewable three-year terms.

Key Leadership Quotes:

Susannah Schaefer on strategic priorities: "Our plan is worldwide growth. We're looking to add staff in the UK as well as our international and New York operations.“ She has outlined key goals including ”Improving patient outcomes through our unique, sustainable model - Setting the standard for cleft surgery - Treating the whole child for as long as it takes through comprehensive cleft care - Becoming a global voice for the cleft community."

On technology and innovation: “Since our founding 25 years ago, we have been committed to delivering life-changing cleft care to children around the world,” emphasizing that "there's so much opportunity ahead with technology" in democratizing cleft care.

How to Apply to The Smile Train Uk

How to Apply

Initial Partnership Inquiry:

Interested medical professionals and hospitals should contact: partner@smiletrain.org

Pre-Partnership Requirements:

1. Treatment Partnership Application - Hospitals must complete comprehensive application detailing facility capabilities, surgical team credentials, and patient demographics

• Assessment of surgical facilities and equipment
• Review of anesthesia capabilities and safety protocols
• Evaluation of nursing care standards
• Verification of comprehensive care capacity

• Certified in maxillofacial or plastic surgery in their country, OR
• Trained in cleft surgery with demonstrated proficiency
• Able to demonstrate adequate volume through patient lists and surgical schedules

1. Smile Train Express Registration - Partners must register in Smile Train Express, the secure global proprietary patient record database, and commit to uploading all cleft cases with before/after photographs

Probationary Quality Assurance Period:

New partner surgeons enter a probationary period during which the Smile Train Medical Advisory Board evaluates:

• First 10 lip repair cases
• First 5 palate repair cases
• Cases are graded blindly (grader doesn't know surgeon identity or country)
• Upon satisfactory completion, approximately 5% of subsequent cases are reviewed annually

Identification Process:

Smile Train identifies potential partners through existing partner recommendations and locally-based Smile Train staff. Hospitals also proactively seek out Smile Train partnership.

Decision Timeline

• Application Review: Rolling basis (no fixed deadlines)
• Initial Assessment: Varies depending on completeness of application and facility audit scheduling
• Probationary Period: Duration of first 10 lip repairs and 5 palate repairs (typically several months)
• Ongoing Quality Review: Continuous monitoring through Smile Train Express database with periodic case reviews

Note: Smile Train operates on a partnership model rather than project-by-project grant applications. Once partnerships are established, funding for surgeries and additional grant categories (equipment, training, etc.) flows based on demonstrated need and quality outcomes.

Application Success Factors

Critical Success Factors for Partnership:

1. Commitment to Free Care Model - Absolute requirement to provide treatment at no cost to families who cannot afford care. Smile Train will not sponsor treatment for families who can afford private care.

• Clear patient pre-screening guidelines
• Appropriate anesthesia equipment and trained staff
• Infection control protocols
• Post-operative care capabilities

1. Technology Adoption - Willingness to adopt Smile Train Express database for patient record management, quality monitoring, and outcome tracking. This is non-negotiable.

• Nutritional support for underweight patients
• Speech therapy
• Dental and orthodontic care
• Psychosocial support
• Long-term follow-up

1. Local Sustainability Focus - Smile Train seeks partners who will provide care year-round within patients' own communities, rather than depending on visiting medical missions. As Schaefer emphasizes: “The traditional mission model of flying doctors in for short-term treatment programs is NOT cost effective or sustainable.”

1. Skills Transfer Commitment - For outreach grant applications, mandatory requirement to transfer skills to local medical professionals rather than simply providing services.

1. Volume and Capacity - Demonstrated ability to perform adequate surgical volume. Partners must show patient lists and surgical schedules indicating consistent cleft treatment capacity.

1. Transparency and Accountability - Willingness to participate in ongoing quality monitoring, including photographic documentation of cases and blind grading by external reviewers.

Common Partnership Strengths:

• Established surgical teams with dedicated cleft focus
• Facilities in regions with high cleft incidence and limited resources
• Track record of serving low-income populations
• Integration with broader comprehensive care teams (speech therapists, nutritionists, dentists)
• Commitment to continuous quality improvement
• Engagement with local communities for patient identification

Strategic Insights from Global Operations:

Smile Train's model has proven that empowering local professionals is more effective than mission-based care. Their cost-per-surgery ($250-$400) is significantly lower than traditional mission model costs ($1,000-$2,000), while providing year-round access. The organization's quality assurance data shows that local surgeons, once trained and supported, achieve excellent outcomes comparable to or exceeding mission-based results.

Recent expansion prioritizes:

• Countries with highest cleft incidence rates
• Regions with limited existing cleft care infrastructure
• Partners capable of comprehensive care delivery
• Facilities willing to adopt technological innovations (simulators, digital records)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

For UK Organizations Seeking Funding:

• Smile Train UK primarily fundraises for the global Smile Train program rather than making independent grants to UK organizations. UK/US Cleft Team Grants exist but represent a small proportion of activity.
• Most grant-making flows to low- and middle-income countries where cleft treatment infrastructure is limited.

For International Medical Partners:

• Partnership over Projects: Smile Train seeks long-term partnerships, not one-off project funding. This is a sustainable relationship model.
• Quality is Non-Negotiable: Be prepared for rigorous quality monitoring through the Smile Train Express database and periodic case reviews. The probationary period scrutinizes your first 15 cases closely.
• Free Care Commitment Essential: You must demonstrate commitment to providing care at no cost to families who cannot afford it. Cost-sharing with patients who can pay is acceptable.
• Technology Readiness: Ensure your facility can support Smile Train Express database integration, including before/after photography and digital record-keeping.
• Think Comprehensive: Surgical applications strengthened by demonstrating capacity for speech therapy, nutrition support, orthodontics, and long-term follow-up.
• Cost-Sharing Model: Understand that Smile Train's £200-320 contribution per surgery is designed to supplement, not replace, your facility's existing resources. Partners share costs.
• Training Opportunities: Beyond surgical funding, proactively explore Education and Training Grants to strengthen your team's capabilities through simulator training, fellowships, or specialized courses like the Nursing Care Saves Lives curriculum.

Application Strategy:

• Contact partner@smiletrain.org early to discuss your facility's readiness and learn about specific partnership requirements
• Document your facility's track record serving low-income populations
• Prepare comprehensive information about your surgical team's credentials and experience
• Be ready to demonstrate how you'll sustain cleft care long-term beyond initial Smile Train support
• Research Smile Train's Safety and Quality Protocols before applying to understand expectations
• Consider starting with surgical partnership and adding equipment/training grants as relationship develops

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Impact Foundation
• The Global Fund For Children Uk Trust
• Links International
• Christadelphian Meal A Day Fund
• H C D Memorial Fund
• The Randal Charitable Foundation
• The True Colours Trust
• The Grassroots Trust
• The Borrow Foundation
• Ubs Optimus Foundation Uk

References

1. The Smile Train UK Charity Commission Profile (Charity No. 1114748) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4024110 -

1. Smile Train UK Medical Professionals Grants Page - https://smiletrain.org.uk/medical/grants-and-programs -

1. Smile Train Global Grant Application Information - https://www.smiletrain.org/medical-professionals/grants -

1. Smile Train's Sustainable Model Overview - https://www.smiletrain.org.uk/our-model -

1. Smile Train Partners Program - https://www.smiletrain.org/medical-professionals/partners -

1. “Smile Train: Making the Grade in Global Cleft Care” - Published in PMC - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5790544/ -

1. Smile Train 2023 Annual Report - https://annualreport.smiletrain.org/ -

1. Smile Train Training Programs - https://www.smiletrain.org/medical-professionals/training-programs -

1. “Susannah Schaefer of Smile Train: Why I Want To Continue Raising Awareness Of Cleft Palate And Craniofacial Conditions” - Authority Magazine interview - https://medium.com/authority-magazine/susannah-schaefer-of-smile-train-why-i-want-to-continue-raising-awareness-of-cleft-palate-and-14ced4d03854 -

1. Interview with Susannah Schaefer - Third Sector - https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/interview-susannah-schaefer/finance/article/1286580 -

1. Smile Train launches Africa's Largest Cleft Center in Ghana - PR Newswire (2025) - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smile-train-launches-africas-largest-cleft-center-in-ghana-302501083.html -

1. Smile Train UK Contact Information - https://www.smiletrain.org.uk/contact-us -

1. Smile Train Safety and Quality Protocol - https://www.smiletrain.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/safety-quality-protocol-english.pdf -

1. Charity Commission Financial History for The Smile Train UK - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4024110/financial-history -