How may we apply for a grant?

As a nonprofit organization, you may apply for a Community Response grant through the competitive application process. The Foundation's Health Initiatives granting is by invitation only.

What are your application deadlines?

Community Response applications, addressing the Greater Des Moines Health Safety Net System priority, will be reviewed annually in the fall. Community Response applications are due by noon on October 1; if the 1st falls on a weekend, proposals are due by noon on the preceding Friday.

What is the average dollar amount for a Community Response grant?

Community Response grants average $10,000 to $30,000. The Foundation may consider partially funding a proposal, if acceptable to the grantee.

What are your Community Response
grant restrictions?

The Mid-Iowa Health Foundation does not
consider proposals for:

Individuals
Scholarships
Scientific and medical research
Computer equipment
Conferences
Programs that promote religious activities
General operations or special camps of
disease- or condition-specific organizations
Capital campaigns
Endowment campaigns
Debt reduction
Fund raising events
Subsidized units of service

Mid-Iowa Health Foundation's areas
of focus for grantmaking are:

Mid-Iowa Health Foundation awards grants to organizations working towards improving the health of people in greater Des Moines, Iowa. The Foundation is interested in work that affects specific health results and aligns with community-identified priorities.

The Foundation provides funding
through two grant programs:

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

With this traditional, competitive grant program the Foundation learns from nonprofit organizations about the important work needed to improve health in greater Des Moines, Iowa. The Foundation staff and Grant Committee review applications annually and make recommendations for board consideration and funding decisions.

Focus: Greater Des Moines
Health Safety Net System

The health care safety net provides appropriate, timely and affordable health services to people who experience barriers to accessing services from other providers due to financial, cultural, linguistic, or other issues. These core safety net providers offer care to patients in Greater Des Moines, Iowa regardless of their ability to pay for services, and primarily serve vulnerable, low-income patients who are uninsured, publicly insured or underinsured.

Mid-Iowa Health Foundation will consider proposals from core safety net providers for:

Preventive and primary safety net health services, including behavioral and oral health.
Critical elements of the safety net system such as coordinated outreach, system navigation, and culturally competent services
Preparing for changes that will come with the ACA, while continuing to meet increased demands on a system that is already experiencing capacity, financial and workforce stressors.

HEALTH INITIATIVES

Established in 1999, the Foundation began the Health Initiatives Grant Program to commit a significant portion of available grant funds to major health projects. The Foundation establishes a focus on specific health issues, identifies defined projects and community partnerships, and invites proposals to address the area of focus. While unsolicited applications are not accepted for this program, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation is interested in learning about your organization’s ideas for addressing Children’s Healthy Development in greater Des Moines. Please feel free to contact staff to discuss.

Focus: Children’s Healthy Development

Childhood is a time of complex physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. Barriers to healthy development that are addressed as early as possible can potentially prevent or reduce health problems later in life. MIHF will employ multiple strategies to help our children – prenatal through high school – have stable relationships, safe environments and access to high quality health services in order to be healthy and grow into healthy adults. Strategies that use multi-dimensional approaches; build resiliency and minimize risk factors; and take into account the role of social determinants in health are preferred.