Mission & Guiding Principles

We are committed to strengthening our community’s health.

Since Mid-Iowa Health Foundation’s formation in 1984, local leaders have carried on the tradition of Northwest Community Hospital, which supported the health of our community for 25 years. Endowed by proceeds from the sale of the hospital, the Foundation commits resources to improving the health of Greater Des Moines now and in the future.

Our Vision

Greater Des Moines is a healthy community.

Our Mission

To serve as a catalyst and partner for improving the health of children and families in Greater Des Moines.

Guiding Principles

Our actions are guided by these principles:

  • We believe good health is a balance of physical, social, and emotional states.
  • We understand social, economic, policy, environmental, and cultural factors shape health outcomes. We commit to more deeply understanding and responding to the system-driven conditions that result in health inequities.
  • We believe the Foundation’s governance, priorities, and actions should be informed by the voices of the people our mission strives to serve. We commit to bringing diverse partners together and to respect all voices as we work together to address complex challenges.
  • We believe in working alongside and building trusting relationships with grantees, partners, community members, and topic experts to inform how we respond and adjust to community needs.
  • We believe in focusing the resources of the Foundation toward those members of our community who are most underserved and are currently or historically marginalized.
  • We believe it is our responsibility to maximize Foundation impact through continuous learning with local, regional, and national partners. Through this learning we will strive to be nimble and responsive to our community and grantees, ensuring optimal Foundation operational, relational, and governance practices.
  • We believe the resources of the Foundation are a public trust to be managed, invested, and used responsibly according to the Foundation’s mission.
  • We are dedicated to serving as a grant-making foundation with complementary roles in convening, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration to fully advance our mission.
  • We commit to operating the Foundation in perpetuity, with the understanding that an opportunity to make significant, long-term impact may warrant investment above that which is required.
Des Moines University

Our Approach to Realizing Our Mission

We value working alongside our grantees to respond to emerging needs, share key learnings, celebrate successes, and inform future investments that intentionally create long-lasting change. To give all children a chance to live a healthy life, we must work with our community to end racism, foster new opportunities that are driven by the needs of those most impacted, and bring diverse partners together to address complex challenges for health.

How We Work

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