HealthConnect Innovation Grants

The HealthConnect Innovation Grants, provided by the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, aim to address social determinants of health and create opportunities for vulnerable children and youth in central Iowa. By targeting disparities in health outcomes influenced by economic and environmental factors, these grants support initiatives that foster community well-being. Eligible organizations include nonprofit entities exempt from federal tax. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly, encouraging innovative solutions to improve health equity.

Note: Mid-Iowa Health Foundation is interested in hearing your ideas for addressing our HealthConnect priority. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the priority and to contact staff to discuss your ideas. Staff will provide guidance to help you decide if your ideas are a good match with our HealthConnect priority and if completing an application is advisable. Applications may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed quarterly.
HealthConnect: create opportunities and reduce social barriers to ensure healthy
What Drives Health Outcomes
Various populations experience significant disparities across health outcomes. This means that factors outside of individual choice influence someone’s well-being.
SOCIAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH – also known as the social determinants of health – Social, economic, and environmental policies, systems, and structures that impact a person’s health and well-being. These drivers of health determine how long and how well people live.
Examples of the social determinants of health include:
Housing quality and stabilityFood quality and securityFamily & community connections Quality educationNeighborhood safetyPhysical and mental health careQuality and stable employment
Economic health and well-being is the foundation driving all other health outcomes.
Throughout history, these systems have been created to advantage some and disadvantage others.
As a result, there are communities that have historically, and continue to, lack resources and opportunities to achieve strong economic health and well-being. The inability to live healthy lives has multi-generational impacts, causing regional challenges that are costly to address.
How We Respond
Mid-Iowa Health Foundation maximizes its philanthropic approach to address the social drivers of health in the following ways:
Investing in initiatives that seek measurable improvements in health outcomes through programs and policies impacting central Iowans.Collaborating across sectors on issues that support greater economic stability among underresourced central Iowa populations.Influencing the local philanthropic landscape, including the types of initiatives funders collaborate on, to focus their contributions on root cause issues.

Eligibility

Nonprofit charitable organizations that are exempt from federal taxes under section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Revenue Code can apply for grant.

Ineligibility

Scholarships; Conference registration fees;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.