Rethink Your Drink Grant Program

Overview

Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation

Our home – the state of Iowa – has over 3 million people. And not all of them have the same access to good oral health care. The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation's mission is to strengthen and transform the health and smiles of all Iowans.

Foundation Funding

The Foundation will invest in activities that promote health and smiles for all Iowans through our core initiatives, oral health, oral and overall health integration and overall health through an equity lens.

* Oral Health Fund is where the majority of our funding will be concentrated, which will continue to support pioneering approaches to advance oral health care and the integration of oral health with overall health.

* Wellness Community Fund promotes and invests in innovative opportunities to improve wellness and vision through grassroots community health initiatives.

Both funds provide support to programs that align with the Foundation’s strategic areas of focus: education and advocacy, access and prevention, and policy and research.

Rethink Your Drink Grant Program

The Rethink Your Drink program aims to get more Iowans drinking water throughout the day to support their oral and overall health by providing water bottle filling stations in Iowa schools, libraries and outdoor public/community spaces.

Awarded locations will receive a water filling station unit provided in-kind by Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. \*All other services required for installation, such as personnel, contract services, construction permits, disposal of any pre-existing units, etc., as well as replacement filters, are the responsibility of the grant recipient.

Schools: Schools that are selected for the Rethink Your Drink program will receive a new indoor water fountain/bottle filling station.

Priority will be given to:

* Schools that have the highest rates of free and reduced price lunch and
* Schools that have one or fewer water bottle filling station installed in their building

Libraries: Iowa libraries serve as vital public health spaces by providing access to resources and information that empower and educate community members to take steps to improve their oral and overall health.

Priority will be given to:

* Libraries that do not have a water bottle filling station in their building have plans to incorporate public health education around drinking water vs. sugary sweetened beverages

Outdoor Stations: The Foundation is looking to provide outdoor water filling stations in Iowa communities along trails and in public parks. Priority will be given to community projects with:

* The greatest need and that demonstrate a critical access point for a variety of individuals (children, adults, older adults, underserved individuals.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

Ineligibility

* In general, the Foundation does not fund:
* Direct dental services
* Grants to individuals
* Projects that do not have a direct or indirect impact on health and smiles of Iowans
* Political campaigns and lobbying
* Religious purposes
* Sponsorships
* Ongoing or emergency food assistance requests
* Toothbrush donation requests without strong oral health education component