Rethink Your Drink: Water's Cool at School
Funding Amount
Up to $200,000 total program funding
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- One-time opportunity
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Michigan schools (Pre-K through grade 12)
- School classrooms
Overview
Geographic Scope: Michigan schools
Program Status: Not currently accepting applications (last deadline passed; awaiting next grant cycle)
Overview:
The Delta Dental Foundation partnered with MESSA to promote access to drinking water in schools as a healthy alternative to sugary beverages. The program committed $200,000 total to replace existing drinking fountains at selected Michigan schools with new Elkay water fountain/bottle filling stations.
Program Goals
- Encourage students to drink more water during the school day
- Combat obesity and improve student health
- Increase energy levels and cognitive function
- Prevent cavities through fluoridated water consumption
Award Components
Schools could receive:
- One or more brand new Elkay water fountain/bottle filling stations (including installation)
- Water bottles for all students and staff
- Professional installation by Balfrey & Johnston, Inc. (Oak Park, MI)
Eligibility
- Michigan schools (Pre-K through grade 12)
- School classrooms
Notable Past Recipients (2018-2019)
Over 100 Michigan schools received funding, including:
- Alcona Elementary, Middle and High Schools
- Lincoln Andrews Elementary School
- Aspen Ridge Middle School (Ishpeming)
- Athens High School (Troy)
- And 100+ additional schools across Michigan
Contact Information
- Website: https://www.deltadentalmi.com/giving-back/Grants/Rethink-Your-Drink
- Reference materials available on CDC and water promotion resources
What Delta Dental Plan of Michigan Inc actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 60
- Total given
- $3.96M
- Median grant
- $25K
- Range
- $5,500–$1.5M
- By dollars: Michigan 91%, Ohio 5%, Indiana 1%. Top recipient cities: Lansing, MI; Detroit, MI; East Lansing, MI.
- 50% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Delta Dental Foundation · Okemos, MI
$1.5M
Life Remodeled · Detroit, MI
$500K
Michigan Humane Society · Bingham Farms, MI
$200K
United Way of Northwest Michigan · Traverse City, MI
$200K
Road to Michigans Future · Lansing, MI
$100K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- K-12 schools
- Nutrition
- Health education
- Obesity prevention
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