Mid-Iowa Health Foundation

Address: 3900 Ingersoll Avenue, Suite 104, Des Moines, IA 50312
Phone: 515.277.6411
Web: www.midiowahealth.org
Email: admin@midiowahealth.org

In 1984, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation (MIHF) was founded through the sale of Northwest Community Hospital, serving central Iowa residents, including the state’s most populated area. The organization has sought to address upstream factors of health. In 2017, the board made an explicit commitment to addressing social determinants of health, using a health equity lens, and investing in systems change initiatives.

MIHF serves as a catalyst and partner for improving the health of central Iowans through strengthening community well-being. It believes that a community thrives when everyone has the opportunity for good health. The foundation understands that economic health and well-being is the driving factor for all other health outcomes; therefore, it is critical to support initiatives addressing the economic stability of individuals and families in the community.

Mid-Iowa Health Foundation serves the central Iowa area, including the community health needs assessment counties of Dallas, Polk, and Warren counties. Its service area encompasses a diverse demographic population, including rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan geographies, as well as the state’s most populous region, including the state capital of Des Moines, Iowa.

Program Information:

Mid-Iowa Health Foundation supports data-driven and community-informed initiatives that improve the lives of health disparate populations, support thriving communities, and positively impact community health.

Financial Information:

Total Assets: $16.8 million (FY22)
Amount Dedicated to Health-Related Grants: $891,000 (FY22)

Special Initiatives and/or Representative Health and Human Services Grants

UpLift – The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot—Convening funder of an 11-member Funder Group supporting a basic income pilot study to examine the effectiveness of basic income as a potential poverty-reduction strategy. (Over $2.5 million multi-funder investment)

HealthConnect Fellowship—Supporting three cohorts of nonprofit and local government fellows in their advocacy efforts to address the social determinants of health for central Iowa children and families. ($700,000)

uVoice – Youth Philanthropy Board—For 10 years, supporting a youth philanthropy board that identifies community health concerns affecting youth and administers an annual grantmaking process to address identified needs. ($280,000)

IDPH Doula Project for African American/Black Families—Advancing the culturally congruent, community-based doula project in the state’s Title V clinics to reduce maternal health disparities. ($105,000)

Iowa ACEs 360—Supporting efforts to improve how local health and social service systems respond to childhood trauma through implementing healing-centered engagement strategies. ($105,000)