The awards are supporting mental and physical health projects including maternal nutrition, diabetes management, a youth-focused research program and more.
MOLINE, Ill. — Six area nonprofits will receive more than $1 million in funding from the Better Health Foundation as part of its 2025 Innovation Grant program.
The awards are intended to support creative, collaborative approaches to some of the region’s most pressing health challenges, including mental and behavioral health, maternal and child health, and the prevention of obesity and diabetes.
Since its founding in 2023, the foundation has awarded more than $3.9 million to organizations in the bi-state region of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.
“Funds to innovate are not always available to nonprofit organizations through their normal operations,” said Dr. William Langley, president of the Better Health Foundation Board of Directors in a press release. “Yet, the ability to innovate is key to serving more people in need and to delivering measurable, sustained results.”
Grants awarded this year range from $115,000 to $200,000:
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Community Health Care, Inc. will receive $200,000 to expand maternal nutrition services using telehealth and digital tools. The initiative aims to reduce complications from gestational diabetes, obesity and postpartum depression by improving access for high-risk mothers.
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MercyOne Genesis Foundation was awarded $200,000 to convert its advanced diabetes management training into a digital format. The online platform will provide education and clinical support to primary care physicians and residents, helping to improve diabetes care outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center will use its $200,000 grant to lead a community-based data collection project in Rock Island’s West End. In partnership with Augustana College, the project will gather insights into mental and behavioral health factors to develop community-driven solutions.
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Palomares Social Justice Center received $195,000 for its Healthy Juntos initiative, which will offer culturally relevant behavioral health services in the Floreciente and Keystone neighborhoods. The program includes mental health education, peer support and direct services in partnership with Community Health Care.
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Rediscover Recovery Community Center will implement a $139,880 Recovery Coaching Program inside Clinton County Jail. The peer-led initiative will support incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders through mentorship, reentry planning and recovery resources.
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STEAM on Wheels was awarded $115,000 to launch a youth-focused research program exploring the science of nutrition and health. The project is designed to help students understand the impact of food on physical and mental well-being while gaining hands-on experience in scientific inquiry.
The foundation accepts grant requests from nonprofits in Cedar, Clinton, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott counties in Iowa, and Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside counties in Illinois.
The next grant cycle, focused on Capacity Building and Service Support, will open this summer. More information is available here. Organizations may also contact Elaine Schilling at [email protected] or 563-383-6065.
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