Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation – Community of Health Grants (Fall 2026 Cycle)

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Health Equity–Focused Grants Strengthening Oral, Vision & Overall Health Across Iowa

Organization: Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation
Program: Community of Health Grants
Grant Range: $10,001 – $100,000
Geographic Focus: Iowa

About the Foundation

The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s mission is to strengthen and transform the health and smiles of all Iowans. Through a systems-change approach and an equity lens, the Foundation invests in partnerships and initiatives that improve oral health, integrate oral and overall health, and advance vision and wellness statewide.

Its strategic vision centers on building robust community systems and partnerships that empower all Iowans to achieve optimal dental, vision, and overall health.

Community of Health Grants

The Community of Health Grants program supports larger-scale initiatives aligned with the Foundation’s strategic framework and health equity commitment.

Funding Amount: $10,001 – $100,000

Fall 2026 Cycle Deadlines

📅 Letter of Interest (LOI) Due: September 2
📅 Invited Applications Due: September 24

(Organizations must first submit an LOI. Full proposals are by invitation only.)

Funding Priorities

Requests must address one of the following priority areas:

Oral Health
Vision Care
Veterans Oral Health
Mental Health
Dental & Vision Providers’ Mental Health
Dental & Vision Workforce Development

All projects must align with one of three strategic focus areas:

1. Education & Advocacy

Goal: An educated population actively engaged in positive oral and overall health outcomes.
Examples include:

Vision public health awareness
Reducing mental health stigma (with priority on dental and vision providers)
Career pathway development in dentistry and optometry
Workforce strengthening initiatives

2. Access & Prevention

Goal: All Iowans can access oral and vision care.
Examples include:

Oral health initiatives for Iowans facing barriers to care
Reducing vision health disparities
Increasing veteran access to oral health services
Expanding preventive mental health support for dental and vision providers

3. Policy & Research

Goal: Strengthen the connection between oral and overall health in public policy and health care practice.
Examples include:

Policy initiatives supporting oral and vision health
Vision health data systems and dashboards
Pilot projects and systems-change research

Core Funding Criteria

Applications are evaluated based on alignment with Foundation values:

Geography: Focused on improving health outcomes for Iowans
Equity Focus: Clear data demonstrating barriers impacting marginalized populations
Systems Approach: Meaningful systems-level impact at local or statewide scale
Leadership: Catalyst for innovation and change
Partnerships: Collaborative, shared approach to impact
Success Measurement: Defined outcomes aligned with Foundation goals
Policy Awareness: Identifies opportunities for policy analysis and public education

Ineligible Requests

The Foundation generally does not fund:

Direct dental services
Grants to individuals
Political campaigns or lobbying
Religious purposes
Sponsorships
Emergency or ongoing food assistance
Toothbrush-only donation requests without strong educational components
Projects without direct or indirect impact on the health and smiles of Iowans

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

The Community of Health Grants program is ideal for:

Iowa-based nonprofits pursuing systems-level health change
Coalitions, health systems, universities, and public-private partnerships
Organizations advancing oral and vision health workforce development
Policy, research, and innovation-focused initiatives
Programs addressing health equity gaps with strong data and measurable outcomes

This is particularly well suited for organizations ready to scale impact through partnerships and statewide influence.

Apply / Learn More

➡️ https://www.deltadentalia.com/foundation/grants/

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Grant Range: $10,001 – $100,000
Review Type: Competitive cycle (LOI required)
Fall LOI Deadline: September 2
Best Suited For: Iowa nonprofits and partnerships advancing systems-level oral, vision, and overall health equity initiatives