The Better Health Foundation (BHF) recently awarded more than $1 million in Innovation Grants to six Quad Cities area nonprofit organizations.
The foundation is mobilizing philanthropy to measurably improve community health for all the people of the nine-county greater Quad Cities region. The organization is a private, independent foundation that seeks to engage members of its communities in improving their health and the health of their neighbors.
Since organizing in 2023, the Better Health Foundation has awarded more than $3.9 million to improve community health throughout the bi-state region.
“Funds to innovate are not always available to nonprofit organizations through their normal operations,” Dr. William Langley, president of the Better Health Foundation Board of Directors, said in a news release. “Yet, the ability to innovate is key to serving more people in need and to delivering measurable, sustained results.”
He added that the foundation board aims “to support promising ideas with some element of risk as a pathway to gaining better health outcomes for all who live in our region.”
The 2025 Innovation Grants range from $115,000 to $200,000 for programs and services that align with the foundation’s current funding priorities: mental and behavioral health, maternal and child health, and risk reduction of obesity and diabetes.
Innovation Grants were awarded to these area organizations:
- $200,000 to Community Health Care, Inc. (CHC) to expand maternal nutrition services, ensuring healthier pregnancies and postpartum recoveries for local mothers. By integrating remote monitoring, telehealth, and digital engagement tools, CHC will provide real-time nutritional support to high-risk expectant and new mothers thus reducing complications from gestational diabetes, obesity, and postpartum depression. This program aims to strengthen maternal health equity and improve outcomes by removing health access barriers.
- $200,000 to the MercyOne Genesis Foundation to transform Board Certification in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) training into a digital platform. Through interactive online modules, expert consultations, and clinical resources, primary care physicians and residents will receive evidence-based diabetes management education. The goal is to increase BC-ADM-certified providers, improve diabetes care outcomes and reduce healthcare costs across Eastern Iowa and Illinois.
- $200,000 to Martin Luther King Jr Community Center to engage community members in the West End of Rock Island to help design and collect quantitative and qualitative data on factors affecting mental and behavioral health, among other health topics. This approach is designed to create a stronger data ecosystem, leading to authentic insights and meaningful, community-driven solutions. The project is in collaboration with Augustana College’s Center for the Advancement of Community Health and Wellness.
- $195,000 to Palomares Social Justice Center’s Healthy Juntos project to bring accessible, culturally relevant behavioral health services to the Floreciente and Keystone neighborhoods in Moline and Rock Island. Palomares will partner with Community Health Care to provide mental health education, peer support groups, and direct behavioral health services. Palomares hopes to improve access to behavioral healthcare, reduce stigma, and empower others to enhance their overall well-being.
- $139,880 to Rediscover Recovery Community Center (RRCC) to implement a peer-based Recovery Coaching Program within Clinton County Jail in Clinton, Iowa, to support incarcerated individuals struggling with substance use disorders (SUD). Through the program, RRCC peer recovery coaches will provide mentorship, re-entry resources, and recovery planning, fostering a pathway to recovery while reducing recidivism rates.
- $115,000 to STEAM on Wheels to launch a research project empowering youth with hands-on learning about nutrition and health. Participants will explore the vital role of nutrients, how food impacts both physical performance and mental well-being, and gain firsthand experience in the scientific research process. By deepening their understanding and equip them with skills, participants can make informed, lifelong health choices.
The next round of Better Health Foundation grants for Capacity Building and Service Support will open this summer. Award criteria and instructions on how to apply can be found at www.thebetterhealthfoundation.org.
To receive more information about applying, contact Elaine Schilling at [email protected] or call the Better Health Foundation at (563) 383-6065.
