Grants ranging from $500 to $10,000 to Iowa nonprofit organizations and government agencies for community-based projects that address the health concerns of women and infants. Nonprofits serving minority groups and pregnant women in Polk, Black Hawk, Woodbury, and Linn counties are highly encouraged to apply. Specific priority focus areas include group prenatal care and birth spacing.

In general, applicants should address the March of Dime mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Priority will be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:

a) Focused on prematurity prevention;
b) Evidence-based;
c) Include measurable outcomes; and
d) Promote equity in birth outcomes.

Projects may focus on consumers and/or healthcare providers.

Allowable costs include:

-Salary: grant funds may be used to cover salaries for project-related employees, but cannot be used to pay salary costs for employees who are already employed full time. Exceptions may be made in circumstances where a specified position is supported primarily by grant funds and the applicant can demonstrate that the requested funds would replace existing grant funds.

-Consultant fees

-Materials and supplies (e.g. office supplies, health-related materials, refreshments) necessary to accomplish the specific objectives of the proposal that are usually "used up" in the course of the project. Incentives are items used to enable or ensure participants are able to take advantage of services provided by grantees, for example, metro or bus cards to assist women in attending prenatal care appointments or educational sessions.

-Printing and travel that are reasonable and necessary for project implementation. March of Dimes funds will not pay for first-class travel.

- Facilities: Rental costs associated with using a physical location for an activity necessary to accomplish the specific objectives of the proposal are permitted.

The following are primary and secondary purpose categories eligible for this RFP.

Primary purpose categories:

- Interconception education and healthcare
- Preconception education and healthcare
- Prenatal care services
- Prenatal adjunct services
- Prenatal education and social support
- Professional education and training
- Quality improvement
- Other

Secondary purpose category:

- Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien
- Care coordination (case management, patient navigator, medical home, etc.)
- Chronic disease management in pregnancy (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, etc.)
- Coming of the Blessing
- Early elective delivery prevention
- Early entry into prenatal care
- Education materials
- Fertility treatment education
- Folic acid
- Genetic services for pregnant women
- Genetic services for non-pregnant women
- Group prenatal care (CenteringPregnancy®)
- Group prenatal care (other than CenteringPregnancy)
- Home visiting
- Interconception education
- Maternal/Child Health (MCH) program enrollment (getting women into WIC, Medicaid, CHIP, etc.)
- Newborn screening
- Post-polio activities
- Preconception education
- Prenatal education/incentive (Stork’s Nest®)
- Prenatal education/incentive (models other than Stork’s Nest)
- Preterm labor prevention
- Project Alpha
- Preterm birth recurrence prevention education (about 17P)
- Preterm birth recurrence prevention education (other than 17P)
- Risk reduction education/services (alcohol and drug use)
- Risk reduction education/services (smoking cessation)
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) prevention
- Other