Rural Healthcare Grant Program

The UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Health Care Foundation administers the Rural Healthcare Grant Program as part of its broader philanthropic mission to support high-quality healthcare services in the Cedar Rapids region. The foundation leverages donor contributions to fund grants, awards, and scholarships that enhance healthcare delivery and access, particularly in underserved rural communities. This grant program is specifically designed to strengthen emergency medical response capabilities and improve outcomes in pre-hospital care environments across a defined regional service area. The purpose of the Rural Healthcare Grant Program is to provide financial support for equipment, training, and transportation-related needs that directly impact emergency response and patient care. Eligible projects include the purchase of emergency care equipment used in pre-hospital settings, training initiatives to enhance the skills of emergency personnel, acquisition of life-support training tools such as CPR mannequins, and mileage reimbursement for non-emergency transportation services. These investments are intended to improve readiness, response time, and quality of care provided by first responders and related agencies. Funding through this program is structured as a matching grant. The foundation will award up to 6000 dollars per grant, but will not fund more than 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants must secure matching funds equal to the requested amount, as the foundation provides one dollar for every one dollar raised. This requirement ensures shared investment in the project and encourages community support. Certain expenditures are explicitly prohibited, including infrastructure costs such as vehicles and furniture, fundraising events, capital campaigns, operating support, endowments, political advocacy, and pass-through grants. Eligibility for the program is restricted to organizations operating in rural communities within Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, northern Johnson, Jones, and Linn counties. Eligible applicants include ambulance services, paramedics, fire and rescue departments, first responder agencies (both transport and non-transport), and non-emergency transportation programs. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed project directly benefits the communities they serve and aligns with the program’s focus on emergency and pre-hospital care. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive package, including a completed application form, organizational budget, licensure documentation, and supporting materials such as equipment quotes when applicable. Applicants must submit an original application along with nine copies, as well as multiple copies of supporting financial and legal documentation. Applications may be mailed or hand-delivered to the foundation’s office in Cedar Rapids. All application components must be complete to be considered eligible for review. The application deadline for the 2026 cycle is May 11, 2026 at 3 p.m. Applicants are required to certify the accuracy of their submission and agree to use funds as described. If awarded, recipients must submit a grant report by March 2, 2027 detailing project progress, financial matching, receipts, and supporting documentation such as photographs. Failure to comply with reporting requirements may impact eligibility for future funding. Questions regarding the program or application process can be directed to Tonya Arnold, Senior Director of Operations, via phone or email. The program appears to operate on an annual cycle based on the defined deadline and reporting structure. While specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly outlined, the application includes detailed organizational, operational, and project-related questions, indicating that funding decisions are likely based on demonstrated need, project feasibility, community impact, and organizational capacity. The structured application and reporting requirements reflect a focus on accountability and measurable outcomes.

Ensure all required copies and documents are complete and organized; clearly demonstrate matching funds and project need; align request with eligible funding categories; avoid ineligible expenses