November 18, 2020
Des Moines, IA — The Wellmark Foundation is offering two competitive Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grant opportunities in 2021. The MATCH grants are designed to support projects that provide access to healthy foods or create or enhance a safe environment to be physically active in. These grants also require a matching component in the form of cash or in-kind support.
"For almost 30 years, The Wellmark Foundation's commitment to the health and well-being of Iowans and South Dakotans has not wavered," said Mary Lawyer, The Wellmark Foundation executive director. "We are proud to be able to continue this legacy through funding sustainable projects that make it easy to eat healthy and engage in physical activity. These two areas of focus are key drivers of individual health outcomes."
Large MATCH grants
The 2021 Large MATCH grant application is now available. Large MATCH grant awards are up to a maximum request amount of $100,000 for projects that will be successfully completed by December 2023. The grant must be matched dollar-for-dollar with cash or in-kind contributions. At least one-half of the matching support must be cash.
Examples of sustainable projects include but are not limited to:
- Edible orchards and landscaping
- Community gardens and greenhouses
- Farm, field or garden-to-table projects
- Public playground structures and spaces
- Trails, including links, spurs and connectors
- Safe Routes to School plans and infrastructure
- Share-the-road plans and infrastructure, including safe crossing signs and lights
For a more comprehensive list, view the MATCH Grant Request for Application.
Small MATCH grants
The Small MATCH grant application will be available in April. This grant is for a maximum award of $25,000 and the project must be successfully completed by December 2022. The grant must be matched at 50 percent with cash or in-kind contributions. At least one-half of the matching support must be cash.
To view the MATCH Grant Request for Applications and to view previous Wellmark Foundation MATCH grant recipients, visit Wellmark.com/Foundation.
