The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive a March of Dimes chapter grant, an organization must be an incorporated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) or for profit organization or government agency.  The March of Dimes does not award grants to individuals.  Applicants must disclose any conflicts of interest due to representation by their organization on the chapter's Program Services Committee or the Chapter or Division Board of Directors.

March of Dimes chapter grants do not fund scientific research projects.  For information about research grants funded by the March of Dimes National Office, please refer to the March of Dimes website at http://www.marchofdimes.com/ or email the Office of Research and Grants Administration at researchgrants@marchofdimes.com. 

2009 Grant Schedule

July	Announcement of Funding Postcards Distributed to All Potentially Interested Parties
September 19	Proposals due to Chapter Office
September through December	Review process conducted by Chapter Program Service Committee
First business day of 2009	Award announcements made for grant cycle January through December

2009 Funding Priority Areas

All grant proposals must address the March of Dimes mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  Priority will be given to projects that, based on community needs, address increased access to health care and/or prevention services to help reduce disparities in preterm birth.  Project interventions may be provider and/or consumer focused.

See "Funding Priority Areas" link below.

 Past Recipients

2008

Name of Grantee Organization	Grant Amount	Project Description
Ben Archer Health Center	$6,050	Prematurity screenings to 100 pregnant women in Northern Dona Ana County. Those identified with risk factors will receive educaiton on the warning signs and possible treatments for preterm labor and, to those interested, a referral to the prenatal case management program.
Las Cumbres Community Services	$6,050	To provided therapeutic and advocacy support to high-risk pregnant women referred to the program because of substance abuse, depression, domestic violence, or other risk factors.
Native American Professional Parent Resources Inc.	$1,400	Information on preterm birth and the importance of oral health care during pregnancy to approximately 1,600 American Indian women at three Indian Health Service Dental Clinics & to increase the number of pregnant women seeking dental care as an integral part of prenatal care..

2007

Name of Grantee Organization	Grant Amount	Project Description
Ben Archer Health Center	$4,655	Prematurity screenings to 100 pregnant women in Dona Ana County through Prematurity Awareness Program
Las Cumbres	$10,000	Provide therapeutic and advocacy support to high-risk pregnant women referred to the program because of substance abuse, depression, domestic violence or other risk factors

2006

Name of Grantee Organization	Grant Amount	Project Description
Ben Archer Health Center	$8,000	Prematurity screenings to 100 pregnant women in Dona Ana County through Prematurity Awareness Program
First Born Program – Gila Regional Medical Center	$8,000	Reducing the risk of low birth weights, premature births and prenatal drug abuse by increasing at-risk pregnant women’s stress management skills
REACH 2000	$7,000	An outreach program to pregnant and parenting teens that will provide access to early prenatal care, education, and case management guided by the Chavez County Youth Health Planning Council and the Chavez County Maternal Child Health Program.

Name of Grantee Organization	Grant Amount	Project Description
Curry County Maternal and Child Health Council	$6,566	Increasing awareness of folic acid to women of childbearing age in Curry County
First Born Program – Gila Regional Medical Center	$10,000	To provide early and effective home visitation services to at-risk pregnant women to increase positive birth outcomes in Grant County through supportive relationships, education and referrals
University of New Mexico Young Mothers Group	$8,750	An innovative way of providing comprehensive prenatal care to adolescents in groups using the Centering Pregnancy Model

2004

Name of Grantee Organization	Grant Amount	Project Description
Curry County Maternal and Child Health Council	$5,000	Increasing awareness of folic acid to women of childbearing age in Curry County
First Born Program – Gila Regional Medical Center	$10,000	Prenatal Education through Referrals, Supportive Relationships and Home Visits for First-time Parents
Torrance Health Council	$8,750	Pilot test of Healthy Babies Program which delivers prenatal care in a group setting

Community Awards

Chapters typically hold back 5 to 10 percent of their chapter grant budget to fund community awards.  Community awards can be made to support activities such as purchase and distribution of March of Dimes health education materials, implementation of March of Dimes community programs (such as Project Alpha or Pregnancy Workshop) or a conference for health professionals held in collaboration with a partnering organization.

Chapters are not required to have a formal application and review process for these awards and they are not considered grants.  It is recommended that community awards be made in amounts less than $3,000.

Past Community Award Recipients

2007

Name of Community Award Recipient	Community Award Amount	Project Description
Maternity & Family Planning Program	$200	Childbirth Education Program

Name of Community Award Recipient	Community Award Amount	Project Description
New Mexico Department of  Health Maternal Health Program	$500	Support conference providing annual inservice training to Department of Health Prenatal Care Practitioners