BirthFund

What BirthFund does

BirthFund (legal name "birthFUND") is a California-domiciled, US-focused nonprofit founded by journalist, author, and TV host Elaine Welteroth in December 2023, following her personal home-birth experience with midwives at Kindred Space LA. The organization operates a maternal health funding ecosystem with two primary programs: BirthFUNDing Circles, a group-fundraising mechanism in which community members pool resources for families in need, and a 1:1 Community Fund/Invest Program that routes donations directly to vetted birth workers. Recipients are vetted in partnership with Birth Center Equity (BIPOC community birth centers) and The Victoria Project (grant administration), and selected mothers receive need-based grants covering holistic perinatal care and midwifery birth support that insurance typically does not reimburse.

The organization is funded entirely through charitable contributions, drawing on individual donations via the website and PayPal, celebrity-backed fundraising campaigns, corporate matching and in-kind partnerships, and grants from foundations and platforms. The December 2025 $1M campaign co-led with Kerry Washington and Serena Williams is reported to have reached $1.2M, and total funds raised since inception exceed $3M, supporting over 260 families. Strategic corporate partners include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Athleta, Pampers, Walmart, Goop, Rhode, OURA, Coterie, Our Place, Puma, Rothy's, Johnson's Baby, Natural Cycles, and Loom, with Pinterest providing a grant as part of Women's Health Month 2026.

BirthFund serves two distinct segments. The primary segment is pregnant people and families in highly impacted communities who cannot afford out-of-pocket midwifery costs; they receive grants for care. The secondary segment is donors and supporters, encompassing celebrity founding family funders (Williams, Kloss, Teigen, Ohanian, Graham, Rowland, Legend, Curry, James, Phillip), high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, and everyday donors motivated by the US maternal health crisis. The organization employs 1-10 staff, supported by an extended leadership network including Grant Program Lead Janelle Green, Midwifery Network Engagement Director Kimberly Durdin, Strategic Comms Lead Rakia Reynolds, Project Manager Audrey Saccone, and Creative Consultant Marie Suter. In 2026 the organization expanded into federal policy advocacy through a bipartisan Senate op-ed and CNN engagement, signaling an institutional pivot beyond direct service delivery.

Name

BirthFund

Legal name

birthFUND

Website

https://thebirthfund.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BirthFund is a California-based nonprofit founded by Elaine Welteroth that raises charitable donations to fund midwifery care and holistic perinatal support for pregnant people and families in highly impacted US communities who cannot afford out-of-pocket costs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal Health Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG), Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN), Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Maternal health funding
• Midwifery care grants
• Nonprofit philanthropy
• Community giving circles
• Perinatal care support

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals to support families receiving midwifery care. The organization facilitates 1:1 community fund donations where money raised is directly sent to support midwifery care for families in highly impacted communities.
2. Celebrity-Backed Fundraising Campaigns: High-profile fundraising campaigns led by celebrity supporters and founders. Elaine Welteroth's initial campaign raised $16k in 16 hours, funding birth services for two families. The $1M campaign featured support from Serena Williams, Kerry Washington, and others.
3. Corporate Matching and Partnerships: Strategic corporate partners match collective fundraising efforts. The organization lists numerous corporate partners including Athleta, Pampers, Walmart, and others who provide basic afterbirth essentials and financial support for families with financial need.
4. Grants: birthFUND receives grants from foundations and corporations. Pinterest announced grants to birthFUND as part of Women's Health Month initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BirthFund is a nonprofit organization that channels individual donations, celebrity-backed fundraising campaigns, and corporate grants into direct financial support for midwifery and holistic perinatal care for families who cannot afford out-of-pocket costs. It operates a 1:1 community fund and giving circles, with recipients vetted in partnership with Birth Center Equity and The Victoria Project, and connects families with participating midwifery networks in highly impacted U.S. communities.

Product overview

BirthFund is a nonprofit charitable organization (not a technology platform) that operates a maternal health funding ecosystem comprising two interconnected service offerings: BirthFUNDing Circles (a group fundraising mechanism) and a 1:1 Community Fund/Invest Program (direct giving). Both programs funnel resources into need-based grants that provide holistic perinatal care and midwifery birth support services to families in highly impacted communities. The organization pairs community birthing centers vetted by Birth Center Equity with families, and reviews grant applications in partnership with The Victoria Project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BirthFUNDing Circles Group fundraising platform where community members join forces to collectively raise money for families in need of midwifery birth support services who cannot afford out-of-pocket costs.
• 1:1 Community Fund (Invest Program) Direct donation program where money raised is sent directly to support midwifery care for families in highly impacted communities.
• Need-Based Grants for Midwifery Care Grants that provide selected mothers and families with holistic perinatal care and midwifery birth support services, reviewed and selected in partnership with The Victoria Project and participating midwifery care providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 260 families helped since inception
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies AmericaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2026Joint Father's Day 2026 campaign featuring a co-authored open letter calling on fathers to help address the maternal health crisis. The campaign aims to empower fathers to advocate for mothers during pregnancy and childbirth and coincides with bipartisan political engagement including a Senate op-ed by Senators Cory Booker and John Boozman and CNN appearance.
• 4Kira4MomscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2026Co-authored the Father's Day 2026 open letter with Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America and birthFUND. Founded by Charles Johnson, whose wife Kira died during childbirth, the organization advocates for maternal health policy changes.
• Birth Center EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with and for BIPOC community birth center leaders to collectively access full spectrum capital, nurture beliefs and practices among community birth centers, and build beloved communities with caregiving at the heart of the health system. birthFUND identifies and vets birth workers through Birth Center Equity.
• The Victoria ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creates maternity care that is safe, gentle, empowering and holistic by offering true choices to mothers and families. Provides direct grants to individuals and practitioners for comprehensive holistic maternity care services. Serves as birthFUND's grant partner for reviewing and selecting recipients.
• Postpartum Support InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization. PSI provides support and resources for postpartum mental health, which complements birthFUND's focus on midwifery care and birth support.
• Kindred Space LAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Kimberly Durdin (birthFUND's Midwifery Network Engagement Director). Elaine Welteroth's life-changing home birth experience with the midwives at Kindred Space LA inspired her to found birthFUND.
• AthletaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Dedicated to supporting individual families with basic afterbirth essentials.
• PampersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Provides baby care essentials for families supported by birthFUND.
• WalmartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Supports families with afterbirth essentials.
• LoomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Erica Chidi (founder of Loom) serves as an advisor to birthFUND.
• GoopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Supports birthFUND's holistic approach to maternal care.
• CoterieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Provides premium baby products for supported families.
• OURAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Supports maternal health through wellness technology.
• RhodeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Hailey Bieber's skincare brand supports birthFUND.
• PumaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Supports birthFUND's mission.
• Rothy'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Sustainable footwear brand supports birthFUND.
• Natural CyclesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Women's health app supports maternal health initiatives.
• Our PlaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Cookware brand supports birthFUND.
• Johnson's BabyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a strategic corporate partner. Provides baby care products for supported families.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/birthfund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BirthFund