First Ladies Health Initiative

What First Ladies Health Initiative does

First Ladies Health Initiative (FLHI) is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The organization delivers free health screenings, vaccines, mental health resources, and health education to underserved Black and Brown communities through a network of First Ladies (spouses of pastors) in predominantly Black churches. Its core service portfolio includes the Maternal Health Resource Hub addressing Black maternal mortality disparities, the Colon Cancer Awareness Program (in partnership with Guardant Health), the PTSD Caused by Racial Trauma Program, the Early Access Saves Lives stroke prevention program, the First Ladies Health Initiative Podcast, and community health fairs held at partner churches. Over 14-17 years of operation, FLHI has educated and screened more than 400,000 individuals across Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Gary, and Washington DC, with 30,000 community members targeted for stroke early detection training under the Early Access Saves Lives program.

FLHI's underlying technology is a faith-based community health outreach platform built on digital media channels — a podcast series, Facebook and Instagram presence, and event-driven content distribution — rather than proprietary software. The 2025 partnership with Surgo Health introduces the Mosaic platform and U.S. Maternal Vulnerability Index for neighborhood-level targeting, marking the first data-infrastructure integration. The organization does not develop or license its own AI/ML systems. Its go-to-market combines community-led outreach through First Ladies and event-driven health fairs and panels at partner churches (Progressive Baptist Church, First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Greater Mt Sinai MB Church of Compton, The Experience Christian Ministries, among others).

FLHI's revenue model is exclusively nonprofit: it receives donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, and grant funding through PCORI Eugene Washington Engagement Awards supporting specific programs (stroke prevention, postpartum care dissemination, PTSD from racial trauma, and Black maternal mortality). Services are provided free of charge. Key partners include Guardant Health (colorectal cancer), Surgo Health (data targeting), Walgreens and Covered California (health equity panels), Morehouse School of Medicine (academic/medical programming), Kroger Health and Onyx Health Collective (on-site vaccines), and PCORI as primary grant funder. The organization is founder-led by Tracey Alston (Founder and Executive Director) and Taylor Alston (Co-Executive Director).

Name

First Ladies Health Initiative

Legal name

First Ladies Health Initiative

Website

https://firstladieshealth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Ladies Health Initiative is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free health screenings, vaccines, and health education to underserved Black and Brown communities through a network of pastors' spouses in churches across Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington DC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB), Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO)

Keywords

• Community health outreach
• Faith-based health services
• Health equity programs
• Maternal health education
• Free health screenings

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, FLHI relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund health screening programs, community outreach, and educational content creation.
2. PCORI Engagement Awards: FLHI receives grant funding through Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards to support specific research dissemination programs including maternal health and PTSD awareness initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Ladies Health Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free community health services, education, and advocacy to underserved Black and Brown populations through faith-based partnerships with churches and First Ladies nationwide. Its core offerings include free health screenings and vaccines at church-based health fairs, maternal and postpartum health education, mental health and PTSD awareness programming, stroke prevention training, colorectal cancer awareness, and digital content via its podcast and resource hubs.

Product overview

First Ladies Health Initiative is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a community health outreach initiative rather than a commercial technology product company. The organization delivers a portfolio of health services through partnerships with churches, healthcare providers, and community organizations. Core offerings include the First Ladies Health Initiative Podcast for mental health and wellness content, the Colon Cancer Awareness Program with survivor stories, the Maternal Health Resource Hub providing postpartum education, and the PTSD Caused by Racial Trauma Program. Additional programs include Early Access Saves Lives (stroke prevention training), Solutions Not Just Conversations (health forums), Covered California partnership for health equity discussions, and community health fairs providing free screenings and vaccines. Services are delivered through faith-based networks, primarily through First Ladies (spouses of pastors) in Black churches across major U.S. cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• First Ladies Health Initiative Podcast Podcast series delivering mental health, wellness, and community health education content for Black and Brown communities, featuring mental health professionals and First Ladies as thought leaders.
• Colon Cancer Awareness Program Educational initiative providing colon cancer risk awareness, screening options, and early detection education for underserved communities, with survivor testimonial content and screening information.
• Maternal Health Resource Hub Digital resource platform providing postpartum education, maternal health advocacy, expert advice, PCORI-funded research, and culturally competent information for Black mothers and birthing people facing disproportionate maternal health risks.
• PTSD Caused by Racial Trauma Program Mental health awareness and resource dissemination program focused on PTSD caused by racial trauma, using social media, digital, broadcast, and print media to deliver crisis messaging in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Gary.
• Early Access Saves Lives Stroke prevention and health education outreach program training First Ladies as community health stroke promoters in Chicago and Los Angeles, targeting African-American and Hispanic communities to address disparities in stroke care and mortality.
• Solutions Not Just Conversations Forum initiative convening First Ladies, government officials, health officers, and medical professionals for solution-driven conversations on health issues affecting Black and Brown communities.
• Free Health Screenings and Fairs Community health events providing free health screenings, vaccines, immunizations, mental health resources, and wellness giveaways at partner churches and community locations in Chicago, Los Angeles, and other cities.
• National Campaign to Combat Black Maternal Mortality National campaign including live health panels, podcast recordings, social media campaigns, faith-based outreach, and educational materials disseminated across Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles to address the Black maternal mortality crisis.
• Covered California Partnership Initiative Health equity community conversation initiative in partnership with Covered California, addressing coverage and care needs in Black communities through panel discussions with healthcare specialists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400,000+ individuals educated and screened through FLHI programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, supporting and minor.

• Surgo HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Surgo Health partnership to utilize Mosaic platform and U.S. Maternal Vulnerability Index for targeted community health outreach in major U.S. cities including Washington, DC. Collaboration aims to address health disparities through neighborhood-level data and faith-based outreach in maternal health, chronic disease prevention, and mental wellness.
• Guardant HealthflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2024Partnership to advance colorectal cancer awareness and prevention in underserved communities. FLHI was spotlighted by the White House for this collaboration under the Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative. FLHI promotes Guardant Health's Shield blood test for colon cancer screening.
• WalgreenscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing pharmacy and health retail partnership for community health initiatives.
• Covered CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host community conversations about advancing health equity in Black communities and the need for health coverage and care. Included panel discussion moderated by First Lady of Experience Christian Ministries.
• Morehouse School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic medical partner collaborating on maternal health panels and educational programming.
• Kroger HealthsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-site vaccine provision at FLHI health events across Chicago churches including Holy Jerusalem MBC, Cosmopolitan Community Church, and Sunrise Full Gospel Baptist Church.
• Onyx Health CollectivesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-site vaccine provision at FLHI health events including Pleasant Green MBC and Mt. Hermon MBC.
• Black Girl VitaminsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing giveaways and wellness products at Black Maternal Health Panel events.
• Counting on Chicago CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLHI joined 18 other organizations serving Chicago's south and west sides as part of census outreach efforts to reach Hard-to-Count communities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Black Women's Health Imperative: National nonprofit focused on advancing the health and wellness of Black women and girls through advocacy, education, research, and community-based programs. Highly comparable to FLHI in target audience, health-equity framing, and community-outreach model.
• National Black Church Initiative: Coalition of 34,000 predominantly Black churches focused on health disparities and underserved community health education. Uses an analogous faith-based network channel to deliver preventive health programs, mirroring FLHI's First Ladies model.
• Black Mamas Matter Alliance: National alliance advancing Black maternal health, rights, and justice through research, community-building, and advocacy. Directly aligned with FLHI's Black maternal mortality campaign and postpartum blood pressure programs.
• Sisters Network Inc: African American breast cancer survivorship organization providing community education, screening access, and survivor support. Mirrors FLHI's cancer-awareness (colon cancer) and minority women-focused outreach approach.
• National Healthy Start Association: Membership organization for Healthy Start programs reducing infant mortality and improving maternal outcomes in underserved communities. Directly comparable to FLHI's maternal mortality work and faith/community distribution model.
• National Minority Health Association: Nonprofit addressing health disparities and minority health outcomes through community programs and partnerships. Comparable mission and focus on preventive, community-delivered health interventions for underserved populations.

Broad incumbents

• NAACP: Long-established civil rights organization running health programing on health equity, chronic disease, and maternal mortality in Black communities. Much broader portfolio but overlapping focus on FLHI's target population.
• National Urban League: Historic civil rights and community empowerment organization with health-equity and chronic-disease programs for Black and urban populations. Larger portfolio and broader advocacy scope, but directly comparable target audience.
• March of Dimes: Established nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health, including explicit programs addressing Black maternal mortality. Overlaps with FLHI's maternal health resource hub, but operates at significantly greater scale.

Emerging players

• Shades of Blue Project: Smaller nonprofit addressing Black maternal mental health, including postpartum depression and PTSD. Highly overlapping with FLHI's PTSD caused by racial trauma and maternal health programs but with a narrower geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstLadiesHealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstladiesinitiative
• Xx.com/firstladiesheal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/firstladieshealth

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 First Ladies Health Initiative