The Shades of Motherhood Network

What The Shades of Motherhood Network does

The Shades of Motherhood Network (SOMN) is a non-profit organization founded in 2022/2023 and headquartered in Spokane, Washington, that operates a maternal-health service ecosystem specifically for Black mothers, mothers of color, and mothers of infants of color in the United States. The organization delivers care through five interconnected "HUBs" — Family Navigators, Doula HUB, Education HUB, Mental Health HUB, and Wellness HUB — unified by the proprietary S.O.U.L. Framework (Speak. Observe. Understand. Lead.). Core offerings include full-spectrum doula matching and training, culturally responsive peer support groups (designed around post-traumatic slave syndrome recovery), a diaper bank, family navigation services, the Blue Band Initiative for preeclampsia risk identification, and the Diverse Roots wellness space at Northtown Mall.

The technology footprint consists of a member-facing wellness app/portal for enrollment and program access (the SOMN Doula Client Family Care HUB), an educational video library on topics such as lactation, nutrition, and perinatal mental health, and a Wix-based website with Givebutter donation infrastructure. Operations are anchored physically at Northtown Mall (Suites 1216, 1220, 1222) and supported digitally through Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn community channels. SOMN maintains ~7 employees and ~10 partnered doulas.

SOMN's business model is a hybrid non-profit structure combining philanthropy, government grants, and modest earned revenue. Funding sources include individual donations (via Givebutter), the DCYF Perinatal Mental Health Community Grant channeled through the Learning Project Network, and a core partnership with Providence for childbirth education. Earned revenue comes from Diverse Roots event-space rentals ($100–$600 per booking), doula training tuition ($500–$2,000), scholarships offsetting some of that tuition, and a Teal membership tier. No revenue figures or funding rounds are disclosed.

Name

The Shades of Motherhood Network

Legal name

Shades of Motherhood Network

Website

https://theshadesofmotherhoodnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SOMN is a Spokane-based non-profit operating a five-HUB maternal-health ecosystem (family navigation, doula services, peer support, education, and wellness) with a diaper bank and the Diverse Roots wellness space, serving Black and Brown mothers primarily in Washington State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Maternal Health Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Maternal Mental Health Telehealth (perinatal anxiety/depression, support programs) (HLALAHAH)

Keywords

• Maternal health support
• Community doula services
• Culturally responsive care
• Peer support groups
• Nonprofit maternal wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Non-profit organization funded primarily through donations and government grants including the DCYF Perinatal Mental Health Community Grant through the Learning Project Network.
2. Membership and Event Space Rental: Revenue from wellness space rentals and memberships at Diverse Roots, including packages ranging from $100 to $600 for private events and business gatherings.
3. Doula Training Program: Training program fees ranging from $500-$2,000 for aspiring doulas, with scholarships available. Additional revenue from partnered doula network membership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Shades of Motherhood Network (SOMN) is a non-profit organization providing culturally responsive maternal health services for Black and Brown mothers and mothers of infants of color. Core offerings include full spectrum doula matching and training, family navigation, peer support groups, a diaper bank, childbirth education, and the Diverse Roots Health & Wellness District facility. The organization operates through interconnected S.O.U.L. HUBs (Family Navigators, Doula, Education, Mental Health, Wellness) anchored by the proprietary S.O.U.L. Framework (Speak. Observe. Understand. Lead.).

Product overview

The Shades of Motherhood Network is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive ecosystem of maternal health services primarily for Black mothers, mothers of color, and mothers of infants of color in the U.S. The organization operates through multiple interconnected HUBs (Family Navigators, Doula HUB, Education HUB, Mental Health HUB, Wellness HUB) supported by the S.O.U.L. Framework. Core services include full spectrum doula matching and training, peer support groups, a Diaper Bank, and the Diverse Roots Health & Wellness District facility. Additional offerings include childbirth education (via Providence partnership), policy education tools, the Blue Band Initiative for preeclampsia awareness, and Amplifying Voices story-sharing. The organization provides member portal access through the SOMN Doula Client Family Care HUB and offers business development support for partnered doulas through mentorship programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Navigator Program A trained guide service, often with lived experience, that supports Black and Brown mothers in accessing services, navigating healthcare, mental health, and social service systems with culturally competent, community-rooted guidance.
• Doula HUB (Full Spectrum Doula Services) Full spectrum doula services providing emotional, physical, and informational support across pregnancy, labor and birth, postpartum, and loss/bereavement. Matches clients with trained doulas through an application and compatibility process.
• Doula Training Program (Doula Desert Program) Comprehensive doula training program with cultural competency and community advocacy focus. Includes mentorship, certification support, and a four-level progression system (Foundations through Mastery/Leadership), with fees of $500-$2,000 and scholarships available.
• Diverse Roots (Health & Wellness District) Wellness space at Northtown Mall offering culturally rooted, community-centered event packages including baby showers (Blooming Beginnings Package $400), small group rentals ($100), Business Bundle ($400), and large private events ($600), plus diaper bank access.
• Diaper Bank Provides free essential items including diapers, wipes, formula, and more to families in need. Operates at the Health & Wellness District in Northtown Mall (Tuesday-Thursday 11am-3pm).
• Mental Health HUB / Peer Support Groups Culturally responsive peer support groups for mothers addressing postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress, with a focus on post-traumatic slave syndrome (PTSS) impacts. Sponsored by the Learning Project Network through the DCYF Perinatal Mental Health Community Grant.
• Doula Mentor Program Mentorship program for experienced doulas supporting Level One doulas during their 3-month training phase, including $1,200 compensation for the mentorship period.
• Blue Band Initiative A life-saving program providing blue wristbands to pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia or high blood pressure, alerting healthcare providers for faster, more effective care.
• Providence Childbirth Education Project Childbirth education classes delivered in partnership with Providence covering stages of labor and delivery, comfort techniques, birth planning, postpartum recovery, and newborn care.
• Amplifying Voices Story-sharing initiative allowing clients to share experiences with healthcare providers and hospitals to improve support systems and drive changes in maternal healthcare.
• Membership Program Teal membership tier providing access to the wellness app and doula service programs, with additional benefits for partnered doulas including newsletters and business support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 in 2 families in the U.S. struggles to afford diapers
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ProvidencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvidence partners with SOMN to host Childbirth Education classes designed to prepare expecting parents and families for birth. Classes cover stages of labor/delivery, comfort techniques, birth planning, postpartum recovery, and newborn care.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA): BMMA is a national network advancing Black maternal health, rights, and justice through advocacy, research, and community-driven programs. Directly comparable in mission, target population, and community-led GTM approach.
• Mama Glow Foundation: Mama Glow is a maternal health organization offering doula training and community-based perinatal support, with a strong focus on BIPOC birth workers. Closely comparable in doula training revenue model and culturally-rooted programming.
• Ancient Song Doula Services: Ancient Song provides full-spectrum doula care and training for BIPOC families and is a leading provider of culturally responsive maternal support. Directly comparable to SOMN's Doula HUB and Doula Training Program offerings.
• Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE): ROSE addresses breastfeeding inequities in the Black community through peer counseling and training. Comparable to SOMN's lactation education content and culturally-specific peer support for mothers of color.
• HealthConnect One: HealthConnect One trains community-based doulas and peer supporters to improve birth outcomes in underserved communities. Directly comparable to SOMN's doula training, peer support, and community navigator models.
• National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC): NBEC is a national nonprofit focused on eliminating Black maternal health disparities through training, policy, and community-based programs. Highly comparable to SOMN's culturally-rooted maternal health mission and Black-mother-centered service model.
• Commonsense Childbirth: Commonsense Childbirth operates the National Perinatal Task Force and trains birth workers to serve communities with high maternal mortality. Comparable to SOMN in midwifery/doula training and community-rooted equity focus.

Broad incumbents

• March of Dimes: March of Dimes is a long-established maternal and infant health nonprofit addressing birth outcomes and maternal mortality at national scale. Broad incumbent operating in the same maternal health space with broader disease focus.
• Postpartum Support International (PSI): PSI is the largest established organization dedicated to perinatal mental health support, training, and provider referral. Broad incumbent comparable to SOMN's Mental Health HUB and peer support groups, but with national scope and general population focus.

Emerging players

• Black Women's Health Imperative (BWHI): BWHI advocates for Black women's health across the life course including maternal and reproductive health. Comparable in target population (Black women) and health-equity focus, though broader than SOMN's maternal-only scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tsomspokane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-shades-of-motherhood-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/tsomnetwork/?fbclid=IwAR0JS7wmsM2ERwRj3-PT8xhKZhlt8sqBiApLTCtWJmNROVyefzIHj5xrG_M

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Shades of Motherhood Network