Introducing the birthFUND 100
When we created Spread the Jelly, it was because—despite how many of us have given birth or are trying to—stories centered on the mother were scarce. Too often, we were turning to Reddit threads for answers that should have lived in the fabric of our communities. So whenever we see initiatives doing the work of centering mothers through advocacy and resources, we pay attention. BirthFUND is one of those vital examples.
Founded by Getting Sticky alum Elaine Welteroth, BirthFUND provides financial grants and access to holistic midwifery care for families facing maternal-health crises. Their mission is clear: improve birth outcomes by making high-quality, culturally competent care accessible. And the urgency is undeniable. The U.S. maternal mortality rate is 10x higher than that of other high-income countries, with Black mothers facing a three- to four-times higher risk of death during childbirth. Nearly half of new moms describe their birth as traumatic. As Elaine told us in her Getting Sticky feature earlier this year:
"Our whole organization was built around this statistic that 80 percent of the maternal deaths in this country could be averted with midwifery care as one part of one solution. It’s a very complex issue, but midwifery is one data-backed solution that we can be investing in."
Which brings us to last week’s event.
Hosted at Tory Burch in partnership with Kerry Washington, the newest member of the BirthFUND family, the gathering brought together an extraordinary community of advocates and creatives, including Victoria Monét, Jurnee Smollett, Jeannie Mai, Goapele, Chriselle Lim, and Yvonne Orji. The night concluded with an intimate dinner hosted by JPMorgan Private Bank at The Cut Beverly Hills.
During the event, birthFUND announced the birthFUND100, a call to action for advocates, leaders, and brands to stand with pregnant and postpartum mothers in crisis by collectively raising $1 million in a rapid response fund. The very first name they secured to launch this power list is the inimitable Kerry Washington. (Elaine on why Kerry was the obvious choice: “The way that you use your voice and your platform when it is inconvenient and unpopular is why I could not imagine a more perfect partner.”)
Other names include Golden Globes nominee Michelle Monaghan, and Bobbie founder Laura Modi. Twenty percent of proceeds from the festive night of holiday shopping went directly toward the cause.
Kerry’s appointment matters because the maternal-health crisis impacts everyone. Including, yes, Kerry Washington. One of the midwives and co-owner of Kindred Space LA, Kimberly Durdin, said it best:
“It's really timely to do a fundraiser for the basic needs that people need to survive and thrive. We currently have several clients right now who've recently given birth, and one who will be birthing soon, who are dealing with homelessness, food insecurities, and things like that. If you know about midwifery in terms of the historical approach or what midwives have done through history—we've taken care of the community.”
In just 48 hours, BirthFUND received more than 300 applications—heartbreaking stories from women fighting to meet their most basic needs. As Elaine reminded the room, “I truly believe that if we focus on solving this crisis in our lifetime, we can do it.” It’s why we’re proud and deeply honored to help amplify an organization doing such necessary, life-changing work. For you, for ourselves.
Kerry Washington said it best: “I don’t want anybody in this room to feel like there’s nothing you can do.” Advocating for, and on behalf of, organizations like BirthFUND matters. Whether you can write a donation check or simply share their mission across your socials, amplification counts. There are a lot of us. And when even one person makes a small shift, the ripple effect is real.
