Innovative Programs Accelerate National and Local Efforts to Improve Health Outcomes and Expand Behavioral Health Support for Mothers and Babies

The Elevance Health Foundation has awarded 29 new grants totaling more than $6.5 million to support maternal and infant health programs across the country. The funding will drive innovative, scalable solutions spanning pre-conception care, pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and infant health, with a focus on reducing disparities and improving outcomes. This latest round of funding is part of the Foundation’s five-year, $150 million commitment to addressing the physical, behavioral, and social needs of under-resourced communities.

Maternal health in the U.S. continues to face critical challenges, most notably in access to care and health outcomes. Compounding these issues, maternal mental health conditions are increasing at an alarming rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, death by suicide, and substance use disorders, are a leading cause of maternal mortality.

In response, the Elevance Health Foundation is expanding its focus to fund programs that address maternal mental health and substance use disorders, with an emphasis on early screening, intervention, and community-based support.

“We actively support women at every stage—from preconception to postpartum—by addressing the full spectrum of their physical, behavioral, and social needs,” said Dr. Shantanu Agrawal, Chief Health Officer at Elevance Health. “By partnering with national and local grantees, we’ll work together to improve whole health in the communities we serve—leading to healthier moms, healthier babies, and stronger futures.”

This cycle of maternal-infant health grants aims to:

• Reduce disparities in preterm birth and severe maternal morbidity.
• Expand access to preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care.
• Improve maternal and infant health outcomes, especially among underserved populations.

Since 2015, the Foundation has invested heavily in maternal health initiatives. The previous three-year grant cycle yielded measurable results:

• $30 million awarded to 46 nonprofit partners.
• 12.2% improvement in preterm birth rates among program participants, compared to national averages.
• 494,000 individuals reached through outreach, screening, and care services.
• 4,300 maternal health workers trained and equipped with essential tools.

National partners including March of Dimes and Creating Healthier Communities are among the recipients, along with local grantees implementing community-based solutions in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.

“This generous grant from the Elevance Health Foundation allows March of Dimes to meet families where they are—especially during one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives,” said Kelly Ernst, Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at March of Dimes. “It builds on the support we already provide through our NICU Family Support® program and helps us reach more families with timely mental health screenings and early intervention. We’re proud to continue working alongside Elevance Health Foundation to help improve health outcomes for every mom and baby.”

While $20 million in previous Foundation grants remain active in their communities, these new grants build on that success, supporting long-term solutions that ensure women, and their babies can achieve optimal health and well‑being.

The following organizations will receive more than $6.5 million in grants to launch their programs in communities across the country:

• 18 Reasons
• Bridge Project Inc.
• Child Poverty Action Lab
• Cobb Collaborative Inc.
• Community Development For All People
• Community Shelter Board
• Cradlewer Healthcare
• Healthy Futures of Texas
• Humankind
• JUST Community Inc.
• Living Grace Homes
• March Of Dimes
• Midtown Neighborhood Opportunities
• Nexus Recovery Center
• Nurture KC
• Pregnant With Possibilities Resource Center
• Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation
• SisterWeb
• Step2
• The Child Center of NY
• The Way Free Medical Clinic
• United Way of Southwest Virginia
• University of Notre Dame
• Urban Baby Indy
• Creating Healthier Communities
• Doula Co-Op of Nevada
• Expecting Relief
• First Step Home Inc.
• WildfloBeginnings

For more information about the Elevance Health Foundation and future RFPs, please visit elevancehealth.foundation/for-grantseekers.

About Elevance Health Foundation

Elevance Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Elevance Health Inc. The Foundation works to improve the health of the socially vulnerable through partnerships and programs in our communities with an emphasis on maternal-infant health; behavioral health; and food as medicine. Through its key areas of focus, the Foundation also strategically aligns with Elevance Health's focus on community health and becoming a lifetime, trusted health partner that is fueled by its purpose to improve the health of humanity. To learn more about Elevance Health Foundation, please visit www.elevancehealth.foundation or follow us @ElevanceFND on X and Elevance Health Foundation on Facebook.

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This latest round of funding is part of the Foundation’s five-year, $150 million commitment to addressing the physical, behavioral, and social needs of under-resourced communities.