Release Date: January 7, 2025
Request for Applications Deadline: January 31, 2025
ABOUT BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK
Founded and led nationally by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is a week-long campaign to raise awareness, foster activism, and build community through amplifying the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black mamas and birthing people. Held annually April 11-17, the week is intentionally held during National Minority Health Month and begins on the International Day of Maternal Health Rights.
The official theme for 2025 is Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health through Collective Action and Advocacy.
THE OPPORTUNITY
At bi3, we believe our community can be a place where every mother and young child has access to the care and resources they need to thrive, from pregnancy to early childhood. Within our work, we prioritize reducing health disparities for Black women. To that end, bi3 is making funding available to support local efforts occurring during and in alignment with the mission of Black Maternal Health Week.
We aim to support up to ten events across our four-county footprint (Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren in Ohio). Our goal is to support a diversity of event types, which could include but are not limited to:
- Screenings of films centering Black maternal health (such as Chocolate Milk, Birthing Justice, Sister Doula, The American Dream)
- Education or awareness-building events, advocacy events
- Panel discussions with Black women and other experts/leaders in the Black maternal health space
- Storytelling events around Black maternal health (for broad or limited audiences)
- Social media/message campaigns, including photography and/or videography highlighting Black families or birth workers
- Black maternal wellness-centric events, specifically for Black birthing people
- Resource fairs, community meet-ups, block parties or community baby showers (limit of 1-2 per county)
Events must take place during Black Maternal Health Week and be free to the public (though they can be tailored to specific audiences and require registration). Grants made through this opportunity will range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the size and scope of the engagement.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PREFERENCES
To be eligible to receive a bi3 grant under this opportunity, organizations must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
- Have experience in and/or have a focus on addressing Black maternal health
- Provide services in Hamilton, Butler, Clermont or Warren Counties in Ohio
- Request funding between $2,000 – $10,000, aligned with the size and scope of the engagement
Funds cannot be used to support healthcare levies, individual political campaigns, annual operating support, emergency requests, scholarships, endowments, or grants to individuals.
bi3 will prioritize organizations and work that brings multiple partners together in collaboration. We will seek to fund a collection of diverse event types happening throughout the week for varying audiences.
PROMOTION AND REPORTING
bi3 will compile and share a list of all funded engagements to increase community awareness and spur participation. Organizations will be required to submit:
- A photo or simple flyer for the event
- Official event name and short description
- Finalized location, time and date information
- Any social media accounts we should tag
At the conclusion of Black Maternal Health Week, funded organizations will be required to submit a short report with high-level information about the impact of the event, including the number of people engaged and key takeaways. We appreciate any photos from the engagement as well, with all necessary permissions received.
APPLYING FOR FUNDS
Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their application status by no later than February 7, 2025.
To apply, please complete this short form. Only applications received through this form by the deadline will be considered for funding.