$250,000 grant to Mamatoto Village will help transform the maternal health landscape for women of color in DC

In celebration of Maternal Health Awareness Day on January 23, the Greater Washington Community Foundation is proud to announce a $250,000 grant from the Developing Families Maternal Health Fund to help Mamatoto Village sustain and expand its maternal health and perinatal workforce training center in the heart of Ward 7.

“As a Ward 7 resident dedicated to advancing health equity for my community, I deeply understand the importance of Mamatoto Village to the maternal health ecosystem,” said Dr. Marla M. Dean, Senior Director for Health Equity at the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Mamatoto is the only organization of its kind operating East of the River where there are limited maternal health supports and options. The Developing Families Maternal Health Fund’s investment in Mamatoto will have an impact for decades to come.”

Founded by the legacy organization, the Developing Families Center, the Developing Families Maternal Health Fund is a movement to accelerate maternal health for women of color in the District of Columbia. The Fund is administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, which manages the investment strategy portfolio and the grantmaking process. The purpose of the Fund is to memorialize the Developing Families Center’s legacy mission to positively impact maternal health outcomes for women of color within the District of Columbia.

“Our Fund is excited to award this grant to Mamatoto Village, a remarkable organization dedicated to midwifery-driven healthcare, as part of our commitment to addressing and reversing the alarming decline in maternal and infant health outcomes for women of color in the District of Columbia,” said Andrea Miano, Fund Advisor, Developing Families Maternal Health Fund. “Midwives at Mamatoto Village prioritize listening, engaging, and empathizing with the women they serve—values that align closely with Developing Families’ investment priorities. We are committed to listening to and learning from the communities most affected by these disparities, as well as the frontline organizations delivering maternal health services. Guided by evidence and strategic intention, we aim to close the existing gaps and improve outcomes for all.”

Maternal Health Awareness Day is celebrated nationally by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to raise awareness of maternal mortality and educate women, physicians, and families about ways they can protect and care for expectant mothers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries. In Washington, DC, the data reveals an even more stark maternal health crisis – 90% of maternal deaths occur among Black women and more than 70% of maternal deaths occur in Wards 7 and 8.

In response to existing maternal and child health disparities in DC, Mamatoto Village is devoted to serving Black women by bolstering the local perinatal workforce and increasing access to high-quality maternal care. In 11 years of service to the Greater Washington region, Mamatoto Village has developed an interlocking model of community care that has served more than 3,400 women and families, facilitated thousands of births, and trained more than 250 women.

The grant will allow Mamatoto Village to pay off its construction loan and own its building outright – becoming one of the few, Black-led organizations in the District to do so – as part of a planned expansion effort. The new space has already allowed Mamatoto to increase the volume of service delivery, grow its staff, and continue to maintain a 0% maternal mortality rate.

“Ownership matters—it’s the foundation of independence, sustainability, and true liberation. Mamatoto Village is more than a maternal health organization—it’s a transformative movement for equity, empowerment, and better outcomes for Black women and families in the DC community,” said Aza Nedhari, Co-founder and Executive Director of Mamatoto Village. “By centering the needs and voices of Black mothers, we are redefining what it means to uplift a community, one family at a time.”

Learn more about the Developing Families Maternal Health Fund at www.developingfamilies.org.