Driving Change
Through Place-Based Philanthropy

A conference room with a woman presenting in front of an audience seated at round tables. She stands near flip charts with colorful sticky notes and a screen displaying "Birth Equity Funders." Chandeliers hang from the ceiling.

In collaboration with Afton Bloom and Boldly Go Philanthropy, CHAP helped launch the State Exchange to provide a platform where funders could share best practices for public-private partnerships; direct more funding to state-level maternal health initiatives; and strengthen existing health systems by ensuring resources go where they are needed most.

Unlike traditional approaches that add complexity to already-strained systems, the State Exchange strategically advances high-impact solutions to create lasting change.

Working Together for Longterm Transformation

HOW WE WORK

The State Exchange for Maternal Health unites state-level funders, government agencies, and community partners to create optimal birthing conditions for all. The State of Birth Equity (SOBE) initiative is the technical assistance arm of the State Exchange, providing support to funders who share our mission and seek greater alignment across their state’s birth equity ecosystem.

  • Facilitate convenings for funders and other partners, including state government, to learn and act together.

  • Conduct interviews, surveys, and secondary research on each state’s birth equity landscape

  • Our team members provide recommendations for grantmaking, convening, and other changemaking opportunities.

  • Advise on funder collaborative structure and operations and develop operational charters.

  • Make introductions to peers in other states and host cross-state learning sessions.

Map of the United States showing states involved in exploratory conversations and technical assistance, highlighted in different colors. Purple indicates exploratory conversations, and pink signifies technical assistance. States include CO, IL, MA, NC, PA, TN, WA under technical assistance, and others like CA, NY, TX under exploratory conversations.

An Expanding Footprint

Since 2022, the State Exchange team has provided technical assistance to funders and government partners in nine states and held exploratory conversations in fourteen more.

Additional funding for the State Exchange is provided by the Cambia Health Foundation and Pritzker Children’s Initiative.

The New Jersey Model:
A Blueprint for Change

In 2018, CHAP played a pivotal role in launching Nurture New Jersey, a statewide initiative to improve maternal and infant health. To ensure long-term impact, CHAP also established the New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance, a collaborative fund that mobilized over $2.5 million from six funding partners.

Through strategic partnerships with state agencies and community leaders, this initiative has helped to improve perinatal and postpartum health and move New Jersey’s maternal health ranking from 47th to 28th in the nation.

State of Birth Equity: Catalying Place-Based Philanthropy Impact Analysis

Since 2022, SOBE has provided catalytic support to partners across the country, helping to seed and convene early conversations, accelerate efforts, and amplify impact at state and community levels. This report documents meaningful progress towards birth equity made by funders and partners in nine states and what we’ve learned in the process about the value of collaboration.