About
Every Mother Counts is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, working to make pregnancy and childbirth safe, respectful, and equitable for every mother, everywhere. Founded in 2010 by Christy Turlington Burns following her documentary No Woman, No Cry, the organization raises awareness, invests in community-led maternal health solutions, and advocates for systems change in the U.S. and globally.
Mission
Every Mother Counts works to ensure that all people, everywhere, experience a safe, respectful, and equitable journey through pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
What they do
- Raising awareness: producing films and campaigns about maternal health, and running a U.S. Maternal Health Press Fellowship.
- Investing in community-led solutions: providing grants to U.S. and global grantee partners that deliver maternal health care and support.
- Advocating for systems change: working toward policy-level improvements in maternal health in the United States and internationally.
History
Every Mother Counts was founded in 2010 by Christy Turlington Burns, emerging from her documentary No Woman, No Cry, which premiered that year and highlighted global maternal health challenges and solutions. Global grantmaking launched in 2012 in Haiti, Indonesia, and Uganda, and U.S. grantmaking began in 2013. By 2016 the organization had invested more than $10.7 million and reached over 500,000 lives; in 2020 it surpassed 1 million lives impacted and doubled its grantmaking budget to $2 million. The organization celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2025.
Scale and impact
By 2023, Every Mother Counts reported more than 1.5 million lives impacted through work with over 35 grantee partners in 11 countries. The organization says it has invested tens of millions of dollars to advance solutions and policies that transform maternal health, with half of its support allocated to U.S.-based work. It maintains profiles with Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Better Business Bureau.
Financials
Per IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for fiscal year 2024 Every Mother Counts reported total revenue of $6,694,729, total expenses of $7,314,243, and net assets of $10,034,577, with contributions making up 93.9 percent of revenue. The IRS granted its tax exemption in April 2012, and it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Governance
Founder Christy Turlington Burns serves as President of the organization.