July 2026
As we reach the halfway point of the year, we're taking a moment to celebrate the progress we've made together while looking ahead to the exciting opportunities still to come. Every scholarship awarded, every research project supported, and every birth center strengthened is possible because of this incredible community.
In this update, we're highlighting this year's research grant recipients, sharing an exciting invitation to our reimagined Moonlit Masquerade, and sending a gentle reminder about the upcoming deadline for the Lisa Ross Memorial Scholarship (due July 15th!), which offers funding to help more midwives, birth center administrators, and students access the education and connections offered at the AABC Birth Institute.
Thank you for being part of this movement and for helping us build a future where birth centers can thrive. We're grateful you're on this journey with us.
What's In This Issue?
Advancing the Birth Center Research Base
A New Tradition Begins
Scholarship & Grant Opportunities
Introducing New Giving Opportunities
Advancing the Birth Center Research Base
The AABC Foundation is committed to investing in research that strengthens the evidence for midwifery-led birth center care and supports innovation across our field. Each year, our Research Grant Program funds projects that address timely questions, improve clinical practice, and advance equitable, person-centered maternity care.
This year, we are proud to support the following research projects:
Birth Center Barriers: A Snapshot of State Medicaid Reimbursement
Rebecca Ofrane, DrPH, Montclair State University
This project will create the first comprehensive, nationwide database of Medicaid reimbursement rates for birth center care.United States Birth Center Transfer Study
Carrie Neerland, University of Minnesota
This study will examine transfers from planned birth center births to hospitals, identifying the factors that influence transfers and developing evidence-based recommendations.Rooted in Consensus: Advancing Birth Center Care Through Black Mothers’ and Doulas’ Vision of a Good Birth
Heather M. Rice PhD, CPNP-PC, PMHS, FAAN, Cleveland State University
This study will use Cultural Consensus Modeling to examine how mothers, doulas, and clinical providers define a “good birth”.Implementation Analysis of Opening the First Freestanding Birth House in the Czech Republic Using International Standards and Accreditation Indicators
Paula Pelletier-Butler, DM, MS, LM, CPM, Bastyr University
This project will develop a scalable roadmap for implementing internationally recognized birth center standards in countries without formal accreditation systems.
These projects represent the innovation, collaboration, and dedication driving the birth center movement forward. We look forward to sharing updates on their progress and the knowledge they'll contribute to improving care for birthing families across the country.
A New Tradition Begins
Get ready to celebrate in a whole new way on October 31, 2026 in Indianapolis! This year, the AABC Foundation is introducing the Moonlit Masquerade, a completely reimagined gala experience designed for connection, celebration, and fun.
Leave the formal program behind and step into an unforgettable evening filled with music, dancing, games, raffle prizes, and time to simply enjoy being together with the birth center community. Featuring the electrifying sounds of Jayne Bond & the Pink Martinis, the Moonlit Masquerade is all about creating memories while supporting the future of birth center care.
Ready to join us beneath the moonlight? Purchase your tickets today and add a masquerade mask to complete your look. Every ticket helps support AABC Foundation scholarships, grants, research, and education programs that strengthen the birth center movement.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Scholarship & Grant Opportunities
Lisa Ross Memorial Scholarship
The Lisa Ross Memorial Scholarship honors Lisa Ross, an early pioneer of the birth center movement, by supporting midwives, birth center administrators, and student midwives who are passionate about birth center care. The scholarship provides recipients with registration to the AABC Birth Institute, along with a $500 stipend for travel and lodging, helping remove financial barriers to education, connection, and professional growth within the birth center community.
Applications are open now through July 15, 2026 for this grant cycleChangemaker Accreditation Grants
The Changemaker Accreditation Grant was established in honor of the founders of the birth center movement and the current and future changemakers who propel the movement forward. The grant is designed to pay up to 100% of the initial accreditation fee or an accredited birth center’s annual fees due to the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC).
Applications are open now through September 1, 2026 for this grant cycleBirth Center Membership Support Grants
The Birth Center Membership Support Grant assists birth center applicants with up to 50% of membership fees due the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) for: (1) birth centers that are applying for membership for the first time and (2) birth centers that are due for membership renewal but experiencing a fiscal crisis. The AABCF has the exclusive authority to determine all grant guidelines, criteria, timelines and awards, and will monitor all grants.
Applications are open now through September 1, 2026 for this grant cycle
New Giving Opportunities
Monthly Giving Momentum Makers
We’re excited to launch Momentum Makers, a new monthly giving program that invites supporters to fuel our mission all year long. Monthly donors play a powerful role in strengthening the Foundation, providing steady, reliable support that helps us plan boldly, respond quickly, and grow sustainably.
Your monthly gift plants seeds, builds capacity, and expands access to midwifery-led birth center care for families across the country. Even small recurring gifts create long-term impact when we do it together.
Giving Circles
We’re excited to officially launch our Giving Circles, a new way to deepen your impact and help shape the future of the AABC Foundation.
These circles recognize supporters whose generosity, leadership, and vision are expanding access to midwifery-led birth center care across the country. Whether you’re helping lay the foundation for what’s next or sustaining the work that’s already in motion, there’s a place for you in this community.
Find your circle:
Legacy Circle – $10,000
Honoring those whose generosity shapes the future, growing more birth centers to serve more families.Champion Circle – $5,000
Recognizing leaders who advance our mission with strength and vision, helping our movement take root and thrive.Steward Circle – $1,000
Celebrating committed supporters who nurture our work and community.
Giving Circles offer a meaningful way to connect more deeply, invest more intentionally, and be part of a community driving real change. Join a Giving Circle and help grow the future of midwife-led birth center care.