Mission, Values & Vision 

The Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Student Midwives Fund (BSMF) has responded to the racial disparity of maternal mortality rates in the U.S. by supporting the future leaders and visionaries who will be crucial to changing those stats moving forward — future BIPOC midwives.

BIPOC student midwives are crucial to transforming maternal health outcomes in the U.S., but they face systemic barriers at every turn. In a country where Black and Indigenous families are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience maternal mortality, BIPOC midwives bring the culturally competent, relationship-based care that families need most. Yet, financial hardships, lack of mentorship, and limited networks make it challenging for aspiring midwives of color to complete their training. We are here to change that, because when BIPOC midwives succeed, their communities thrive.

What We Believe

We believe that addressing racial disparities in healthcare must be led by those most impacted. BIPOC midwives and student midwives are the foundation of this work and deserve the resources, power, and community to succeed. They aren't just practitioners — they are healers, culture-keepers, and change-makers who carry generations of wisdom. They deserve not just support, but true investment in their power to revolutionize birth care.

Our vision of midwifery care goes beyond excellent clinical skills — it is revolutionary, protecting and celebrating birthing people and their families. We see a future where every birthing person is cared for by someone who understands their cultural heritage, honors their lived experience, and celebrates their whole identity. This is more than just healthcare, it's healing historical trauma and reclaiming birth as a sacred, empowering experience.

As an organization led by BIPOC student midwives, we speak from lived experience: we don't need saviors. What we need are accomplices, partners who understand that supporting BIPOC midwives means supporting the health and sovereignty of entire communities. Together, we're not just supporting healthcare providers; we're nurturing leaders who will transform the landscape of birth care for generations to come.

The BSMF’s goal is to reduce the barriers of BIPOC students becoming midwives by increasing access to skills, funding, and community-building opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Plant: Student Skills Share Program

BSMF hosts a FREE, monthly Student Skills program where students can learn hands-on midwifery skills from community midwives, share resources, and build connections. Students at any skill level are welcome to join the group. In addition, the program will support a small monetary gift for BIPOC students who attend a skill share day to help offset the cost of travel and their time.

These gatherings are a time where best practices and experiences are shared between a rotating group of midwives and students. Currently this is the largest gathering of Bay Area students! This work is so fundamental for building the relationships that help to make the hard work that a midwife does sustainable and safe for both the midwife and the community. These connections and skill shares are especially important for BIPOC student midwives who may have more barriers to shared community skills and fewer opportunities to connect with BIPOC students and midwives because of the overrepresentation of non-BIPOC midwives in the area.

The host midwives are rotated so students have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of many midwives. Priority is given to BIPOC midwives in the community.

Our Programs

Build: BIPOC Student Apprenticeship Fund

This portion of the fund goes directly to supporting student midwives who are in an apprenticeship.

Thanks to generous individual donors that share our vision, BSMF was able to provide 10 BIPOC student apprentices with $1,000 scholarships in 2024! These are vital funds that will provide students with some financial cushion, at a time when many are paying around $8,000 annually for midwifery school tuition/expenses; working a typically unpaid apprenticeship; working at least one part-time job; and living paycheck-to-paycheck in the notoriously expensive S.F. Bay Area.

Grow: New BIPOC Midwives Support

After finishing their studies and apprenticeship, a midwife is not yet ready to start their own practice. They must consider the cost of taking a licensing exam, buying equipment, getting a business license and medical number, maintaining a website and possibly social media, etc. This program will provide a start up package in the form of mentorship and funding for new BIPOC midwives in the Bay Area.

The program will provide a training day where new midwives can gather and go through a checklist of things they need to have and what needs to happen in order to legally open their own practice.

New midwives will be paired with experienced midwives for emotional and practical support.

Repair: Cultural Competency for non-BIPOC Midwives

There is currently an overrepresentation of white midwives practicing in the Bay Area, which in turn means there is an underrepresentation of BIPOC midwifery teachers, who are called preceptors, who will be training students. There is a history of harm that disproportionately impacts BIPOC students, who typically have no choice but to have white preceptors. One-off trainings have been shown to be ineffective — therefore, BSMF is in the process of envisioning a harm-reduction and restorative justice process that centers BIPOC student midwives. 

Make a donation.

Your tax deductible dollars go directly to BIPOC student midwives and new midwives. They will make a difference in the BIPOC communities they serve.

Donate Here