Philanthropists pledge $100M to halve U.S. maternal mortality rate by 2031

A bipartisan philanthropic campaign has pledged $100 million over five years to cut the U.S. maternal mortality rate in half by 2031, targeting what organizers describe as a worsening national crisis. Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America, founded by philanthropists Olivia and Tom Walton, announced the commitment on Thursday, September 10, 2026. The initiative comes as the United States continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy nations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 688 people died in 2024 during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth. The maternal mortality rate rose to 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, up from 18.6 the year before. "For millions of moms in America, maternal health is bad and getting worse," Olivia Walton told The Associated Press in an interview. "There's just so much bipartisan consensus around wanting to fix this." The campaign will focus on state-level reforms, improving data collection, expanding rural and postpartum care, and supporting bipartisan federal legislation. Dr.