Thirty thousand dollars can take a new pregnancy center a long way. From payroll to training materials to rent, renovations, and other start-up costs, a grant of that size can help turn the distant dream of serving pregnant women into a full-blown reality.
This September, Heartbeat International—a worldwide network of 2,600 pregnancy help centers—is hoping to do just that with its brand new program designed to inspire a new season of pregnancy help center start-ups in under-served parts of the country.
Following a matching grant format, the program, known as Life Launch, offers $30,000 in funds and resources to a limited number of new pregnancy help centers.
Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International, says the goal of the program is to help much-needed pregnancy centers get off the ground and running with intensive support from the organization’s specialists.
“The first year can be an exciting but daunting time for a new pregnancy center, especially in communities that have perhaps never seen one before,” he said. “Through Life Launch, Heartbeat is able to come alongside pregnancy help centers to motivate and encourage them along the way with the financial and educational support they need to successfully serve families.”
The Grant
Providing $10,000 in resources—such as Heartbeat International’s Pregnancy Help Starter Kit, access to the organization’s fundraising webinars, and two years’ worth of web services—a portion of the grant is directed to equipping the leadership of these new centers with the knowledge and training they need for continued success.
The other $20,000 in funds will be dispersed as the center achieves milestones over the course of its first 12 months.
As a matching grant, the Life Launch program requires that centers raise $30,000 within one year of acceptance into the program. Upon doing so, centers unlock $15,000 of the remaining funds. Finally, a completed legal review after one year of operation unlocks the remaining $5,000.
Here’s a quick look at what grant recipients will receive through the $30,000 Life Launch Grant:
- $10,000 in Heartbeat International training resources and services
- $15,000 in funds granted once $30,000 is raised by the center within the first year
- $5,000 in funds after one year and completed legal review
Eligibility
New, unopened pregnancy help centers are eligible for the Life Launch Grant. In some select cases, centers that are no more than six months old prior to application may be eligible for the grant as well.
Additionally, the Heartbeat team is looking for centers who plan to locate in under-served parts of the U.S.—communities where there are no pregnancy help centers or where another center is needed to meet the population’s needs.
The Process
To be considered for the Life Launch Grant, hopeful pregnancy centers first must take an online assessment to see whether they qualify to apply. Individuals interested in taking the assessment can do so at any time.
Those who pass the assessment will be invited within two weeks to complete the formal application process, starting September 1 and ending October 31.
“This fall presents a unique opportunity for a new season of pregnancy centers to take flight,” said Godsey. “We are eager to see how Life Launch assists these centers in the realization of their dreams to help women and their children throughout the U.S. Life Launch is sure to set centers up not only for the first year but for many more to come.”
