Atlanta GBI
The Atlanta GBI is a guaranteed income pilot run by March of Dimes' Atlanta Collective Impact Initiative, providing a $1,000 monthly stipend to 25 Black pregnant women in Fulton County, Georgia to improve maternal health and preterm birth outcomes. Funded with evaluation support from The Liz Blake Giving Fund, the program distributes funds via GiveCard prepaid cards. It launched in June 2025 and ran through the pregnancy and postpartum period into May 2026. Community partners including the Center for Black Women's Wellness, 4Kira4Moms, Georgia Black Doula Network, and Helping Mamas support enrollment and wraparound services.
Guaranteed Income, Maternal Health, Black Mothers, Preterm Birth, Fulton County, Pregnancy Pilot
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- March of Dimes (Maternal & Child Health Collective Impact Initiative)
- City
- Atlanta
- State / Province
- Georgia
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 25
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 12,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid Debit Card (GiveCard)
- Benefit details
Participants receive a $1,000 preloaded GiveCard stipend monthly throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period. Recipients have reportedly used funds primarily for rent, transportation, and groceries. Beyond cash, participants also receive supplies such as diapers and wipes, connections to doula services, and mental health support services. Purchasing data from the cards is being studied to understand social determinants of maternal health.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants were pregnant women between 12 and 28 weeks gestation living in Fulton County ZIP codes with high preterm birth rates (30331 and 30213). Participants also had to be financially insecure, generally at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (often already receiving Medicaid, TANF, or WIC, or working part-time). The program specifically targeted Black pregnant women, reflecting racial disparities in Atlanta's preterm birth and infant mortality rates.
Demographics
- Sex
- Female
- Gender
- Female
- Race / ethnicity targets
- Black
Family
- Family Status
- Expecting
Health
- Health conditions
- High risk of preterm birth
Financial
- Income as % of Federal Poverty Level
- 200 %
- Employment status
- Unemployed, Underemployed, Employed
Geography
- US states covered
- Georgia
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Atlanta
- Counties covered
- Fulton
- ZIP / postal codes covered
- 30331, 30213
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
The pilot doubles as a maternal health equity research study; March of Dimes and Liz Blake Giving Fund examine participants' card purchasing habits (e.g., spending on food, rent, transportation) to better understand social determinants of health and the link between economic security and preterm birth outcomes among Black mothers.
Application Process
- How to apply
Not an open public application; the fixed cohort of 25 women was enrolled through community-based partner organizations (Center for Black Women's Wellness, 4Kira4Moms, Georgia Black Doula Network, Helping Mamas) based on gestational age, ZIP code residency, and income eligibility.
- Selection process
Participants were identified and referred by March of Dimes' community-based partner organizations based on residency in target high-preterm-birth ZIP codes (30331, 30213), being 12-28 weeks pregnant, and household income at or below roughly 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
