Is March of Dimes losing donations?

Yes. Contributions fell from $77.98M in 2022 to $59.78M in 2024, a 23% decline over two years, per its own 2024 Annual Report Financials filed September 2025. Net assets still rose $8.03M in 2024, but the revenue base has shrunk for three straight years.

Could AI replace March of Dimes?

Unlikely to replace its core role. In September 2025 its Prematurity Research Center dataset was chosen as one of only ten datasets for the US NSF's NAIRR AI pilot, the only pregnancy/health dataset selected, meaning AI is being fed by its data rather than displacing its advocacy and research functions.

Who runs March of Dimes now?

Cindy Rahman, former Chief Medical Officer and interim CEO from August 2024, became permanent President and CEO on February 6, 2025. She is the organization's second CEO in 18 months, following Dr. Elizabeth Cherot who took the role in July 2023.

Is March of Dimes financially healthy?

Mixed. Net assets grew $8.03M in 2024 versus $1.23M in 2023, and cash/investments held steady near $30.6M, but this came from spending less: expenses fell to $86.24M as contributions dropped to $59.78M, down 23% from $77.98M in 2022.

Who is March of Dimes' biggest competitor?

Every Mother Counts, founded 2010 by Christy Turlington Burns, is the closest named peer but operates at far smaller scale, self-reporting $54M invested since founding versus March of Dimes' $1.8B raised cumulatively through March for Babies since 1970.

Is it safe to take a job at March of Dimes?

Caution warranted. The organization has changed CEOs twice in 18 months (2023 and 2025) and contributions dropped 23% from $77.98M in 2022 to $59.78M in 2024, financial contraction historically linked to prior 2017 layoffs and pension cuts at the organization.

Nonprofits and NGOs · United States

March of Dimes

marchofdimes.org ↗

88-year-old nonprofit funding maternal and infant health research, advocacy, and support programs.

Losing its protection

Assessed 26 July 2026 · Evidence as of 26 July 2026

The structural protection is eroding.

On the recordSince 26 July 2026 · Checkable from late 2026 · Every call on the record Checkpoint: FY2025 Annual Report release, which will show whether contributions kept falling or stabilized

The call

March of Dimes still holds real trust and data advantages, but two straight years of falling donations and thinning staff show an organization shrinking faster than it is adapting.

March of Dimes is an 88-year-old nonprofit that funds research and programs to help babies and mothers stay healthy. It has built real advantages over decades: people trust its name, it has unique medical data, and lawmakers listen to it. But the organization is shrinking. Donations dropped 23% in two years, staff shrank 8%, and job openings fell 79%. No single rival or AI tool is replacing what March of Dimes does; instead, the charity itself is contracting. The key question is whether 2025 donations stop the decline or keep falling. If donations fall for a fourth year in a row or the organization announces major cost cuts, the shrinkage is real and lasting, not just a temporary dip.

Why

AI pressure: AI health chatbots like ChatGPT and Ovia Health's app-based guidance. AI chat tools and maternity apps now answer pregnancy questions directly, pulling traffic and attention from March of Dimes' own education content. Could AI do the core job? Unlikely.

Bigger players: Ovia Health (Labcorp) and insurer-run maternity programs. Insurers and health systems now offer their own maternity tracking and support tools, reducing the need for a third party health educator. Could a giant copy it? No, they are blocked.

What protects it. 88 years of brand trust, a unique preterm birth data set, and congressional access that newer players cannot quickly replicate.

What would change this call

March of Dimes FY2025 Annual Report contribution total, due late 2026. Shows whether the three-year donation decline continues or stabilizes.
Job postings and headcount figures reported for 2026. Indicates whether hiring freeze deepens or organization begins rebuilding staff.
Rahman's strategic reset plan announcement within 6 months. Reveals whether leadership pursues cuts, mergers, or growth strategy.

Key numbers

Contributions fell 23%, $77.98M to $59.78M (2024-12-31)
2024 expenses of $86.24M nearly matched $86.2M in contributions (2024-12-31)
March for Babies has raised over $1.8B since 1970 (2026-04-25)

Named risks

Contributions fell 23% from $77.98M (2022) to $59.78M (2024), a multi-year decline. Severity: high
Two CEO changes in 18 months (2023 and 2025) risk strategic continuity. Severity: medium
Federal Medicaid and HHS vaccine policy volatility could affect funding and advocacy focus. Severity: medium
Historical precedent of 2017 layoffs and pension cuts shows recurring contraction cycles. Severity: medium

Rivals, as read in July 2026

Rival	Direction	Evidence
Every Mother Counts	contesting	Self-reports $54M invested since 2010 vs March of Dimes $1.8B since 1970 (vendor-claimed)
CDC	contesting	Supplies underlying vital statistics March of Dimes analyzes, structurally barred from lobbying role
ACOG and AAP	contesting	Major clinical guideline bodies that partner with rather than replace March of Dimes advocacy
National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition	gaining on	Co-founded 1981, ceased independent operations 2015, folded into Zero to Three

Questions people ask

Is March of Dimes losing donations?: Yes. Contributions fell from $77.98M in 2022 to $59.78M in 2024, a 23% decline over two years, per its own 2024 Annual Report Financials filed September 2025. Net assets still rose $8.03M in 2024, but the revenue base has shrunk for three straight years.
Could AI replace March of Dimes?: Unlikely to replace its core role. In September 2025 its Prematurity Research Center dataset was chosen as one of only ten datasets for the US NSF's NAIRR AI pilot, the only pregnancy/health dataset selected, meaning AI is being fed by its data rather than displacing its advocacy and research functions.
Who runs March of Dimes now?: Cindy Rahman, former Chief Medical Officer and interim CEO from August 2024, became permanent President and CEO on February 6, 2025. She is the organization's second CEO in 18 months, following Dr. Elizabeth Cherot who took the role in July 2023.
Is March of Dimes financially healthy?: Mixed. Net assets grew $8.03M in 2024 versus $1.23M in 2023, and cash/investments held steady near $30.6M, but this came from spending less: expenses fell to $86.24M as contributions dropped to $59.78M, down 23% from $77.98M in 2022.
Who is March of Dimes' biggest competitor?: Every Mother Counts, founded 2010 by Christy Turlington Burns, is the closest named peer but operates at far smaller scale, self-reporting $54M invested since founding versus March of Dimes' $1.8B raised cumulatively through March for Babies since 1970.
Is it safe to take a job at March of Dimes?: Caution warranted. The organization has changed CEOs twice in 18 months (2023 and 2025) and contributions dropped 23% from $77.98M in 2022 to $59.78M in 2024, financial contraction historically linked to prior 2017 layoffs and pension cuts at the organization.

Timeline

2026-05-13FLIP-2 preterm birth clinical trial launched at Imperial College London PRC
2026-02-03March of Dimes applauds PREEMIE and PMDA inclusion in FY26 federal funding package
2025-11-17US earns D+ on March of Dimes Report Card for fourth consecutive year
2025-10-09Innovation Fund marks 3rd anniversary with six portfolio companies
2025-09-03PRC pregnancy dataset chosen for NSF National AI Research Resource pilot
2025-05-15Gourmet Gala fundraiser raises over $1.5 million
2025-02-06Cindy Rahman named permanent President and CEO
2024-12-31FY2024 contributions reported at $59.78M, down from $77.98M in 2022
2023-07-10Dr. Elizabeth Cherot named President and CEO
2017Organization laid off 100 staff and cut pensions amid long-term decline

Revision history

26 July 2026

First assessed. Losing its protection. The text above is fixed as of this date and is not edited afterwards.

In the same band

World Health Organization Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Save the Children