Approximately 1.9 million stillbirths occur worldwide every year. That’s one baby every 16 seconds. Miscarriages are even more common, with 10–15% of pregnant women losing their baby before 28 weeks. Baby loss takes a huge emotional toll on women and families. This is especially apparent when considering that the topic is still surrounded by stigma, leading to feelings of shame and a lack of available resources. Fortunately, charities are working hard to provide families with the support they need after the death of a baby. So, we had to ask: What are the best charities for stillborn babies & baby loss?

The best charities for stillborn babies and baby loss are March of Dimes and the Star Legacy Foundation. As well, charities such as the Genesis Trust and the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth fund research into the prevention of stillbirths and miscarriage.

Whether you want to make sure families have support after the death of a baby, invest in research to prevent stillbirths, or ensure every healthcare professional is equipped with the knowledge they need to help families cope with their loss, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities for stillborn babies & baby loss are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities for Stillborn Babies & Baby Loss Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact and transparency ratings, and achievements.

They operate all over the world, from North America to the UK, supporting women and families after the tragic loss of a baby.

Many of the charities on this list focus their efforts on providing talk therapies and peer support groups to help families navigate through the grief process.

Other charities focus on funding research into the prevention of stillbirths and reduce the prevalence of miscarriage.

Yet, all these charities share the same goal; to eliminate the stigma surrounding baby loss and make sure every family has the support they need after the death of their baby.

These Are the 9 Best Charities for Stillborn Babies & Baby Loss in 2024

Below are our favorite charities for stillborn babies & baby loss (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities For Stillborn Babies & Baby Loss

March of Dimes

Star Legacy Foundation

Share

Tommy’s

Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth

Sands

The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation

Genesis Research Trust

Project Sweet Peas

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

March of Dimes: Healthy Moms. Strong Babies.

March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by Franklin D. Roosevelt to tackle the polio epidemic but later shifted their focus to address the issue of birth defects. Today, the charity is committed to ending preventable infant death and maternal health risks. 

March of Dimes holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“To end the preventable maternal health risks and deaths, end preventable preterm birth and infant death, and close the health equity gap.”

March of Dimes

March of Dimes ensures the best possible start for babies across the US by educating healthcare professionals on effective maternal and infant care, including neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Their website also acts as an information hub for pregnant women and families to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce the risks of infant mortality. In addition, the charity runs mobile health centers to ensure every mother and child has access to comprehensive care. They’ve also released their Compass app to support new parents in their journey by providing information, resources, and professional support. 

Since their founding, March of Dimes has supported more than 4 million pregnant women across the US. Today, they run over 79 NICU Support Sites that serve more than 52,000 families. For example, in 2022, 4,100 patients received care through their mobile health centers and 33,000 healthcare professionals received live and in-person education. In addition, their efforts led to the implementation of 49 new federal and state bills to improve health equity for new and bereaved parents. Furthermore, they invested $5.7 million into research on the causes of prematurity and baby loss.

You can donate directly to March of Dimes through their website. You can also support the charity by joining their March for Babies awareness event or through legacy giving. 

Star Legacy Foundation: Because Every Pregnancy Deserves a Happy Ending

The Star Legacy Foundation was founded in 2006 by a group of bereaved families to raise money for stillbirth research. Today, the charity is the nation’s leader in the prevention and care of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and neonatal death. 

The Star Legacy Foundation holds a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“To increase awareness, support, research, promote education, and encourage advocacy and family support regarding stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and neonatal death.”

Star Legacy Foundation

The Star Legacy Foundation offers family support to people who have experienced any form of perinatal loss, including stillbirths and prematurity via their helpline or through peer support groups. They also support and conduct research into stillbirths for prevention and care. In addition, the charity offers continued education courses for health professionals who care for families going through baby loss and advocate for policies that support families and expand research into the reasons behind stillbirths. 

Today, the Star Legacy Foundation runs over 20 chapters across the US to support people experiencing baby loss. In 2022 alone, the charity supported over 500 families, facilitated 200 hours of peer support groups, and rallied 1,500 participants in their advocacy events. In the same year, they also distributed more than 93,000 educational materials to 273 organizations in 43 states to educate people about baby loss and to support grieving families. In addition, the Star Legacy Foundation trained 24 new peer companions and exhibited at 10 pregnancy expos around the country.

You can donate directly to the Star Legacy Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering or supporting as you shop. 

Share: Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support

Share was founded in 1977 by Sister Jane Marie Lamb to provide support to grieving families in Illinois who had lost a baby. Today, the charity offers a community of support for anyone who has experienced the death of a baby. 

According to their financial report, Share has spent 58% of their expenditure on program services, 21.5% on administration, and 20% on fundraising. 

“To serve those whose lives are touched by the tragic death of a baby through pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or in the first few months of life.”

Share

Share provides online and in-person support groups to help people navigate the grief that comes with losing a baby. They also host 10 free memorial events a year and offer memorial bricks for families to add their child’s name underneath the Angel of Hope statue in the Ben Rau Memorial Garden, Missouri. In addition, they provide comprehensive perinatal bereavement care training to caregivers, healthcare professionals, and funeral directors. Furthermore, in St Louis, they offer a private comfort room for parents and families, where they can contemplate their lost child, engage in art therapy, or simply grieve. 

Today, Share is a national organization with over 79 chapters in 29 states across the US. For example, within a two-year period, the charity trained 765 medical professionals and caregivers to provide proper care to families dealing with the loss of a baby. Furthermore, every year, 3,000 people attend their Share Walk for Remembrance and Hope to remember their precious babies and raise awareness. In addition, four times a year, the charity facilitates burials free of charge to grieving families through their local partner, Baue Funeral Home. 

You can donate directly to Share through their website. You can also support the charity by giving the gift of comfort or volunteering.

Tommy’s: Saving Babies’ Lives

Tommy’s was founded in 1992 by two obstetricians, Dr. Ian Ferguson and Dr. Anthony Kenney, to raise funding for pregnancy research projects to reduce the number of stillbirths. Today, Tommy’s is the largest charity in the UK carrying out research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. 

According to their financial report, Tommy’s has spent 53% of their income on charitable activities and 33% on fundraising. 

“We’re here to stop the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and make pregnancy and birth safe for everyone.”

Tommy’s

Tommy’s conducts groundbreaking research into baby loss and the causes of pregnancy complications. They then bring together researchers, health professionals, and communities to advocate for legislative changes based on new research to support grieving families and lower the overall death rate of babies. They also run a Midwives’ helpline to offer support to anyone who has lost a baby, and their website acts as an evidence-based information hub to educate the public on safe pregnancy and the risk factors to watch out for. 

Since their founding, Tommy’s has remained committed to improving the outcomes of pregnancy and supporting people who have experienced baby loss. For example, in 2022, over 6,400 people received support through the Tommy’s helpline and 16 million people visited their online Pregnancy Hub. In the same year, 12,500 people attended their support groups and they published more than 100 research papers into the causes of pregnancy complications and baby loss.

You can donate directly to Tommy’s through their website. You can also assist the charity by supporting one of their campaigns or by purchasing merchandise from their online shop. 

Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth: Making Every Birth Count

The Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) was founded in 2007 by Seattle Children’s Hospital to reduce the impact of negative birth outcomes. Today, GAPPS strives to reduce the risk of preterm births and stillbirths through research and collaboration with like-minded organizations.

The Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) holds a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“To increase awareness and accelerate innovative research and interventions to improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes around the world.”

Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS)

The Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) conducts and supports research to close the gaps in our knowledge about the reasons behind stillbirths and prematurity. For example, the charity offers full bioservice management, including sample storage and tracking, to support research on complications in pregnancy. Furthermore, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and Jhpiego, GPPS launched their Born Healthy project to test an innovative model to improve antenatal care in India, including the testing and treatment of maternal infections, as well as the provision of calcium supplements.

Since their founding, the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) has remained committed to improving birth outcomes through research. For example, they have collected data from the pregnancies of 2,500 women, including 136,000 banked specimens, to advance research into preterm baby loss. Over 3,000 of these specimens have already been distributed to researchers in order to develop initiatives to prevent baby loss. In addition, they contributed to a report highlighting the first-ever regional, national, and global estimates of preterm birth.

You can donate directly to the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) through their website. You can also support the charity by becoming a GAPPS Mom or through advocacy. 

Sands: Saving Babies’ Lives. Supporting Bereaved Families

Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) was founded in 1978 by a group of bereaved parents to provide support to people who have experienced baby loss. Today, the charity amplifies the voices of bereaved families to advocate for more support and research.

According to their financial report, Sands has spent 48.4% of their income on charitable activities and 42% on raising funds. 

“Reduce the number of babies dying and to support anyone affected by the death of a baby before, during, or shortly after birth.”

Sands 

Sands runs support groups across the UK, as well as an online community to help bereaved parents cope with the loss of a baby. Furthermore, they offer specific groups for Black communities, South Asian communities, and men, who often face additional barriers to support. They also fund research studies into the causes of neonatal deaths and the monitoring of at-risk babies to lower the death toll around the country. In addition, Sands offers free memory boxes and other supportive resources to grieving parents and training to health professionals to help them effectively support parents and families through the loss of a baby. 

To date, Sands has supported 18,921 bereaved families through the grieving process and provided localized support to 13,453 members through their local in-person groups. In addition, the charity has trained 3,000 healthcare professionals and supported 130 research studies into neonatal deaths to improve survival rates. For example, in 2022, 779,304 people accessed their baby loss support and safer pregnancy guides. In the same year, they offered training and learning opportunities to 6,652 healthcare professionals.

You can donate directly to Sands through their website. You can also support the charity by taking part in a fundraising event or by getting involved in research. 

The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation: Providing Financial Assistance to Families in Crisis

The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation was founded in 2019 by Michelle and Mark Tisdahl after they lost their own preterm daughter, Colette Louise, at just nine weeks old. Today, the charity is committed to assisting in the grieving process of other parents through support, advocacy, and financial assistance. 

According to their financial report, the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation has spent 93.8% of their expenditure on grants and 2% on accounting fees.

“Improve outcomes of pregnancy, childbirth, infancy, and prematurity, as well as assist in the grieving process through financial assistance, education, and advocacy.”

The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation

The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation provides financial assistance to families who find themselves in situations with pregnancy complications, NICU stays, and infant loss, including funeral and burial expenses. The charity also offers free information and guidance on topics such as pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and infant death for families going through the grieving process. In addition, they run virtual and in-support groups to help families cope with their traumatic loss. 

Since their founding, the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation has supported 2,238 families through the grieving process of losing a baby across 50 states. In addition, the charity has distributed over $1.4 million in grants to 8,347 clients. They also add the names of angel babies to their Wall of Hope to acknowledge the death of every infant and the families they serve. 

You can donate directly to the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by purchasing their merchandise or hosting a fundraiser. 

Genesis Research Trust: Reducing Preventable Baby Loss Through Research

The Genesis Research Trust was founded in 1978 by IVF pioneer Professor Robert Winston to understand the reasons behind stillbirths, preterm birth, and miscarriage. Today, the charity is the largest collaboration of reproductive health researchers in the UK. 

According to their financial report, the Genesis Research Trust has spent 89.5% of their expenditure on charitable activities and 10.4% on raising funds.

“Funding research to progress the understanding of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and reproductive cancers, in order to reduce preventable baby loss.”

Genesis Research Trust

The Genesis Research Trust utilizes their team of scientists to fund and support research studies into the causes of preterm birth and stillbirth. For example, they are currently working to understand cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission between mother and baby, which can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. The charity also offers a free service called Ask Robert, where parents and prospective parents can ask questions about fertility and IVF. In addition, they run events to keep medical professionals at the forefront of imaging, neonatology, and pediatrics. 

Since their founding, the Genesis Research Trust has raised and spent over $80 million on pregnancy, preterm birth, and stillbirth research projects. This has led to successful advancements in the reduction of birth injuries in babies and new ways to prevent genetic diseases. For example, they have developed an inexpensive blood test to assess the risk of severe obstetric cholestasis, which is known to treble the risk of stillbirth. Women identified as high-risk are now offered early induced labor at 37 weeks. 

You can donate directly to the Genesis Research Trust through their website. You can also support the charity by leaving a gift in your will or by sending a Genesis Research Trust ecard. 

Project Sweet Peas: Inspiring Hope Through Remembrance

Project Sweet Peas was founded in 2009 by Corin Nava, Stephanie Olivarez, and Kate Crawford to support other parents who had children in the neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) or those who had suffered from baby loss. Today, the charity is a nationwide network of parents committed to supporting grieving parents. 

Project Sweet Peas holds a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“To empower and support families of fragile infants and to inspire hope through remembrance for those affected by pregnancy and infant loss.”

Project Sweet Peas

Project Sweet Peas offers support and services to families that have experienced baby loss through the distribution of care packages and memorials to foster memory-making and allow them to navigate the grieving process. For example, they offer memory kits and personalized Amazonite heart ornaments to families that have lost a baby. They also run annual community events to honor families affected by pregnancy or baby loss, such as their Luminary Vigils. In addition, the charity lists further organizations and resources for anyone experiencing baby loss.

Since their founding, Project Sweet Peas has delivered 7,646 bereavement memory boxes and 32,227 NICU care packages. In addition, the charity has run over 30 remembrance events, including Write Your Grief workshops, and 250 in-hospital NICU events to support families in need. Today, the charity has 16 distribution and care centers across the US. 

You can donate directly to Project Sweet Peas through their website. You can also support the charity by purchasing items from the Sweet Pea online shop or volunteering. 

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities for stillborn babies & baby loss. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help—each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. Charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to stillborn babies & baby loss—based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities—and what we can do about it:

Sources

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