Investing in the Future of Birthwork: Accessible, Equitable, and Community-Led
At Cornerstone Oakland Doula Collaborative, we believe that everyone who is called to care work should have the opportunity to train as a doula—and everyone navigating pregnancy, parenting, or reproductive transitions deserve care that is inclusive, dignified, and responsive to their lived experience.
From 800 Doulas Funded to a Scalable Resourced Movement: Investing in Community-Led Birthwork
For the last 19 years, Cornerstone Birthwork Trainings have been at the forefront of full-spectrum, culturally responsive doula education. In that time, we’ve quietly done something extraordinary: we funded over $400,000 in scholarships out of pocket, training more than 800 birthworkers at no cost to them.
These scholarships weren’t grant funded or externally funded. Our scholarships were funded directly out of program revenue - as a reflection of our values. We believe the people most connected to care should never be left out of of shaping how care is practiced, shared, and sustained.
Now, through our newly incorporated nonprofit, the Cornerstone Oakland Doula Collaborative, we’re transforming that legacy into infrastructure—inviting partners, funders, and community supporters to help us scale what we’ve proven works.
Scholarships aren’t just about access—they’re about building a more diverse, community-led perinatal workforce.
With every scholarship, we’re supporting doulas who reflect the communities most impacted by health inequities and preparing them to serve as Medicaid-eligible providers, community educators, and leaders in a shifting care landscape.
Help Us Fund the First 171—And Build What Birthworkers Actually Need to Thrive
We believe everyone who feels called to birthwork should have access to the training, support, and care they need to succeed. Not just tuition—but childcare, mentorship, peer support, and a community that holds them.
We’ve already funded over 800 scholarships out of pocket. Now we’re building something bigger—with your help.
We're scaling our scholarship program into a Birthworker Support Fund that includes:
Tuition for full-spectrum training
Childcare stipends
Peer mentorship & community support
Ongoing learning & leadership development
Estimated cost per fully supported birthworker: $1,500
We’re ready to fund our first 100 scholarships as a nonprofit and we need you with us.
Choose how you want to show up:
Your gift is fully tax deductible.
Cornerstone Oakland Doula Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 33-4546791.
Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for this contribution.