March of Dimes

March of Dimes
Name	March of Dimes
Formation	1938
Founder	President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Type	Nonprofit organization
Purpose	Maternal and infant health; birth defects prevention; neonatal care; public health research
Headquarters	White Plains, New York
Location	United States
Leader title	CEO
Leader name	Stacey D. Stewart
Revenue	Charitable donations

March of Dimes is a United States nonprofit organization focused on improving maternal and infant health, preventing birth defects, and supporting families with newborns. Founded in 1938, the organization mobilized public figures, medical institutions, and scientific communities to combat childhood diseases and improve perinatal care. It funded landmark research, partnered with hospitals, and engaged in large-scale fundraising and advocacy campaigns across the United States.

History

The organization was established by Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the poliomyelitis epidemics that affected communities across the United States and Canada, linking efforts with leaders such as Eleanor Roosevelt and institutions like the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Early fundraising initiatives involved celebrities including Babe Ruth, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, and Ed Sullivan, and national campaigns engaged the public through partnerships with broadcasters such as NBC and CBS. During the mid-20th century, the organization supported laboratories at institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University, and collaborated with federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After successful efforts against poliomyelitis, leadership reoriented toward perinatal care and birth defects, aligning with researchers at March of Dimes Foundation Research Centers and networks that included Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs have addressed neonatal intensive care, prematurity prevention, and congenital disorders through initiatives linked to healthcare providers such as American Academy of Pediatrics and public health entities like the Food and Drug Administration. Local chapters coordinated with hospitals including Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Boston Children's Hospital, and Texas Children's Hospital to implement programs for prenatal education and neonatal screening. Campaigns emphasized folic acid awareness connected to findings from researchers at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and academic partners at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of California, San Francisco. Initiatives also included community outreach with organizations like United Way, collaborations with philanthropic figures such as Bill Gates through health partnerships, and alliances with advocacy groups including March for Babies affiliates and state health departments.

Research and Scientific Contributions

The organization funded pivotal research into poliomyelitis that supported vaccine development by scientists at Rockefeller Institute and vaccine laboratories linked to Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin. Later investments backed epidemiological studies at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, genetic research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and perinatal outcomes research at University of California, Los Angeles. Grants supported investigators affiliated with awards like the Lasker Award and publications in journals such as The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, and JAMA. Collaborative research networks have included partnerships with National Institutes of Health programs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance, and translational science hubs at Stanford University and Yale University. The organization has sponsored clinical trials, biostatistics initiatives, and neonatology fellowships associated with societies such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Fundraising and Advocacy

Fundraising methods have ranged from grassroots campaigns featuring celebrities like Johnny Carson and Oprah Winfrey to corporate partnerships with companies such as General Motors and PepsiCo. Annual signature events have included walks and galas similar to events organized by Red Cross and philanthropic efforts akin to those from American Cancer Society. Advocacy efforts targeted legislative measures in state capitols and with federal actors including members of United States Congress to influence maternal-child health policy, newborn screening mandates, and insurance coverage through interactions with agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services. The organization used public awareness campaigns leveraging media outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, and broadcast networks to shape public discourse on prematurity and congenital conditions.

Organizational Structure and Governance

The nonprofit maintained a national board of directors comprising leaders from philanthropy, medicine, and business, and maintained local chapters across states similar to the federated models used by United Way and American Heart Association. Executive leadership worked with scientific advisory councils populated by academics from institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Financial oversight adhered to nonprofit regulations and standards practiced by organizations like GuideStar and reporting principles advocated by Independent Sector. Collaboration with hospital systems including Kaiser Permanente and academic consortia guided program implementation and quality assurance.

Controversies and Criticism

The organization faced criticism over allocation of funds, fundraising expenditures, and program priorities similar to scrutiny faced by other large nonprofits such as United Way of America and American Red Cross. Debates emerged concerning funding for research versus direct services, transparency in financial reporting compared to standards promoted by Charity Navigator, and strategic decisions during transitions from polio eradication to maternal-child health that drew comparisons with program shifts at American Lung Association. Legal and ethical critiques involved questions about partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and donor influence resembling controversies experienced by organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Boy Scouts of America. Academics and patient advocates from institutions such as Columbia University and University of Chicago contributed to public discussions about priorities and accountability.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States