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Nonprofit Provides New Moms With No-Conditions Cash

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — An organization called The Bridge Project is six months into its pilot program in Buffalo, helping 50 mothers avoid poverty.

“Before I got involved with The Bridge Project, I was living with my parents because I was in school, taking online classes and working full time, and I was terrified. I didn’t know what was going to happen,” said Bryana Leonard, who has a 4-month-old daughter named Athena.

What do you want to know?

  • The Bridge Project is a nonprofit organization that distributes funds from the Monarch Foundation to low-income expectant and new mothers.

  • In Buffalo, the organization has helped 50 new mothers since last December.

  • Bryana Leonard said it has been a big help in paying her rent and providing a place to live for her 4-month-old child.

  • The Bridge Project supports more than 1,200 mothers across the state


Last December, the pilot program reached out to 50 mothers, or expectant mothers, in need of financial assistance to have and raise their babies, including Leonard.

The Bridge Project is the nation’s first consistent, unconditional cash transfer program for mothers and their babies.

In Buffalo, it is estimated that each mother receives an average of $20,000 over three years, donated by the Monarch Foundation.

“While many important services exist, there is currently no program that allows a mother to pick up diapers at midnight if she runs out, or that allows her to spend money flexibly on a copay for an unscheduled pediatric visit,” said Stephanie Silkowski, director of policy and strategic initiatives at the Bridge Project.

According to the International Journal for Equity in Health, low socioeconomic status can lead to an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications, including abortion, preterm birth, preeclampsia, eclampsia and gestational diabetes.

This group of participants is between 18 and 37 years old, 60% of whom are mothers of color.

Fifteen out of 50 mothers have no annual household income and more than 50% of them earn less than $15,000 per year.

Leonard said his money helps him pay for an apartment for his family. It also allows him to continue focusing on his studies.

“This project alone shows how much we support each other in our community,” she said.

She currently supports over 1,200 mothers in New York State and continues to expand her reach into neighboring states.

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