Olivia Walton, Walmart heiress and CEO of Ingeborg Investments, announced a $100 million commitment over five years to reduce the United States maternal mortality rate by half. She launched the nonprofit Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America in April to address critical gaps in postpartum care. Walton made the announcement at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women conference in Santa Barbara, California, highlighting her personal experience with inadequate maternal care despite her family’s estimated $500 billion fortune.
Walton shared that after giving birth to her second child in 2020 in Arkansas, she did not receive the postpartum care she needed. This experience led her to investigate maternal health in her home state, which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country—approximately double the national average. She emphasized that Black and brown women face mortality rates three times higher than others. Walton’s nonprofit aims to tackle these disparities by investing in programs and initiatives that improve maternal health outcomes nationwide.
The U.S. maternal mortality rate remains a pressing public health issue, with significant racial and regional disparities. Arkansas’s rate compares unfavorably to countries like Cuba, underscoring the severity of the crisis. Walton’s $100 million pledge follows a growing trend of private philanthropy targeting maternal health, joining efforts by other foundations and organizations seeking to improve care quality and accessibility. Her initiative could influence policy and funding priorities in maternal health across the country.
Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America was founded in April 2026, and Walton’s $100 million investment is planned through 2031. The nonprofit’s work will focus on reducing maternal deaths and improving postpartum care, particularly for underserved communities. Walton’s public commitment at the Fortune conference marks a significant step in mobilizing resources to address maternal health disparities in the U.S.