Frequently Asked Questions

Black Mothers Blooming is a reparative gift, meant specifically to acknowledge and address the historical harms that have been perpetuated against Black communities, and specifically Black mothers, as a result of this country’s legacy of enslavement and structural racism. While we understand and deeply value the inherent diversity of Blackness in the U.S., we simply ask that applicants reflect on their relationship to this history, and identify whether their experiences have been affected by the historic and ongoing disinvestment in Black communities. If your lived experiences align with this, please apply.

We know that motherhood comes in many forms, and we want to make sure we’re being as inclusive as possible. Black Mothers Blooming is open to anyone who identifies as a mother or a woman caregiver. We also know that sometimes a child is cared for by their grandmother, auntie, sister, or family friend. As long as that person has physical custody of the child and can demonstrate it, they’re eligible to apply.

Black Mothers Blooming accepts applications from mothers or women-identifying caregivers ages 18 and over.

No! We accept applications from any Black mothers or women-identifying caregivers no matter their relationship status or marital identity. 

As long as you have at least one child under your care whose age is 10 or under as of October 1, 2024, you are eligible to apply. 

If you have a child who is 10 years old or younger as of October 1, 2024, you are eligible to apply. In other words, if your youngest child is turning 11 on or before October 1, you are not eligible to apply.

No, as long as you answer required questions truthfully, there is nothing more you can do to strengthen your application. The selection process will be entirely randomized, and no individual or organization will have any say over the results. 

Yes! We are hosting a series of in-person help sessions throughout the month of October. Please visit the Apply Here page to find a location near you.

Yes. We simply ask that applicants have a verifiable address in Charlottesville City or Albemarle County. If you are unhoused, currently living in a shelter, or have other temporary living arrangements, you may use any address where you can receive mail, including a shelter, a P.O. Box, or the address of a local agency that holds mail. If you are unsure what your options are, please contact us for more information.

Once you submit your application, we ask that you only reach out if your contact information changes. If your email, phone number, or physical address has changed since submitting your application, please send your updated information to blackmothersblooming@gmail.com

We use HUD’s definition of household, which is “all the people who occupy a housing unit.” A household includes you, and anyone you live with such as family members, roommates, lodgers, spouse, partners, or children.  

Any eligible mother or woman-identifying caregiver may apply, but only one may be selected per household. 

Funds will be sent in the form of a paper check, or dispersed via direct deposit in a bank, or financial services platform.

Yes! It really is. All eligible applicants will be entered into a lottery-style software that will select participants. No individual, group, or organization will have any say in the selection process.

We expect significant interest in this program, and ask for your patience as we process applications upon close. We plan to notify applicants by January 15, 2025 regarding their status, but onboarding may take anywhere from 3-6 months.

This website contains all the information relevant to Black Mothers Blooming. Priority will be given for questions regarding the application process, necessary documentation, or eligibility in order to ensure  responsiveness to applicants’ needs. Throughout this process, we ask that media and press respect the integrity of Black Mothers Blooming by not reaching out to individual partner organizations. A detailed piece on the work of Black Mothers Blooming will be posted on this website soon. 

Black Mothers Blooming is a program for Black mothers, built by Black mothers. The steering committee is a group of 9 local mothers who were selected by the funders with recommendations from local community organizations. They have helped to develop the policies and guidelines in collaboration with the program partners. The steering committee will not be participating in the selection of participants. 

This is an unconditional gift and no reporting is required. Selected participants may use the funds in any way they see fit. Participation in qualitative data collection will always be voluntary, confidential, and paid; and will not affect selection for – or ongoing participation in – Black Mothers Blooming. Any information participants share as part of the evaluation will not identify them as individuals, and participants will never be asked to report how they used their funds.

The information provided by applicants to Black Mothers Blooming is confidential and will only be viewed by program managers responsible for maintaining the functionality of the application, ensuring proper notifications are received, and leading intake interviews for selected applicants. Information provided for research and evaluation purposes to The Equity Center will not contain any identifying information unless the applicant has opted in to share this information.  

Applicant information will never be shared, sold, or in any way given to third parties. If you have any additional questions about privacy of information, please send an email to blackmothersblooming@gmail.com