Who We Are
The Doula Collective was founded to close the gap between essential care and community access.
We saw families nationwide navigating pregnancy, birth, postpartum, lactation, and even the end of life without the support they deserve — and we saw care providers doing powerful work with limited visibility, community, and resources.
We created this nonprofit to bring it all together: a national, inclusive network where doulas and lactation consultants can be found, supported, and celebrated, and where families and individuals can access care that honors their unique needs, values, and identities.
We believe compassionate care is a human right, and The Doula Collective exists to uplift the professionals who provide it and the people who rely on it.
This is more than a directory. It’s a movement.
The Doula Collective
A Nationwide Vision Born in Rhode Island
The founder, Lily Towner, has been a part of Doulas of Rhode Island — a directory established in 2011 to increase visibility for doulas and improve access to doula care across the state. That platform has fostered a strong, connected community among doulas, built friendships, and made it easier for families to find support. It’s a space where information, ideas, and experiences are freely shared — and it’s been transformative.
Living in Rhode Island, right on the Massachusetts border, I often found myself wishing for a similar collective in neighboring states — somewhere like The Doulas of Massachusetts — to make it easier for families there to find myself and other doulas. After waiting and wishing, it finally hit me: Why not me? And more importantly, why stop at Massachusetts?
That’s how The Doula Collective was born — a nationwide network and directory designed to uplift doulas and empower families across all 50 states. This has been a long-term dream, and I’m thrilled to see it finally taking shape. I believe families everywhere deserve compassionate support, evidence-based guidance, and the power to make informed decisions. Together, we can spark real change in the doula industry and make birthwork more visible, respected, and accessible than ever before.
