Is The Mom Project Legit? An Honest Look for Moms

Is The Mom Project legit? Yes. It is a real Chicago company, founded in 2016 by Allison Robinson, that matches mothers and other professionals with employers, and its own FAQ states that the platform is free for all talent (The Mom Project FAQ). The tougher question for a single mom is a different one: can it actually get her hired, on hours that fit school pickup?

This is a research-based look, not a hands-on test. Nobody on the Self Love Mom team opened an account for this article, and no reader stories appear below. The facts come from the company's own pages, news reports, the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot and the Federal Trade Commission, all read on October 26, 2026.

Question	What the record shows
Founded	2016, by Allison Robinson
Based in	Chicago (BBB lists 1 E Erie St, Suite 525)
Cost to a job seeker	$0 to join, $0 to apply
Who pays	Employers, through placement fees and hiring plans
Size it claims	2 million moms, dads and allies
Typical member	A college degree and 6 to 12 years of work experience
Who leads it now	Tricia House, President and COO, per its about page
BBB grade	A+, not accredited, 0 complaints in 3 years
Trustpilot score	2.6 out of 5 from 77 reviews, labeled "Poor"

The short verdict for a single mother

• A real, employer-funded business: you never pay to use it
• Built for women with a professional track record, not for a first job
• Many job seekers report applying and hearing nothing back
• Treat it as one tool in a wider search, never the only one

Who runs it, and who pays the bills

Robinson started the company after she struggled to return to work following the birth of her child; her earlier career was as an executive at Pampers, according to a 2020 profile (TechCrunch). By December 2023 the company had raised $120 million and reported more than 1.5 million moms and 3,000 companies on the platform (company press release).

The money comes from the hiring side. Its terms of service describe a placement fee for direct hires and a conversion fee, set as a percentage of a worker's yearly pay, when a company turns a contractor into an employee (The Mom Project terms of service). Employers can also buy hiring plans. Nothing in that list bills the job seeker.

That is the normal pattern for a real placement firm. The FTC notes that honest placement firms do not typically charge candidates, because the hiring company pays them to find people (FTC, job scams). A recruiter who asks a single mom for a fee up front is the red flag, not the free sign-up.

One detail matters for taxes. Temporary assignments run through an "employer of record," which handles payroll. Independent contractor projects work differently: the terms say the company does not withhold income or Social Security taxes for contractors and files Form 1099-K instead. On a 1099 project, a single mom needs to set aside part of each payment for tax time.

What has changed at the company since 2022

The company cut 54 jobs, about 15% of its staff, in July 2022, joining other tech companies that cut back to preserve cash before an expected slowdown (Crain's Chicago Business). In December 2023 it named staffing executive Penny Queller as president, and Robinson moved from CEO to Founder and Chairwoman.

Two months earlier, it launched SelfMade, a separate platform for freelancers and entrepreneurs (The Mom Project press page). In 2026 the about page names Tricia House as President and COO and calls the platform an "AI-powered marketplace" with 2 million moms, dads and allies (The Mom Project, about). No report of the company being sold turned up in news searches for this article.

A bigger pool cuts both ways. Employers see more candidates, and each applicant faces more competition. The company tells employers that 50,000 new professionals join every month and that 80% of its community is women (The Mom Project, solutions for employers). Numbers like those may help explain why so many reviews mention silence after applying.

What reviewers and the BBB say, as of October 26, 2026

Outside ratings are where most people check "is The Mom Project legit," and they split. The Better Business Bureau gives the company an A+ grade. The business is not BBB accredited, its profile showed zero complaints filed in the past three years, and the BBB lists its start date as May 10, 2017 (BBB business profile). An empty complaint file means no recent formal disputes; it says nothing about how many members get hired.

Trustpilot tells a rougher story: 2.6 out of 5 from 77 reviews, rated "Poor" (Trustpilot, The Mom Project reviews). Most of the glowing reviews date from 2023 and come from small employers pleased with a hire. The 2024 and 2025 reviews from job seekers are mostly negative and describe many applications with no reply, listings that looked stale, and a December 2025 objection to a Social Security number request.

That last complaint deserves a calm look. The privacy policy says the company may collect a full or partial Social Security number "where required," and that outside screening firms can run background checks (The Mom Project privacy policy). Payroll for a real assignment needs that number. A request inside the platform after a written offer is routine; a request from a stranger before any interview is not.

So when a single mom types "is The Mom Project legit" into a search bar, the ratings answer two separate questions. As a company, yes. As a fast route to a paycheck, the job-seeker reviews say expect a slow, competitive process.

Is it a match for your work history?

For job seekers, the honest answer to "is The Mom Project legit" depends partly on work history. There are no formal entry requirements, but the company describes its average member as holding a college degree with 6 to 12 years of professional experience. Its strongest areas are technology, finance and accounting, marketing, human resources, legal, operations and sales. Listings can be freelance or contract, permanent, return-to-work programs, or Maternityships, which cover a staff member's parental leave.

That profile suits a single mother who spent years in an office role, stepped away after a baby or a divorce, and now wants contract or reduced-hour work in her old field. The bid feature lets members negotiate the pay listed on a project, which helps a mom who knows her market rate.

It suits a mom with no degree or a thin resume far less well. If that is your situation, start with roles that train on the job. This guide to stay-at-home mom jobs with no experience lists several. Another route is a skill you can sell quickly, such as virtual assistant work.

Remote is not automatic either. The FAQ says employers choose whether a role is in office, remote or hybrid. In 2020, about two-thirds of the listings were fixed-term rather than permanent, so a contract can end on a set date. Plan the next search before the current project closes, and see the wider list of jobs that work for single moms for steadier options.

Free and paid places to search side by side

Even when the answer to "is The Mom Project legit" is yes, no single board covers every flexible job. The table below compares The Mom Project with four other places a single mom can search, using each site's own pricing as of October 26, 2026.

Where	Cost to you	Strong for	Watch for
The Mom Project	Free	Experienced professionals, contract and return-to-work roles	Reviewers report long silences after applying
USAJOBS	Free; applying for a federal job is always free	Federal jobs nationwide	Ads that promise a federal job for a fee are scams
CareerOneStop	Free, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor	Hundreds of thousands of listings plus links to state training programs	Listings come from many employers; vet each one
PowerToFly	Free profile	Virtual job fairs and employers that recruit underrepresented talent	Its partner list leans toward tech and large corporate employers
FlexJobs	$2.95 for 14 days, then $23.95 every 4 weeks; or $71.40 a year	Remote, hybrid and part-time listings it screens	Auto-renews; the refund window is 14 days

The FTC lists USAJOBS and CareerOneStop as safe places to start a search. FlexJobs is the only paid option here, and its trial renews on its own unless you cancel. For mom-focused boards such as HireMyMom, see the roundup of remote jobs for stay-at-home moms.

A seven-point safety check before you share anything

Job scams are growing. Reported losses to job and employment agency scams rose from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million in 2024, and the number of reports tripled (FTC, 2024 fraud data). A well-known name like The Mom Project is exactly the kind of brand a scammer can borrow in a text or email to a single mom hunting for flexible work.

1. Never pay to get hiredThe Mom Project charges talent nothing, and the FTC says honest employers never ask you to pay for a job. A "training fee" or "starter kit" ends the conversation.
2. Apply inside the platformLog in at themomproject.com yourself instead of tapping a link in a message. If a recruiter's offer does not show up in your account, ask the hiring company to confirm it through its main phone line.
3. Refuse any check you must forwardA new "employer" who mails a check, asks you to keep part and send the rest for equipment is running a fake check scam. The check bounces and the bank wants its money back from you.
4. Hold your Social Security number until there is an offerShare it only during onboarding for a written offer, through the real payroll or screening portal, never by text or chat.
5. Search the name before you replyThe FTC suggests looking up the company or recruiter plus the words "scam," "review" or "complaint." No results does not prove a job is real, but complaints can warn you off.
6. Distrust big pay for little workAn offer of thousands a month for a few easy hours from home is almost certainly a scam, the FTC warns, and reshipping packages is never a real job.
7. Report itIf you spot a fake recruiter or lose money, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general, and call your bank or payment app right away to try to reverse the payment.

Asking "is The Mom Project legit" is the right first instinct. The follow-up question matters just as much: does the person contacting you really work for the company or the employer?

Making the platform fit around school pickups

If you decide to try it, set it up so it works on a single mom's schedule rather than eating your evenings.

• Be exact about availability in your profile. "Thirty hours, 9 to 2:30 plus two evenings" screens out bad fits before anyone wastes a call.
• Explain a career gap in one line and move on. This guide to a stay-at-home mom resume shows how to frame the years at home as experience.
• Favor contract and leave-coverage roles. A short project can get a returning mom a current reference sooner than a permanent opening can.
• Track every application with the date. If a month passes with no replies, shift those hours to the free boards in the table above.
• Close a skill gap while you wait. A short certification that pays well can make an older resume current again.

Money pressure rarely waits for a recruiter. While applications sit, a few hours of side hustles for single moms can cover the gap without locking you into anything.

Bottom line: is The Mom Project legit for a single mom?

As a business, it is legitimate: a funded Chicago company with an A+ BBB grade that bills employers, not members. As a job source, it fits a single mother with a professional background who wants contract or reduced hours, and it disappoints many applicants who expected quick replies. Join for free, keep searching elsewhere, and never pay anyone who claims to recruit for it.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Mom Project only for mothers?

No. Its FAQ says any person who identifies with the mission can join, so you do not have to be a woman to sign up. The company tells employers that about 80% of members are women. Dads, caregivers and allies can create profiles and apply too.

Why do so many applicants never hear back?

Employers, not The Mom Project, choose whom to interview, and each posting draws from a pool the company puts at 2 million. The FAQ says you learn when a project goes to someone else, yet several Trustpilot reviewers say they got no word at all. Applying early and tailoring each resume can help.

Can I negotiate pay on The Mom Project?

Yes, on many listings. The FAQ describes the platform as a marketplace where you bid on opportunities, which means you can propose a rate different from the pay shown. Check what similar contract roles pay before you bid, and remember that a 1099 rate needs to cover your own taxes.

Does The Mom Project offer any training?

Its nonprofit arm, RISE, runs upskilling programs aimed at women of color and had awarded more than 9,000 scholarships by December 2023, according to a company release. One Trustpilot reviewer also credits the company with sponsoring a Platform App Builder certification. Ask what is open before you count on it.

Are the jobs on The Mom Project remote?

Some are, many are not. Each employer marks a role as in office, remote or a mix, and the FAQ suggests checking back often if nothing local appears. Read the location line on every listing, and a single mom can ask during the first call whether the schedule bends around school hours.

Sources

• The Mom Project. Frequently asked questions (cost to talent, requirements, bidding, remote work). themomproject.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• The Mom Project. About (leadership, marketplace size). themomproject.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• The Mom Project. Solutions for employers (plans, community figures). themomproject.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• The Mom Project. Terms of service, effective August 24, 2026 (placement, conversion and contractor terms). themomproject.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• The Mom Project. Privacy policy (Social Security number and background checks). themomproject.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• The Mom Project. Press page (SelfMade launch, October 17, 2023). themomproject.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• StaffingHub. The Mom Project introduces Penny Queller as its new company president (December 14, 2023 release). staffinghub.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• Crain's Chicago Business. The Mom Project lays off 15% of its staff (July 26, 2022). chicagobusiness.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• TechCrunch. The Mom Project raises $25M for its job site aimed at working mothers (July 1, 2020). techcrunch.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• Better Business Bureau. The Mom Project business profile. bbb.org (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• Trustpilot. The Mom Project reviews (2.6 of 5, 77 reviews). trustpilot.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• Federal Trade Commission. Job scams (consumer advice). consumer.ftc.gov (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• Federal Trade Commission. New FTC data show a big jump in reported losses to fraud to $12.5 billion in 2024 (March 2025). ftc.gov (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• USAJOBS. The federal government's official employment site. usajobs.gov (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• PowerToFly. Why PowerToFly is one of the best job search sites (free profile, virtual job fairs). powertofly.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)
• FlexJobs. Subscription pricing. flexjobs.com (retrieved October 26, 2026)