‘Furious’ abortion donations run dry as funds struggle to meet demand

Abortion funds that help people cover the cost of abortion procedures are struggling for cash as the wave of donations that came in following the conclusion of Roe v. Wade begins to dry up.

As a result, some independent organizations that cover abortion costs and associated costs, such as transportation, childcare, and lodging, have scaled back or suspended operations.

After the Dobbs decision in June 2022, many foundations received large donations from Americans outraged to see their abortion rights stripped away.

The National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), which is made up of 100 funds across the country, announced that its members have disbursed nearly $37 million to approximately 103,000 people between July 1 and June 30, 2022. This represents an 88% increase in spending compared to before. The year before that.

At the time, people donating money were so angry that the gift was called an “angry” donation.

But as the issue fades from the headlines, so too do donations, even as the demand for assistance and the cost of helping individuals skyrockets.

“At any given moment, whether it’s an election, the introduction of an abortion ban, or in this case a reversal of Roe, we should like, donate, donate to abortion funds. We realized that there was an immediate desire to contribute to this movement,” said Oriaku Njoku, Executive Director of NNAF.

“While we appreciate the outrage, what we really need to ensure that people continue to receive the care they need is long-term investment in abortion funds,” Njoku said. Ta.

When Dobbs’ decision first leaked, “money was thrown at it. People panicked, and dollars rained down on us,” said Chasity Wilson, executive director of the Louisiana Abortion Fund.

“Everyone was so angry because it made the headlines. It was a national thing, all over America, and things were changing pretty quickly for people. So people were understandably furious and donated a lot. ,” said Bree Wallace, director of case management at the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund. “And then after a few months, it kind of went away.”

The influx of donations has changed the way the foundation operates. Some were pushing large sums of money to vastly expand the number of people they could help. Some people have tried to save extra money to increase their budget in the long run.

Wallace estimated the fund would have spent about $700,000 in 2023, but said “we definitely couldn’t do that again this year.”

Endowments fell 63% from 2022 to 2023, Wallace said. The fund was previously able to help people across Florida, but is now limited to people traveling to and from the Tampa area.

Wilson added that while individual donors still continue to run Louisiana endowments, foundations and philanthropy have significantly retreated, and withholding endowments is common in the South.

Nearly every foundation contacted by The Hill said donations are down now that access to abortion care is much more expensive than it used to be. When abortion was still legal, abortion funds were needed primarily to help people drive to local clinics and cover the cost of the procedure.

In the case of funds in the Deep South, options for sending patients to in-state clinics were very limited, requiring people to frequently travel out of state.

But now more than 21 states across the country have banned or restricted abortion, and people often have to travel much farther than before and navigate an ever-changing landscape of local restrictions. Ta.

In addition to travel costs, abortions cost more. Kenny Callaway, medical coordinator for ARC Southeast, an abortion fund serving people in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee, said medical abortions using pills are It will cost up to $200 more than before.

Even if it’s the same amount, it won’t be as good as before.

“There was a time when we were helping about 20 people a week. Now we’re doing good to help two or three people,” said Co-Founder of the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund. said Laurie Bertram Roberts. “We’ve been doing this for 10 years. In many ways, it feels like we’ve gone backwards in our capabilities.”

Before Dobbs, Mississippi had only one abortion clinic in the state. Bertram Roberts said the foundation spent an average of $200 to $600 per caller. But currently, the fund must spend between $1,000 and $1,500 just for people who are less than 12 weeks pregnant and need an abortion. If you go further, the costs will be significantly higher.

Most people in the state make the 10-hour drive to Carbondale, Illinois, and the two-day trip requires food, gas, and lodging.

“No disrespect to those who give offense. Thanks to them, we were able to get Raw to a lot of people to see it before it went down. The issue is now reaching to get people interested. “There are higher standards that are harder to meet. And it requires less investment,” said Bertram Roberts.

Her organization suspended funding for four months and only restarted it in early January.

“I feel terrible. It’s disgusting. I feel like I’m letting people down because that’s who you are. That puts you in a position where you’re like a gatekeeper for people who can get care.” And no one wants that,” Bertram Roberts said.

When abortion was legal, it was not uncommon for funds to suspend operations if they exceeded their monthly budget. But fund officials said there is now a ripple effect as when one fund closes or pauses, others step in to help.

“That’s the reality of organizations like this. We’re underfunded and there are people we can’t help,” Calloway said.