National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF)
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14
"Up" is the number of experts who agree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in the
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Headquarters Location: Boston, MA
Founded: 1993
Mission: We believe that: The legal right to abortion is only meaningful when women have the resources to obtain abortion services.; Restrictions on abortion care and on public funding for abortion are discriminatory because they especially burden poor women, women of color, young women, and rural women.; Abortion is part of basic health care, which is a right that should be guaranteed to all through an expanded Medicaid program or another universal health care plan.; All women are entitled to reproductive justice. All women deserve to live in a world in which they have the power and the resources necessary to make healthy decisions about their bodies and their families.
Summary
Stories
Expert Reviews
Leadership
From the Nonprofit
Leadership
Stephanie Poggi.
Stephanie has been an activist for social justice for more than 30 years. In addition to her work for reproductive freedom, she has worked in feminist and LGBT journalism, the battered women’s and rape crisis movements, and for racial justice, civil rights, and welfare rights. For many years she worked as editor of Gay Community News, the national progressive lesbian/gay…
See full bio.
Financial Data
Overhead Ratio:
n/a
Total Revenue:
$823,183
From the Nonprofit
The nonprofit has not added any comments yet. If you are a representative of this nonprofit and would like to leave a comment, please email us at
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Contact Info
Address:
42 Seaverns Avenue
Boston, MA 2130, USA
Twitter:
Story:
This is the story of Janet:
My husband and I are ranchers. I was 45 years old when this happened. We have five children, and my parents live on our ranch also. We work hard, but since the multinational companies have taken over so much agriculture, it's hard to make a living wage. It helps to get Medicaid. I've had a rough year; I'd been feeling ill for a long time, stopped getting my period and gained a lot of weight. After many trips to the doctor - we are 45 minutes from town - I was diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Last fall, my husband and I were repairing our roof when I fell 16 feet off a ladder. I felt a "goosh" of water, and seemed like the same feeling as when my water broke when I'd had my kids. I made an appointment to see my doctor, and a week later he said I was 17 weeks pregnant. The ultrasound showed that there was no amniotic fluid left in the sac, but that the fetus' heart was beating. The doctor said that it wouldn't survive, and that my medication for Lyme disease was known to cause birth defects. Because he'd delivered my kids, I trusted him and asked him to do an abortion. He said that even though he knows how and is pro-choice, he couldn't, because his hospital won't allow them. He wished me luck, and warned me to get to the hospital fast if I started to hemorrhage, as I did with my last three pregnancies. The last one was so bad I almost died. The hospital is an hour and forty minutes from our house.
Wyoming Medicaid doesn't pay for abortions, so I tried to get the money together. By that time I was 19 weeks. I raised half the money, and a local abortion Fund gave me the rest and convinced a doctor, in a place three and a half hours from our home, to do it past his usual limit. But the night before, I started to bleed and passed out. My husband and kids were out in the fields calving. My father found me and rushed me to the hospital. I only know the rest from what my doctor and others told me. At the hospital, they gave me transfusions but they refused to empty my uterus, which was the only thing that would stop the hemorrhaging. The hospital administration wanted to air lift me to Salt Lake City, where they can treat severely premature babies, even though mine would never survive at only 19 weeks. My doctor finally convinced them to give me pitocin to induce labor. Five hours later, I came to but I was still bleeding full out. My doctor wanted to do a C-section but I refused; finally I delivered the fetus. It had died and it was very malformed. It took me months to recuperate at home. I am angry at what I had to go through. At every step, the life of the fetus was more important than my own life.
I'm angry that my own doctor wouldn't do the abortion. Why should abortion be separate from any other medical procedure? I'm angry that the hospital wouldn't let me have an abortion, even with my risks and medical condition! I'm angry that even when I'd lost every drop of my own blood, they thought the fetus' life was more important than mine, even though they all knew it would die eventually.
I'm angry and I'm lucky to be alive.
(Read more stories at: http://www.nnaf.org/stories.html)
Expert Reviews of National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF)
Evidence of Impact Summary:
The National Network of Abortion Funds is credited for its grass roots model of tackling public policy advocacy. Their funds model is cited as driver for consistent success in advancing contraceptive rights.See expert comments.
Organization Strengths Summary:
The strength of the organization's network is cited as the group’s major asset in addressing pressing issues. The programs staff and leadership also garner strong praise.See expert comments.
Areas for Improvement Summary:
Experts contend that stronger advocacy efforts and greater collaboration would catalyze more public policy successes.See expert comments.
Expert Comments: Evidence of Impact
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Impact |
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The network's distinctive role within the reproductive rights movement is rooted in its dual mission to: promote direct financial support for abortions to low-income women and girls; and conduct grassroots, state, and national organizing, advocacy, public education and policy work to ensure that those women most in need have access to abortion and full reproductive health care. The network is extremely successful on both fronts. Over the past decade, its funds have raised over $22M to help poor women to pay for abortions; and the funds have also provided much "practical" support to these women in need, including lodging, childcare, transportation and emotional support. In addition, the network has spearheaded and supported countless grassroots campaigns to successfully fight efforts to further restrict funding for abortion services. As just one example, the network and its member fund in West Virginia successfully worked to prevent an anti-choice effort in that state to eliminate Medicaid funding for abortion. | ||
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They help women obtain funding, and logistical support necessary to get their abortions, using a wide network of volunteers. As such, they directly impact women's reproductive health and lives, while building a base of potential activists for the movement. Unlike the "Justice Funds" they offer support to women in states where abortion is covered by Medicaid, but where there is still a need for those who do not qualify for Medicaid. | ||
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The National Network of Abortion Funds is the one national organization that not only is committed to keeping access to abortion for all women (especially low income, rural, and young women and women of color) on the national agenda, but through their network of more than 100 grassroots abortion funds, they make abortion access a reality for more than 20,000 women each year. | ||
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This grassroots organization, with a clear vision, is supporting abortion funds throughout the country through a reproductive justice lens. They have minimal overhead, yet are far reaching. The organization is attractive to youth and is constantly seeking out ways to embrace the next generation of abortion activists/donors. | ||
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They provide direct financial assistance to women seeking abortions who cannot afford to pay. In 2009, they distributed three million dollars to 21,000 women. They provided capacity building of over 100 member Funds through regional trainings, national summits, and by developing materials groups can use for fundraising and organizational development. For example, this spring they organized a National Bowlathon. They made the initial investment so that member Funds could use this as an opportunity to raise money and awareness about the barriers to abortion access. | ||
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They have been bringing together a coalition of diverse organizations to address advocacy against the Hyde Amendment. This was previously not taken seriously as an advocacy issue. | ||
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They literally put their money where the mouths of the rest of us are at: they provide access to abortion services for thousands of low-income women every year. They argue for government funding of abortion services without apologizing. They hold the rest of us accountable to do the same and to do what we can to truly increase access to abortion services. | ||
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They have a powerful, clear impact, providing funding to women who need abortions. Through their networks, their educational material and programs, and through their energetic outreach they provide a vital reproductive health service in an activist context. | ||
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They provide tangible resources to low-income women in this country who do not have the funds necessary to pay for the procedure. They have strong coalition building within the movement to raise these funds. | ||
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The network and its member funds are meeting the immediate needs of low-income women, women of color, and young women at the grassroots level around abortion access. As an organization, the network has been instrumental in helping to build the capacity of its member organizations. They are extremely strategic in their approach, offering technical assistance to groups around fundraising, strategic planning, policy/advocacy, and technology. Through their approach, they have been able to help member funds move from all volunteer-based to staff-based and to increase their capacity to meet the needs of the women they serve in a more comprehensive way. | ||
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They helped with our effort to protect public funding of abortion. They also lend great support to funds helping low-income women in need of abortion care. They mobilized Funds all over the country to fight the Stupak/Nelson amendments to health reform legislation. | ||
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They raise money to support more than 200,000 women a year to access the abortions they need and want. The network has done an excellent job speaking out about the impact of the new health care reform abortion restrictions on women. | ||
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This organization has been raising the issue of the injustice and negative impact of the Hyde Amendment for years. Ultimately this issue nearly undid the health care reform. They have it right all along. It's tremendously sad that with all the women's voices and activism across the country who sought abortion inclusion and the end of Hyde that we ended up with Hyde being strengthened. | ||
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They understand that the intrinsic obstacle, apart from providers, is money. They serve an umbrella organization to small funds which distribute direct funds for women seeking abortions. | ||
Expert Comments: Organization Strengths
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Other (consultants, journalists, policy makers) (O)
Network |
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The network is now co-leading a collaborative effort to revive the effort to reverse policies that limit access to abortion funding (such as the Hyde Amendment). They are particularly skilled at working with a diverse set of partners, including long-established, Washington-based reproductive health organizations and, especially, national and grassroots women-of-color led organizations. Being a trusted and respectful partner allows the network to convene and organize allies in ways many organizations would not be able to. | ||
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They have a network of grassroots activists/advocates. Many organizations do not have day-to-day contact with women on the ground. | ||
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The network is based on a national coalition of funds that raise money in their local communities. | ||
Program Design |
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They have kept their eyes on reversing the Hyde amendment, while other groups have given up on it for lack of votes in congress or other "practical" reasons. We need their efforts to reverse Hyde, because even if we don't win the outright battle, we can educate voters and build our movement by trying. | ||
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It excels in creating strong relationships with like-minded organizations that serve women (because they know that the real common ground is gender when you look across the varied social service agencies). It has a solid background in raising money and turning it over to the women in need. This organization is unique in that is easily bridges generations is an inclusive and welcoming way. | ||
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This is a critical hub for grassroots activists. Its impact lies in connecting abortion rights to the interests of diverse social justice groups and in organizing a grassroots interest group that would otherwise be far too dispersed to harness. | ||
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They provide direct assistance to individuals to make abortion accessible while at the same time working against the injustice of the Hyde/Helms Amendment and other policies that discriminate against low-income families. Doing both is a huge challenge. | ||
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They provide a needed service, while contributing to policy changes in abortion funding. | ||
Target Audience |
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They support much-needed grassroots networks of funding and "practical support" (rides, lodging, child care) for women in need of an abortion. They have a courageous policy agenda, rooted in real women's lives and experiences. | ||
Leadership |
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Their leadership exhibits both impressive continuity (in the movement generally and in the organization specifically) and at the same time a genuine welcoming and nurturing of new leadership. Moreover, National Network of Abortion Funds and its member funds have skillfully developed grassroots skills and models that allow them to have significant impact with what is relatively a small budget. | ||
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The ED is a seasoned leader who is widely known and respected in the field and is an excellent mentor to newer, younger staff. The finances are well-managed and the organization has been able to adapt to the current economic downturn and continue to advance its mission. | ||
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Their leadership, operations and marketing are strengths. This organization wasn't even on my radar screen the first few years I worked in the field, but they have been increasing their visibility over the last decade, by attending conferences, playing a prominent role in coalition activities and garnering media coverage. They do a great job at coming up with fun strategies for raising funds and provide practical tools for individual funds to use in order to increase their impact (and measure it). | ||
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This organization has strong leadership, excellent connections to a wide range of sister pro-choice and reproductive justice organizations and uses its funds very wisely. | ||
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The Network's board of directors and staff bring impeccable skills to this work. It's Executive Director, Stephanie Poggi has skillfully led the Network in becoming a player on the national policy level. The board is a high-functioning group of individual with expertise in all areas of non-profit management. | ||
Impact |
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It directly helps women obtain abortions. | ||
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It is an access organization and does fundraising to provide access to abortion care. | ||
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They have a clear focus on impact of Hyde & Hyde-like bills (now including health reform) on real women's lives. | ||
Staff |
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Their staff's accessibility is a strength. | ||
Mission |
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They are mission driven-and have narrow mission but a larger vision that would improve the health and well-being of all women. They have a strong ED and a dedicated staff. | ||
Footprint |
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Their presence throughout the country allows them to be first responders to a sudden change in the provision of services, economic changes, and legal changes. | ||
Expert Comments: Areas for Improvement
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Foundation Professionals (F)
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Researchers and Faculty (R)
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Nonprofit Senior Staff (N)
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Other (consultants, journalists, policy makers) (O)
Support Members |
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The network has just begun to leverage technology to better connect and support its 106 member funds. The organization has made good progress on this front but has the opportunity to be even more effective on this front. | ||
Expand Programming |
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They need resources to expand more into underserved areas. | ||
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Tens of thousands of women never get the care that this group helps make possible because they don't know it exists. At the same time, the National Network of Abortion Funds could never make up what the government should guarantee to low income women. | ||
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Considering the diminishing health insurance financing options that will be available to low-income and middle-income as a result of health care reform, it will be imperative that organizations like them ramp up their efforts to act as abortion safety nets for the millions of women surely to be disenfranchised. I think it needs to do more communications because I think few organizations are familiar with their work and know they are a resource. | ||
Program Design |
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If this organization is to truly make an impact on national abortion policy, it would take an enormous concerted effort. For example, they would need to choose a strategy (media, legislative, etc.) and develop a strong team and plan. | ||
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Their 30 years of Hyde Campaign is an important political position -- but disconnected from other demands for health care reform, especially with regard to comprehensive evidence based maternity care may limit its effectiveness. | ||
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The work of the network could be so much stronger if they could figure out how to get the women they served more involved in the network and that of its member funds. | ||
More Visibility |
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It must become more visible locally and brand itself. | ||
Operations |
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The board is truly inter-generational, and while this is a great strength, it has also produced challenges in terms of power and leadership. The board has been working with a consultant and an internal task force to make important governance changes and to be more inclusive. | ||
Stronger Staff |
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They are understaffed and under skilled. They are not able to channel their grassroots and coalition building work into long-term, sustained policy change strategy. | ||
More Collaboration |
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Some groups in the sexual reproductive health field look unfavorably on this organization, for reasons that aren't quite clear to me. So perhaps they need to work on diplomacy and intergroup relations. | ||
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The network could engage more with collaborating organizations and could consider a civic/political engagement strategy to try and bring the women they serve into the political process to help protect abortion rights and services. | ||
Capacity |
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They desperately need to build capacity within with a bigger staff, more and deeper organizing assistance for the grassroots, and a more focusing policy advocacy strategy that is connected to the grassroots voices and work and has added value. | ||
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The organization is too small for what it aims to accomplish and they also need to build their grassroots structure because who they represent is unique and could have a great impact in advocacy. | ||
More Advocacy |
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It would be helpful if they could support 501c3-compliant lobbying efforts. | ||
Scalability |
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I would love to see the Chicago fund's work (in training funding recipients to be advocates) replicated at all funds. | ||
Staff |
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More staff would enable them to strengthen their technical support to the various funds. Increasing their national presence would also benefit the awareness that financial obstacles are serious impediments to women's access. | ||
Leadership
Stephanie Poggi
Executive Director
Executive Director
From the Nonprofit
The nonprofit has not added any comments yet. If you are a representative of this nonprofit and would like to leave a comment, please email us at
feedback@myphilanthropedia.org
with your request.
