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National Network Of Abortion Funds

Annual Giving
$18.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2w

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18,324,680 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (rapid grants available on demand)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $15,000+ (per program)
  • Geographic Focus: National (with priority for South and Midwest regions)

Contact Details

Website: https://abortionfunds.org

Mailing Address: 9450 SW Gemini Dr. PMB 16009 Beaverton, OR 97008-7105

General Contact: Contact form available at https://abortionfunds.org/contact-us/ Membership Inquiries: [email protected]

Overview

Founded in 1993 by a group of 22 independent abortion funds, the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) has grown to support nearly 100 member abortion funds across the United States. The organization distributed over $18 million in grants in 2023, with total assets of approximately $65.4 million as of June 2024. NNAF's mission centers on removing financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by providing grants, leadership development, infrastructure support, and technical assistance to member abortion funds. The organization has experienced significant growth following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, expanding from approximately 40 staff members pre-Dobbs to 89 staff members, and establishing several permanent grant programs. NNAF operates with core values of intersectionality, autonomy, compassion, and collective power, emphasizing rapid grant distribution with minimal bureaucratic barriers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Collective Power Fund (CPF)

  • Supports 24 member organizations across more than 20 states
  • Replaces previous Tiller Fund (established in 2018)
  • Annual renewal-based funding
  • Prioritizes South and Midwest regions

2. Crisis Relief Fund

  • Permanent rapid response grant program (established 2020, made permanent 2022)
  • Over $1 million moved to abortion funds since June 2022
  • Designed for quick disbursement during crisis situations
  • Helps funds navigate increased demand and revenue challenges

3. Legal Grants

  • Up to $15,000 annually per member fund
  • Covers discrete legal needs in post-Roe landscape
  • Used for obtaining local attorney counsel, general legal advice, and staff training
  • Annual application cycle

4. Technical Assistance Mini Grants

  • Range: $500 - $5,000
  • "Rapid grants" available on demand
  • Minimal application and reporting requirements
  • Supports organizational capacity building including board development, strategic planning, website accessibility updates, and staff training

Priority Areas

  • Geographic Priority: South and Midwest United States regions receive special consideration
  • Unmet Need: Funds experiencing influx of callers traveling to their coverage area
  • Organizational Development: Funds needing supplemental abortion funding to redirect unrestricted dollars toward infrastructure needs
  • Medicaid Gaps: Funds operating in states without Medicaid funding for abortion
  • Collaborative Approach: Funds aligned with NNAF's four core values (intersectionality, autonomy, compassion, and collective power)
  • Network Building: Support for member funds to strengthen movement-building capacity

What They Don't Fund

  • NNAF does not provide direct support to individual abortion seekers (member funds provide this support)
  • Only NNAF member abortion funds are eligible for grants
  • Currently not accepting new member funds (membership temporarily paused)

Governance and Leadership

Leadership:

  • Poonam Dreyfus-Pai - Interim Executive Director (as of early 2025, formerly Chief of Staff)
  • Oriaku Njoku - Former Executive Director (served through 2024, compensation: $278,804 + $14,480 other compensation in fiscal 2024)

Board of Directors: The organization currently has three board members (as of early 2025), a significant reduction from 14 board members listed on previous financial filings. The board brings transformative leadership, wide-ranging expertise, and strong community ties with local funds and partners.

Staff: 89 staff members as of 2025, representing substantial growth from pre-Dobbs staffing levels.

Leadership Perspectives: Colleagues described Oriaku's tenure: "Oriaku's leadership contributed to major strategic policy work, focused on self-managed abortion and the future of abortion access" and "Oriaku has been instrumental in supporting abortion funds to be centered in national movement-building spaces."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

NNAF grants are only available to member abortion funds. The organization is currently taking a break from adding new funds to their network.

For Established Funds Seeking Membership: Contact [email protected] for information about joining the network.

Special Consideration: Groups of organizers led by Black, Indigenous, or people of color who see a gap in support in their community can email [email protected] to discuss potential fund creation.

Application Methods by Program:

  • Technical Assistance Mini Grants: Available on demand to member funds
  • Legal Grants: Annual application cycle for member funds
  • Crisis Relief Fund: Rapid response basis
  • Collective Power Fund: Renewal-based for existing grantees; eligibility based on criteria including member standing, geographic priority (South/Midwest), Medicaid funding gaps, unmet need, and organizational development needs

Decision Timeline

Timeline varies by program:

  • Technical Assistance Mini Grants: Rapid turnaround ("available on demand")
  • Legal Grants: Annual cycle (specific timeline not publicly disclosed)
  • Crisis Relief Fund: Rapid response for emergency situations
  • Collective Power Fund: Annual renewals

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. The organization made 93 awards in 2023, distributing over $18 million to member funds.

Reapplication Policy

  • Collective Power Fund: Renewal-based system for existing grantees
  • Legal Grants: Annual reapplication available to member funds
  • Technical Assistance Mini Grants: Multiple grants available throughout the year as needed
  • No waiting periods mentioned for unsuccessful applicants

Application Success Factors

NNAF's grant programs were specifically designed "with the input and partnership of abortion funds, focusing on reducing unnecessary barriers to funding and quickly moving money to where it is needed most."

Key Success Factors:

  1. Member Standing: Must be an active NNAF member abortion fund
  2. Alignment with Core Values: Funds should demonstrate excitement about NNAF's four core values - intersectionality, autonomy, compassion, and collective power
  3. Geographic Priority: Funds in the South and Midwest receive priority consideration for Collective Power Fund
  4. Documented Need: Strong applications demonstrate specific organizational challenges such as:
    • Influx of callers traveling to coverage area
    • Need to redirect resources toward infrastructure development
    • Operating in states without Medicaid abortion funding
  5. Collaborative Stance: NNAF values network building and collaborative approaches
  6. Streamlined Approach: Stakeholder feedback emphasized the need for a "streamlined system for accessing extra funds"

NNAF's Grant Philosophy:

Technical Assistance Mini Grants are intentionally "free of difficult application and reporting requirements," reflecting the organization's commitment to accessibility. The guiding principle is: "NNAF grants support abortion funds so funds can support abortion seekers."

Recent Funded Projects:

Member funds have used Technical Assistance Mini Grants for:

  • Board development
  • Strategic planning
  • Website accessibility updates
  • Staff training programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Membership Required: Only NNAF member abortion funds can access grants; membership currently paused for new applicants
  • Minimal Barriers: NNAF intentionally designs programs with reduced application and reporting requirements, particularly for Technical Assistance Mini Grants
  • Geographic Advantage: Funds in South and Midwest regions receive priority for Collective Power Fund consideration
  • Multiple Opportunities: Member funds can access multiple grant programs simultaneously (Legal Grants, TA Mini Grants, Crisis Relief, CPF)
  • Values Alignment Critical: Demonstrating alignment with intersectionality, autonomy, compassion, and collective power strengthens applications
  • Rapid Response Available: Crisis Relief Fund and TA Mini Grants offer quick turnaround for urgent needs
  • Relationship-Based Approach: The organization emphasizes network building and collaborative relationships rather than traditional competitive grantmaking

References

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