What to Do and Where to Give to Support Abortion Access

June 24, 2022
10 minutes

If you're reading this article, you may be having Big Feelings about the recent fall of Roe. While we can't speak for every Funraise team member, for many of us here at Funraise, the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade was personal. It was a personal attack on our bodies and our agency and our privacy, as well as an attack on the bodies and agency and privacy of people we love. It was an erasure of our autonomy and our liberty and our lived experiences.

If you're wondering why people here, there, and everywhere are angry, upset, and scared, we'll give you our Why: banning abortions just means banning safe abortions. It endangers anyone who can get pregnant and increases inequity. One in four women worldwide has had an abortion. That means every single one of us knows multiple people who have had to make this difficult decision—but since 1973, people in America have had the right to make the choice for themselves.

At times like these, it’s hard not to feel helpless and hopeless. Honestly, we’ve screamed into our pillows and cried a lot (into both pints of ice cream and bottles of wine), and we’ve sent (and received) countless borderline-incoherent texts to friends and family. But while there’s not a ton of great news right now, here’s the silver lining: there are still many organizations that are doing incredible work to protect our rights and bodies. And while it may not feel that way, there are actions you can take to make a difference.

We’re certainly not experts when it comes to reproductive justice, so we enlisted the help of Dr. Sasha Albert, who has a PhD in Health Policy and a background in reproductive health and rights, to help us focus our feelings into action and direct that action where it's needed most. Also important: we’re not here to fan the flames of division and hate. We’re here to address abortion care and medical privacy as essential health services and basic human rights, because this is a tragedy for anyone who values personal freedom, bodily autonomy, and equality.

So, if you’re looking to fight the good fight and help pregnant people get safe abortions, here are some places to start.

Where to donate

Abortion funds

Even with abortion being legal for the time being, people face numerous barriers to access in terms of cost and logistics—especially in US states where you have to travel hundreds of miles to the nearest clinic. That’s where abortion funds come in: they help pay for abortion care and provide assistance, including money, transportation, childcare, and translation services, for people who need to travel to get an abortion.

Independent clinics

Independent clinics are the backbone of abortion care in the US, providing a majority of abortion care and fighting a heck of a lot of legal battles. You can learn more about their role in this report from 2021.

  • The Abortion Care Network is the national association for independent (i.e., non-Planned Parenthood or otherwise nationally affiliated) clinics.
  • The National Abortion Federation is a membership organization for all kinds of abortion providers, including clinics, health centers, doctor's offices, hospitals, and individual clinicians. It provides resources for training, staffing, and provider security as well as resources for patients who need help finding abortion providers and paying for care.

Legal and advocacy groups

In addition to supporting on-the-ground work, we need lawyers, physicians, educators, and other advocates working behind the scenes to keep abortion legal, support reproductive justice, and connect folks in need with birth control and abortion services.

  • Jane's Due Process helps teenagers in Texas navigate judicial bypass (the legal process for getting care without parental consent) so they can confidentially access birth control and abortion services.
  • If When How is a broad reproductive justice group that does legal advocacy around issues like birth control, abortion, and parenting.
  • All Above All used to focus mainly on insurance coverage for abortion but now advocates on a range of issues related to abortion rights and access.
  • Physicians for Reproductive Health is an advocacy and public education organization comprising medical providers who work on abortion, contraception, and related issues.

Friends we want to highlight

The following organizations are ones that are near and dear to Funraise. Please consider supporting their work toward equitable reproductive justice for all.

  • International Network for the Reduction of Abortion Discrimination and Stigma thankfully shortened their name to inroads, but they still live out their name by advocating for global freedom for abortion seekers.
  • The Tender Foundation provides tender loving care and support for single mothers in the Atlanta area by bridging the financial gap with essential and emergency assistance.
  • As a trans-led organization, Transhealth Northampton fights for their patients' right to primary care, gender-affirming hormonal care, and mental healthcare.
  • And of course, Free Mom Hugs is building a better world, one hug at a time.

Where to learn more

Knowledge is power, so let’s just keep learning until we’re powerful enough to change the world! But until then, it's beneficial in so many ways to know your rights and get educated on the history of abortion in this country and abroad.

Fight misinformation with facts.

Abortion has become politically divisive, but it shouldn’t be; it’s a basic healthcare need for anyone who can become pregnant.

Prepare yourself.

The Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights, has you covered, with a primer on everything you need to know about the impact of overturning Roe.

How to help others

Volunteer to provide assistance.

But don’t take it lightly. Apiary Collective, which helps groups that provide practical support for those seeking abortions, has some excellent guidance on becoming a volunteer, whether you’re looking to help with transportation or work as a clinic escort. Basically, it requires a lot of vetting and training to ensure the privacy and security of abortion recipients, and you've got to have patience with the process.

Help with access to medical abortion.

Pre-Roe, the choice was “no abortion” or “unsafe abortion.” Now, we have access to medical abortion, which can be safely self-administered at home if need be. Help pregnant people learn about and access medical abortion by directing them to the organizations below, or donate directly to support their work.

  • Aid Access is a private initiative that connects pregnant people who can’t access local abortion services with abortion pills.
  • Women Help Women connects women with abortion pills and contraceptives and works to expand access to abortion.

Give a lift.

Already, many people need to travel to access abortion care. Now that Roe has fallen, many more will need to travel hundreds upon hundreds of miles. The Brigid Alliance arranges and funds confidential long-distance travel services for those seeking abortions in states where they’re not easily accessible.

Other ways to get involved

Mobilize.

While it clearly didn't sway SCOTUS in any meaningful way, mass mobilization is a powerful weapon. And, if nothing else, screaming it out is a great form of self-care.

Call, vote, call again.

Yeah, we know you’ve heard it. But calling your senators and representatives, as well as voting in elections big and small, is crucial, so… go forth!

Shout it to the digital rooftops.

More than 70% of the United States supports abortion rights, so make sure your voice is heard. Some relevant hashtags to follow include #MyBodyMyRights and #BansOffOurBodies.

Get to the root of the problem.

To decrease the rate of abortions, we need stuff like comprehensive sex education, easy access to contraceptives, universal health care, federal paid family leave, and affordable child care—and that’s just the start. So when you get involved in these causes, you're also supporting giving people who can become pregnant the tools to choose their own path and improve their lives.

No matter what happens or where you stand, we will get through this—fighting, screaming, and together.

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