Funds Reduce Support for Women Seeking Abortions Amid Rising Costs

Organizations that assist with abortion costs are now limiting their support as travel expenses increase and the surge in donor contributions seen in recent years has declined.

Abortion funds, which have been active in the United States for decades, significantly expanded their resources following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. This ruling eliminated the federal right to abortion, prompting many supporters to donate to these organizations, viewing them as vital for preserving abortion access amid a wave of restrictive laws in Republican-led states.

Despite the implementation of stringent abortion laws in 14 states, as well as prohibitions after six weeks of pregnancy in four additional states—often before many women realize they are pregnant—the number of abortions has only slightly declined. This is largely due to the increased availability of abortion pills and the expanded capacity of abortion funds.

However, these funds are encountering challenges. Even with historically high budgets, they cannot cover all the differences between the costs of obtaining an abortion and what women seeking these services can afford, as many must now travel significant distances for legal procedures.

For instance, the National Abortion Federation, which provides assistance to individuals seeking abortions nationwide, has recently reduced its financial assistance from covering half to just 30% of abortion costs for those without the means to pay. Brittany Fonteno, the organization’s president and CEO, stated that this reduction was necessary due to the rising demand and costs, despite the fund boasting a budget of $55 million this year.

Fonteno noted that the individuals most affected by these funding adjustments are often those who can least afford barriers to care—including people of color, younger individuals, immigrants, and those with lower incomes.

Other abortion funds are also implementing spending caps to prevent depleting their resources. The Blue Ridge Abortion Fund in Virginia frequently reaches its budget limit, forcing it to pause requests for assistance until the following week.

In Colorado, the Cobalt Abortion Fund has similarly restricted its spending. Its president, Karen Middleton, described her organization as being akin to a “scrappy” grassroots effort in the fight for abortion rights.

Historically, abortion funds have operated discreetly and often under the radar, with many being run by volunteers. However, they have had to adapt significantly to the shifting landscape of abortion access.

The Cobalt Abortion Fund, for example, spent $206,000 in 2021, with travel costs accounting for only about $6,000, primarily in the form of gas cards. By contrast, the group anticipates spending $2.2 million this year, a tenfold increase compared to 2021. In just the first half of this year alone, the fund has already expended more than $600,000 on travel and related logistics.

This shift has turned these organizations into what some might regard as travel agencies, as they increasingly book hotel rooms and flights for patients—often on short notice.

In states like Colorado, the demand for services surged significantly following the implementation of a six-week abortion ban in Texas in late 2021, which was later replaced by a total abortion ban. The Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, after the enactment of a similar ban in Florida, experienced a marked increase in the number of individuals seeking help, especially as the state previously served as a key destination for those from Southern states with more restrictive laws.

The average travel expense for individuals from Florida experiencing these challenges amounts to approximately $3,000, which has posed a further strain on resources.

As requests for assistance from Florida increased sixfold since the new ban took effect, the National Abortion Federation hastily adjusted its funding policies earlier this year. Many of these funds are now striving to bridge the widening financial gaps.

Some organizations have been forced to limit the hours during which they accept requests for assistance to manage burgeoning demand. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Abortion Access Fund raised the amount it contributes to solidarity funding for individuals traveling from other states to help with their abortion costs.

Looking ahead, the financial challenges faced by these groups might ease if certain measures on November ballots succeed, which would grant a state constitutional right to abortion in nine states. If passed, this could make access easier, particularly in states like Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, where current bans would be overturned.

In the interim, some abortion funds report a trend where supporters are directing their donations to ballot initiatives rather than directly to funding for abortion services. Many donors, initially driven by the sense of urgency following Texas’ restrictions, continue to support these measures but may overlook ongoing needs within the organizations.

Joan Lamunyon Sanford, executive director of Faith Roots, highlighted the continuing necessity for support, urging both existing and new donors to contribute to the organizations that remain operational in the face of escalating demand.