Access to safe and legal abortion is a fundamental human right outlined in constitutions and treaties across the globe. Yet, nearly 700 million women of reproductive age live under restrictive abortion laws. Abortion rights are under attack and many organizations are working diligently to uphold women’s reproductive healthcare. So we had to ask: What are the best charities fighting for abortion rights?

The best charities that fight for abortion rights are the Center for Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Freedom for All. Charities such as The National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda and Planned Parenthood fight for abortion access in low-income and minority communities. 

Whether you want to support abortion access in marginalized communities or advocate for legislative change in abortion care, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities fighting for abortion rights are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Fight for Abortion Rights Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact, and transparency ratings, and achievements. 

They operate all over the world, from North America to Asia, upholding and protecting access to abortion for women of every race, ethnicity, age, and background.

Several of the charities on this list fight against anti-abortion legislation directly through litigation, civil protest, and political lobbying. 

Other charities focus their efforts on helping women under restrictive laws gain access to abortion in safe places. 

Yet, all of them share the same goal of safeguarding women’s rights to safe and legal abortion care. 

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Fight for Abortion Rights in 2024

Below are our favorite charities fighting for abortion rights (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities That Fight for Abortion Rights

Center for Reproductive Rights

Reproductive Freedom for All

American Civil Liberties Union

Ipas

National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda

Planned Parenthood

Guttmacher Institute

MSI Reproductive Choices

National Network of Abortion Funds

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

Center for Reproductive Rights: Reproductive Rights are Human Rights

The Center for Reproductive Rights was founded in 1922 by Janet Benshoof to advance legal protections for abortion rights. Today, the Center for Reproductive Rights is the only global legal advocacy organization dedicated to protecting reproductive rights.

The Center for Reproductive Rights has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Bronze Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“Using the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world.”

Center for Reproductive Rights

The Center for Reproductive Rights protects and advocates for access to safe and legal abortion in more than 65 countries. Inside the courtroom, the charity’s innovative legal strategies and expert lawyers expand and defend access to abortion care through rigorous litigation. Outside of the courtroom, the Center of Reproductive Rights influences policy and advocates for abortion care by lobbying for and reporting on laws and policies. In addition, the charity is a leading source of information on reproductive law and policy worldwide with a vast library of resources. 

Since their founding, the Center for Reproductive Rights has won several landmark cases that have shaped the face of abortion policy around the world. For example, the Colombian Constitutional Court ruled to decriminalize abortion up to 24 weeks gestation in the Causa Justa Lawsuit. In another part of the world, the Center for Reproductive Rights brought forward two cases to the United Nations Human Rights Committee challenging Ireland’s strict abortion ban resulting in the reformation of their abortion laws. 

You can donate directly to the Center for Reproductive Rights through their website. In addition, you can participate in the charity’s campaigns or attend an awareness event.

Reproductive Freedom for All: Reproductive Freedom is for Everybody

Reproductive Freedom for All was founded in 1977 by Lawrence Lader, Garrett Hardin, and Dr. Lonny Myers to uphold women’s rights to reproductive freedom. Today, the charity continues that mission by running impactful campaigns to expand and protect access to safe and legal abortions.

Reproductive Freedom for All holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator as well as a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“Fighting to preserve and expand reproductive freedom and abortion access.”

Reproductive Freedom for All

Reproductive Freedom for All utilizes campaigns and public education to advocate for safe and legal abortions. This charity mobilizes its base of over 4 million members to promote progressive policies, discuss the negative impacts of the anti-abortion agenda, and ensure that the majority opinion is heard. For example, their campaign supporting the Women’s Health Protection Act directs members to contact their state representatives in support of the bill.

Since their founding, Reproductive Freedom for All has achieved many victories for women’s reproductive rights. For instance, the charity succeeded in passing the Trust Nevada Women Act that decriminalized abortion-related acts and removed unethical legal requirements for doctors. The charity also took part in a coalition that garnered more than 170,000 petition signatures in favor of the EACH Woman Act which would effectively repeal the Hyde Amendment and allow abortion to be covered under federal insurance programs. 

You can donate directly to Reproductive Freedom for All through their website. In addition, you can shop the charity’s online store or take action through one of their campaigns.

American Civil Liberties Union: Our Rights Can’t Wait

The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 following the Palmer Raids to protect and uphold the rights embodied in the U.S. Constitution. Today, they continue to combat government abuse and defend individual rights and freedoms, such as access to safe and legal abortions through their 1.7 million members. 

The American Civil Liberties Union has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.”

American Civil Liberties Union

The American Civil Liberties Union defends and preserves the individual rights and liberties outlined in the U.S Constitution by working in courtrooms and legislatures on large cases like Dobbs vs. Jackson, including abortion rights. Additionally, they run nationwide advocacy campaigns, such as the Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative, which focuses on combating criminal cases against women who are seeking or have obtained an abortion. 

Today, the American Civil Liberties Union handles around 2,000 cases annually, participating in more cases than any other private organization, including those surrounding abortion. For example, in 1971 they were instrumental in the first abortion case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, they have been at the forefront of over 15 Supreme Court cases. Since 2022, they have successfully filed dozens of lawsuits to keep abortion clinic doors open in states most impacted by the overturn of Roe v. Wade. 

You can donate to the American Civil Liberties Union through their website. You can also get involved by attending an event or signing a petition. 

Ipas: Abortion Affects Every Body

Ipas was founded in 1973 with the vision of ensuring access to abortion and reproductive justice in the midst of threats against reproductive health technology. Today, Ipas continues that work globally, addressing all abortion barriers on 5 continents. 

Ipas earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“A world where all people have the right and ability to determine their own sexuality and reproductive health.”

Ipas

Ipas advances abortion care by creating sustainable abortion ecosystems. They do so by focusing on 4 essential drivers of abortion access and 8 components of their sustainable abortion ecosystem. They achieve these objectives through political advocacy measures such as bringing abortion matters before the United Nations, driving grass-roots movements to decriminalize abortion globally, and by educating the community on sustainable program implementations like the Genderation Equality Forum event. 

Since their founding, Ipas has expanded abortion access by training 13,251 health workers and establishing 1,429 access points for abortion pills. In addition, facilities backed by ipas helped 450,736 people receive safe and legal abortion services. Furthermore they helped advance abortion rights on a political platform by supporting 77 policy changes in 15 countries. 

You can donate to Ipas directly through their website. You can also support the charity by using your talents and skill sets to advance abortion care through their job opportunities. 

National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda: In Our Own Voice

The National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda was founded in 2014 by five black women’s reproductive justice organizations to uplift black women’s voices on reproductive issues. Today, the charity continues their mission by amplifying black women’s voices at a national and regional level to ensure reproductive justice for all women, femmes, and girls. 

The National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency with GuideStar. 

“Uplifting the voices of Black women and leaders at the national and state levels in our ongoing fight to secure reproductive justice for all women and girls.”

National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda

The National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda works with over 30 organizational partners to influence policy change at state, national, and local levels. In addition, they created the Next Generation Leadership Institute to pipeline a new generation of black reproductive justice leaders. Finally, the National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda is driving community mobilization by building the outreach capacity and infrastructure of their organizational partners who play vital roles in the activism for black reproductive rights. 

Since their founding, the National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda has been instrumental in influencing policy surrounding reproductive rights. For example, the charity’s “I Am A Reproductive Justice Voter” campaign drove more than 800,000 black women to the polls in key states to stop anti-abortion measures. Through similar campaigns, the National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda has reached over 530 government officials that publicly support the advocacy effort. 

You can donate directly to the National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda through their website. You can also get involved by signing up for the charity’s newsletter, telling your story, or by volunteering with their strategic partners.

Planned Parenthood: Care No Matter What

Planned Parenthood was founded in 1916 to ensure that all people have access to reproductive care and resources.Today, they are a national leader in the fight for reproductive health and abortion access, mobilizing nearly 18 million supporters in all 50 states and across the globe through Planned Parenthood Global.

Planned Parenthood has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“At Planned Parenthood our mission is to ensure all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures.”

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood provides information for, in support of, and access to safe and legal abortions for low-income and minority women. For example, to secure government funding of proper reproductive care, they support funding and education for abortion access and information through Title X.

Planned Parenthood provides thousands of women with safe and legal abortion each year, reaching 8,231 women in 2022. 61% of which were low-income women and women of color. Furthermore, through their Action Fund, Planned Parenthood gathered over 56,000 petition signatures and 12,000 supporter calls to senate offices for the Women’s Health Protection act to codify the right to abortion. 

You can donate to Planned Parenthood or donate to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund through their website. You can also get involved by volunteering or attending one of their events.

Guttmacher Institute: Fighting Back in Post-Roe America

The Guttmacher Institute was founded in 1968 as a branch of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The charity was further developed by Alan F. Guttmacher. Today, the Guttmacher Institute is a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing reproductive health and rights worldwide.

The Guttmacher Institute holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“The Guttmacher Institute envisions a future in which all people can realize their rights and access the resources they need to achieve sexual and reproductive health.”

Guttmacher Institute

The Guttmacher Institute conducts and publishes research globally, collects and presents data in their online data center, and analyzes global abortion and reproductive health trends. Furthermore, the institute provides state policy resources, national policy resources, global reports, and policy analysis to policymakers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and the general public to promote a better understanding of abortion and reproductive rights issues. 

Since their founding, the Guttmacher Institute has released comprehensive sexual and reproductive health profiles for more than 130 countries. For example, in November and December of 2023, the institute raised over $600,000 to further their research and policy analysis programs. Additionally, the Guttmacher Institute’s public policy experts have published 24 volumes of specific policy review dating back to 1998 to aid policymakers. 

You can donate to the Guttmacher Institute through their website. Additionally, you can utilize your talents for their cause via their job opportunities.

MSI Reproductive Choices: Boldly Making Choice Possible

MSI Reproductive Choices was created in 1976 by Dr. Tim Black, Jean Black, and Phil Harvey to inform and provide women with their right to choose safe and legal abortion.Today, MSI Reproductive Choices is a global leader in expanding abortion access through comprehensive healthcare, education, and political advocacy. 

MSI Reproductive Choices has a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“MSI fights for a future where everyone can access contraception and abortion. When we choose choice, the whole world wins.”

MSI Reproductive Choices

MSI Reproductive Choice works across 37 countries to advance abortion care and education by running campaigns for reproductive choice such as the Protect Choice and Let’s Decriminalize Abortion. Additionally, they fund and support global projects to provide women with education on abortion and expand abortion access by advocating for reproductive rights. Moreover, they provide direct access to abortion procedures and post-abortion care services to millions of women. 

Since their founding, MSI Reproductive Choices has supported 4.7 million clients to access an abortion or post-abortion care services across the globe. Since 2016, MSI Reproductive Choices has contributed to the reformation of over 78 policies worldwide to increase access to abortion services. 

You can donate to MSI Reproductive Choices through their website. You can also get involved by participating in one of their campaigns.

National Network of Abortion Funds: Fund Abortion, Build Power

The National Network of Abortion Funds was founded in 1994 by 22 independent abortion funds.Their mission was to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access as a collective. Today, the organization has grown to include over 100 funds that continue their vision of ensuring access to all reproductive choices. 

The National Network of Abortion Funds has earned a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator. 

“The National Network of Abortion Funds builds power with members to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by centering people who have abortions and organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive justice.”

National Network of Abortion Funds

The National Network of Abortion Funds hosts 3 annual fundraising events to distribute to network member funds and advance reproductive rights. In addition, they support 3 member fund programs to help individual funds network, create grants to distribute to them, and provide technical assistance for daily tasks. To create a powerful movement for abortion care and access, they also support 5 movement building programs. 

The National Network of Abortion Funds has grown substantially since their founding and has distributed over $11.8 million to support reproductive rights and access to abortion for women around the world. The organization was also able to increase member funds’ median funding budget from $40,400 to $80,000, increasing their ability to provide access to abortion education, advocacy, and access. 

You can donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds through their website. You can also get involved by volunteering for their programs or become an individual member. 

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities fighting for abortion rights. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarise yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to fighting for abortion rights – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

• Center for Reproductive Rights – Home
• Center for Reproductive Rights – Our Work
• Charity Navigator – Center for Reproductive Rights
• GuideStar – Center for Reproductive Rights
• Center for Reproductive Rights – Resources & Research
• Center for Reproductive Rights – Landmark Cases
• Center for Reproductive Rights – Causa Justa Lawsuit
• Center for Reproductive Rights – Mellet v. Ireland; Whalen v. Ireland
• Center for Reproductive Rights – Donate
• Center for Reproductive Rights – Campaigns
• Center for Reproductive Rights – Attend an Event
• Reproductive Freedom for All – Home
• Charity Navigator – Reproductive Freedom for All
• GuideStar – Reproductive Freedom for All
• Reproductive Freedom for All – Women’s Health Protection Act
• Reproductive Freedom for All – About
• Reproductive Freedom for All – Successes
• Reproductive Freedom for All – Trust Nevada Women Act
• Reproductive Freedom for All – EACH Woman Act
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• Reproductive Freedom for All – Take Action
• American Civil Liberties Union – Home
• American Civil Liberties Union – History
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• National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda – Mission, Goals, and Strategies
• National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda – Election Day Victories Blog Post
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• MSI Reproductive Choices – Protect Choice Campaign
• MSI Reproductive Choices – Let’s Decriminalize Abortion Campaign
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