National Council of Jewish Women Raises Unprecedented $1 Million From the Jewish Community to Help Patients Access Abortion Care 

Donations made to the Jewish Fund for Abortion Access, primarily by thousands of small dollar donors, will help US patients access care

NATIONAL – Today, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) announced that its Jewish Fund for Abortion Access has surpassed one million dollars in donated funds, directly helping thousands of patients navigate the increasingly complex landscape of post-abortion care. Supreme Court decision to be overturned Roe v. Wade. These funds help patients in need of immediate resources to cross state lines, stay in hotels, and pay for abortion care in partnership with National Abortion Federation (NAF). The Fund, planned by NCJW in anticipation of the Court’s decision, is the first time the 130-year-old organization has raised funds in support of a concerted nationwide effort. The million dollars raised by the Fund came primarily from thousands of small dollar donations from individuals who were moved to help after this summer’s Supreme Court ruling.

“This is a moral emergency. People in this country cannot access basic health care, including abortion, and we will not stand by as more and more barriers are placed in front of patients” said Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women. “We launched the Jewish Fund for Abortion Access to connect those most affected by abortion bans with the emergency resources they need to receive reproductive health care. Jews believe kavod habriot, the dignity of every person, and full access to abortion is essential to uphold that dignity for all women and people who can become pregnant. We are very proud to see thousands of our community members donate what they can to support access to essential health care in a Jewish community way. The Fund is a vehicle for people to turn their Jewish values ​​of prioritizing health, pursuing justice, and showing up to action with real-life, tangible impact.”

NCJW launched the Jewish Fund for Abortion Access in May 2022 after the leak Dobbs the decision alerted the public of the imminent collapse of the Roe. Instead of reinventing the wheel, NCJW wants to direct funding to an established organization that can quickly get funds to the patients who need them most. NAF operates the National Abortion Hotline, which assists patients from the beginning to the end of the abortion care process, ensuring that people seeking abortions get the care they deserve through its infrastructure to fund , guidance, and travel support for abortion care to patients anywhere in the country, including operating the nation’s largest abortion hotline.

“We are very grateful for the generous support from NCJW of their Jewish Fund for Abortion Access,” said Melissa Fowler, Chief Program Officer of the National Abortion Federation. “Since the Dobbs decision, access to abortion care has become more expensive because the abortion ban forces patients to leave their home states for care. We have seen a significant increase in the demand for in funding to cover travel related expenses, including flights, hotel accommodation, and food stipends for those traveling to access care. The Jewish Fund for Abortion Access helps make abortion care accessible to any patient who needs it, no matter where they live or how much money they have.”

More than 90 percent of the more than 5,000 donations to the Jewish Fund for Abortion Access were $250 or less. Some donors have also organized creative fundraisers, raising thousands of dollars from their congregations and local communities for the cause. These efforts include:

• In DC, Temple Sinai’s reproductive justice task force encouraged its congregation to donate to the Jewish Fund for Abortion Access, along with local abortion funds in hopes of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. The congregation raised $9,700 for the Fund.
• Mara Jill Herman in New York organized the concert “Si Ruth Sent Us: A Benefit For Reproductive Justice” in honor of the late Jewish reproductive rights advocate, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which raised $3,000 for the NCJW’s Fund.
• An LA Friendraiser, started during the pandemic by a group of friends working to support causes they believe in, organized an intergenerational effort that raised $36,000 for the Fund – mostly from small dollars gifts from college students ranging from as little as $18 to $5,000.

To schedule an interview with the National Council of Jewish Women or a donor who has contributed to the Fund, contact Jake Green, jgreen@ncjw.org. To speak with the National Abortion Federation, contact naf@berlinrosen.com.

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The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), is the oldest Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. Through the efforts of our 210,000 grassroots advocates and 50 local chapters, NCJW combines education, direct service, and advocacy to affect lasting social change at the local, state, and national levels. We frame our work through the intersections of gender, economic, and racial justice to center those most affected in a uniquely Jewish way. Learn more at NCJW.organd in Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.

The National Abortion Federation is the nation’s leading professional association of abortion providers. NAF represents hundreds of providers and independent clinics across the country who are on the front lines of helping people access abortion care. NAF helps its members provide abortion care to any patient who needs it by providing security, training, and community support. They also operate the National Abortion Hotline, the largest national, multi-lingual abortion hotline in the US Following the overturning of Roe, the National Abortion Hotline has become a critical tool for people seeking abortion care to obtain information and support financial. Learn more at prochoice.organd in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.