NYAAF Embarks on a Period of Transformation

To our community,

For twenty years, the New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF) has worked to build a world where every person can access abortion without barriers or judgment. As we embark on a period of transformation so that we can best deliver on our mission, we will continue to fund abortions. 

Anyone who lives in or is traveling to New York State and needs help paying for an abortion can reach us at 212-252-4757 or info@nyaaf.org

NYAAF is an all-volunteer organization that provides direct financial assistance for abortions. NYAAF is led by a nonhierarchical, working board of directors who collectively do the day-to-day work of running the organization, share the responsibility of governance, and ensure that we have the resources to fulfill our mission.

NYAAF aspires to be an organization that centers people who have had abortions, dismantles oppressive systems, and operates in compassionate and equitable ways. We will use this  transformation period to address the ways we have not lived up to these values and perpetuated white supremacy culture. 

In August 2020, we welcomed and onboarded 9 new board members, the majority of whom are people of color. Since then, the Board has had a series of difficult conversations leading to the creation of our first-ever anti-racism committee and board demographic survey. The survey laid bare that NYAAF’s leadership is extremely disconnected to the communities we claim to serve. Most notably, our leadership is predominantly white and middle or upper class, the overwhelming majority of us have not had an abortion, and none of us has ever sought assistance from an abortion fund. Following the results of the demographic survey and subsequent conversations, several new board members decided to leave the board. A number of longer-serving board members have also left or plan to leave within the year. The loss of so many board members, coupled with the findings of the survey, engendered a long overdue reckoning.

The NYAAF board has been operating with an unsustainable urgency that prevents us from taking the time required to reflect, connect, and become an anti-racist organization that serves our clients with radical empathy and compassion. This period of transformation is an opportunity to stop cycles of harm by investing in restorative justice, values alignment, strategic planning, organizational restructuring, and the transfer of leadership to existing board members who more closely represent our callers. 

Our most important work continues: during this period, NYAAF will continue to operate our call line and fund abortions with the support of our dedicated volunteer case managers. We will also continue the essential work that enables us to fund abortions. This includes our annual Fund-a-Thon, through which we raise funds that support our callers across New York State and beyond.

During the transformation process, we will not recruit new volunteers, take on new advocacy work, or host events or volunteer activities unrelated to the call line. We will be quieter on our website, email, and social media. We will share periodic updates in service of transparency, and we will likely reach out to you, our community, to provide feedback and input. In the meantime, if you have questions or considerations you’d like to share, please email us at info@nyaaf.org.

We are humbled by the opportunity to transform NYAAF into an organization grounded in and aligned with its values, with a re-imagined, long-term vision and strategic framework that centers and is led by people most impacted by barriers to abortion access.

Sincerely,

NYAAF Board of Directors

Alex, Alicia, Ambika, Anna, Chelsea, Dory, EJ, Julia, Kaitlyn, Karla, Maddy, Puja, and Vanessa

NYAAF’s FY14 Annual Report is here!

The New York Abortion Access Fund is very proud to present our FY14 annual report. In it, you’ll find information about our newly-updated intake process, data about who we serve, media highlights, a financial overview, and much more!

FY14 was our biggest year yet and we’re eager to share our successes with you. Please review the report below and contact us at info@nyaaf.org with any questions.

Sincerely,

NYAAF Board of Directors


NYAAF FY14 Annual Report by NYAbortionAccessFund

Call for NYAAF Board Members

CALL FOR BOARD MEMBERS

New Yorkers!  Are you itching to get more involved with your local abortion fund? Do you have great event organizing skills? Or perhaps experience writing and securing grants? Maybe you’ve got amazing fundrasing skills that you’re looking to put to a good cause.  We want YOU to join the NYAAF board! We currently have three board positions open and would love for you to join us!

Institutional Fundraiser
Responsibilities include:

  • Developing and implementing institutional fundraising strategy
  • Drafting and submitting Letters of Inquiry and Proposal
  • Researching prospective foundation supporters
  • Tracking foundation donor response, reporting requirements, and deadlines
  • Preparing narrative and financial reports
  • Participating on other committees and completing projects as needed

Requirements:

  • Experience with writing grants and proposals
  • Ability to conceptualize and create an institutional fundraising strategy
  • Familiarity with New York foundation funding landscape
  • Self-motivated and detail-oriented

 

Events Coordinator: Community Organizing and Grassroots Events

  • Develop community fundraising involvement, specifically college-based, local, and upstate fundraising development.
  • Organize volunteer-hosted events, including the development and implementation of home-hosting kits for individuals interested in hosting a NYAAF fundraiser.
  • Generate ideas for new events targeting the growth of the volunteer base and work with
    volunteers to implement those ideas.
  • Promptly report on events to the rest of the board (costs, funds raised, new donor lists, etc.).
  • Assist the Events Coordinator: Major Donors and Institutional Events with annual major donor events (e.g. Bowlathon and Celebrate Access Awards) as needed.
  • Participate on the Fundraising Committee.
  • Plan yearly events calendar in conjunction with Fundraising Committee and the Events Coordinator: Major Donors and Institutional Events

External event coordination

  • Work with anyone who approaches NYAAF offering to host an event (e.g. a play, book signing, concert, etc.)
  • Determine whether the event is an appropriate fit for NYAAF
  • Ensure NYAAF board representation at events as appropriate
  • Coordinate/delegate to-do lists and duties with volunteer or host (venue, invites, staffing, etc.)

 

Development Coordinator:

  • Coordinate the pick up of the organizations mail and distribute mail to other board members
  • Draft and distribute acknowledgement letters in a timely manner
  • Make thank you calls
  • Work with event planner(s) to discuss and plan opportunities/events to establish and cultivate donor relationships
  • Assist in annual report assembly and production
  • Manage and update donor database (NGP VAN)
  • Work with co-chairs to cultivate major donors and develop individual giving campaigns
  • Generate contribution reports as needed
  • Maintain online giving account (NY Charities)
  • Set up online donation pages for events
  • Provide support for all mailings

General board responsibilities include attendance at monthly meetings on the third Monday of every month, and an intake shift on our hotline once every three months.

NYAAF is committed to seeking a diverse group of candidates, including young people, people of color, and gender non-conforming and queer folks. We are an all-volunteer, board-run grassroots organization.

Interested? Have questions? Email info[at]nyaaf[dot]org for a board application! Applications are due April 1st, 2014.