Big News and Thank You's from DCAF
We don’t need to tell you that it is an infuriating, uncertain, and scary time for abortion rights and access. Every day, we see new restrictions passed in states across the country and chaos and confusion as the laws in some states change by the hour. This means more and more people will be forced to travel hundreds of miles for their abortions.These past few months, the DCAF team has been busy responding to the growing need for abortion funding. But we’ve also been doing the necessary work to ensure we are prepared for every shift in the abortion access landscape.DCAF has also seen an amazing wave of support and interest from people in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and across the country who want to be more involved in this movement. Thank you to everyone who has donated, fundraised, hosted events, signed up to volunteer, or shared information about DCAF and abortion funds with your friends and family.As the fall kicks off, we want to take a moment to let our community know what’s been happening here at DCAF and what you can do to help us continue doing what we’ve always done: fund abortions.
Meeting the unprecedented demand for abortion funding Even before the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, DCAF was already stepping up to meet increased need from people struggling to access abortion care in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We’ve been fielding more calls, from people with greater funding gaps to fill, ever since the pandemic began two and half years ago. In the past year, DCAF pledged over $1.3M to almost 6,000 callers–doubling what we pledged the prior year.Our case managers only had the budget available to make these pledges to callers because of the outpouring of support from donors like you. Thank you!
Exciting changes for DCAF: Meet our staff! In 2022, DCAF achieved the milestone of bringing on the first full-time paid staff in our organization’s 27-year history. This change ensures DCAF can keep expanding and improving our services in an equitable and sustainable way for years to come.We’re pleased to introduce you to:
Shannon Ens, Director of Caller Services and Engagement
Allison Tombros Korman, Director of Operations and Strategy
Alisha Dingus, Director of Development
We need your help! The support and attention DCAF has received in the past few months has been incredible. But we know our work – to help make sure every person who needs an abortion can afford and access it, even in a post-Roe world – is a marathon, not a sprint. We are building a long-term movement not only to fund abortions but to break down abortion stigma and ultimately change systems and policies to make abortion accessible to all.
Join us at an upcoming fundraising event for DCAF or sign up to host one yourself.
Keep telling people about DCAF! Follow and amplify us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share information on DCAF’s helpline at (202) 452-7464 and how people in our area can help to afford their abortions.
Be sure to be on the lookout for regular updates on our work and other ways you can get involved.
With gratitude,
–DCAF Board of Directors & Staff