Who We Are and Why We’re Here
Prairie Abortion Fund is an abortion fund serving North Dakotans, South Dakotans, Minnesotans, and people who travel to our region for abortion care. PAF can off-set the cost of an abortion fee; cover travel and lodging expenses required for appointments; and assist with other associated costs such as birth control options and STI testing.
We oppose restrictions and barriers to abortion and initiate advocacy efforts to inform, educate, and civically engage with the public. We know that an active community who understands reproductive healthcare can better advocate for laws and lawmakers that protect access to these essential services.
We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit and a member of the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), a membership organization of over 100 abortion funds across the United States.
To support the people in the Upper Midwest in accessing abortion care and related reproductive healthcare services with funding and advocacy efforts
Our Mission
Impact is measured in many ways.
We know ours is essential
$82,827.81
Abortion money distributed in the last year
Number of Callers supported in the last year
425
Amount of birth control assistance provided in the last year
$127,698
Number of Plan B One‑Step® emergency contraception pills distributed
256
Our values
We boldly and unapologetically defend abortion. Abortion is a human right and should be free, accessible, and supported within our own communities.
We strive for Reproductive Justice, as defined by SisterSong, because it is essential to our personal and collective well-being.
We apply intersectionality, as defined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, to recognize that different forms of discrimination can interact and overlap. Barriers to reproductive healthcare are compounded when racism, classism, and gender discrimination intersect. Meeting our callers with validation and respect for their experiences allows us to better meet their needs.
We foster safe environments to learn about abortion in order to reduce abortion-stigma, make space for nuance and complexity, and build a grassroots network of advocates and abortion defenders.
We are committed to the centering of- and advocating for- underserved populations who have been unfairly disenfranchised by institutions: LGBTQ folks, people living in rural communities, students, immigrants, unemployed and underemployed individuals, Indigenous people, and ethnic minorities.
We understand that intentional harm reduction is a requirement when prioritizing the agency and safety of our neighbors.
A storied past
A continued presence
1999
ND WIN Abortion Access Fund (now Prairie Abortion Fund) was founded in January 1999 on the principle that people receiving North Dakota and South Dakota Medicaid should have a safety net when accessing abortion. The Hyde Amendment is a budget rider that prevents federal funds from being used for abortion services. As Medicaid is a jointly funded federal-state health insurance program, states must choose to provide state funds for Medicaid abortion coverage—ND and SD do not choose to do so.
The first Choice Desserts was held in the basement of the Unitarian Universalist Church in South Fargo where approximately 20 people attended. It was a potluck of desserts brought and shared by participants. Choice Desserts was created by Jane Bovard, one of the founders of the ND WIN Fund (now Prairie Abortion Fund), in 2000, with the idea of the event being an opportunity to network with other pro-choice community members and eat desserts. Choice Desserts is now our largest, annual fundraiser; with over 200 people attending and raising at least a quarter of our annual budget.
2000
2008
For the first time, the Fund surpassed $10,000 in funding assistance to callers.
The Fund’s Abortion Book Club was established. The first meeting took place at the Downtown Fargo Public Library where Shout Your Abortion author, Amelia Bonow, joined us in person for a book discussion. We have since read dozens of books and shared space and discussion with people across North America.
2019
2020
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, reproductive healthcare appointments, including those for birth control, were deemed “non-essential.” However, on the day of their abortion appointments, callers were able to meet with a provider who could write that prescription for them. In 2020, we saw an exponential increase in funding requests for birth control and granted $36,000 to cover those costs from February 2020-May 2020. This was a number we had not seen in a year, let alone in four months. We would not have been able to meet this need without the support of our funders.
2022
The Fund responded to the Dobbs decision by co-organizing rallies, participating in dozens of interviews, educating the public about how they can support abortion seekers, and navigating our complex existence in a trigger-ban state.
2023
The North Dakota Women in Need Abortion Access Fund rebranded as Prairie Abortion Fund. Prairie Abortion Fund branding is inclusive of all people who have abortions and depicts the beauty of thriving grasslands and vast skies of the Upper Midwest.