NARAL

NARAL Pro-Choice America, Inc. was formerly known as The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League. NARAL is "a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, [which] works through the political and legislative systems to advocate for comprehensive reproductive health policies and to secure reproductive choice for all Americans. NARAL Pro-Choice America defends the right to choose and works to make abortion less necessary. Using sophisticated political strategies, extensive grassroots organizing, and effective lobbying efforts, NARAL Pro-Choice America has fought and won numerous pro-choice victories in its 30-year history."

NARAL's goal "is to help find workable answers that will ultimately reduce the need for abortions." NARAL believes that "Ignoring shortcomings in access to contraception, reproductive health care, and sex education while ripping away a woman's right to choose will only result in more unintended pregnancies and more abortions. This shortsighted approach is neither American nor life affirming ... [Until NARAL achieves that] goal, it [believes that it] is critical that those who value the freedom and independence we enjoy in this country work hard now to protect a woman's right to choose. For now, that basic American right is seriously at risk."

"NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC, a political action committee, is the driving force behind the election of many pro-choice candidates. NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC mounts multi-faceted campaigns, including paid advertising and effective get-out-the-vote (GOV) election day efforts to elect pro-choice candidates. NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC's financial contributions and political advice and services provide a critical edge to pro-choice candidates across the country."

"The NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1977, performs in-depth research and legal work, publishes substantive policy reports, mounts public education campaigns, and provides leadership training for grassroots activists across the nation."

Founders
"NARAL is the only national lobbying and membership organization devoted solely to maintaining the availability of safe, legal abortion. Originally called the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, NARAL was established at the First National Conference on Abortion Laws: Modification or Repeal?, held in February 1969 in Chicago. The conference, sponsored by 21 organizations and attended by 350 people, included a planning session for NARAL and the report of NARAL's pre-formation planning committee: Lawrence Lader of New York, Garrett Hardin of California, and Dr. Lonny Myers of Chicago. Those attending the session elected a 12-person Planning Committee: Lawrence Lader (Chairman), Ruth Proskauer Smith (Vice Chairman), Ruth Cusack (Secretary), Beatrice McClintock (Treasurer), Constance Bille Finnerty, Mrs. Marc Hughes Fisher, Betty Friedan, Norval Morris, Stewart Mott, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, Edna Smith, and Percy Sutton. The committee held its first official meeting in New York on February 25, 1969. It hired Lee Gidding as the first Executive Director; she opened NARAL's office in New York City on March 3...

"The Board of Directors, elected by the membership, officially replaced the Planning Committee at the first Board meeting, held on September 27, 1969. The Board elected Honorary Officers (Dr. Lester Breslow and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm as Presidents, Senator Maurine Neuberger as Vice President), Officers (including New York City Councilwoman Carol Greitzer as President), an Executive Committee (Lawrence Lader, Chairman), and a Nominating Committee. In addition, the Board adopted a very specific program of action (see NARAL News, Winter 1970).

"From 1969 till early 1973, NARAL worked with other groups to repeal state abortion laws and to oversee implementation of abortion policies in those few states that had liberalized their laws. On January 22, 1973, in Roe vs. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, during the first three months of pregnancy, abortion should be a private decision between a woman and her doctor, and that during the second three months state regulation should be permitted only to protect the health of the woman. To reflect the Court's repeal of restrictive abortion laws, NARAL became the National Abortion Rights Action League in late 1973."

Leadership

 * Ilyse Hogue, President
 * Nancy Keenan, former President (2005-??)
 * Kate Michelman, Former President who served for nearly 20 years from 1985.

Contact
NARAL Pro-Choice America 1156 15th Street, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 Main Number: 202.973.3000 Main Fax: 202.973.3096 Web: http://www.naral.org

Charity Rating

 * Web: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4151

Other Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Progressive Donor Network
 * soft money
 * Gloria A. Totten - Former Political Director
 * Belle Taylor-McGhee - Former Director of Communications
 * Amy Everitt, California State Director
 * Robin Chandler Duke - former president