Help us raise $60,000 for abortion access in Maryland!

Join a team, become an individual fundraiser, or donate here.
More info below.

Download the fundraising toolkit here.
More info below.

FUND-A-THON UPDATE

Out of an abundance of caution and care for our community during the COVID-19 global pandemic, we canceled our in-person Fund-a-Thon celebration event this year, but we will continue to fundraise because we are committed to our helpline callers. Please check our Facebook page for virtual events.

The reality is that the need for BAF to provide financial assistance to our callers is greater than ever. With more people struggling financially due to the economic shutdown, it will likely become even more difficult for people to access the abortion care they need. With more people traveling across different parts of the US to Maryland, and with more states attempting to restrict abortion access, your help is especially critical to ensure people calling our helpline are able to receive the abortion care they need.

We continue to raise and distribute money because abortion is time-sensitive and essential healthcare, and funding abortion is a form of mutual aid. We understand in uncertain economic times, your ability to support the Baltimore Abortion Fund might be more limited than in previous years. You may already be sending what you have to other local mutual aid and community care organizations. If you are in a position to fundraise or donate, we still encourage you to create an online fundraising page and commit to raising as much money as you can by asking your friends and family to donate. You can find a toolkit below to help you frame these requests with sensitivity to folks’ financial situations and also underscore the critical need our callers continue to face. 

Abortion funders are a special community that have already developed the values of community care and a network to make it possible. As we face uncertain times, we look towards our community and you, our supporters, who have been with us for over 5 years. 

Your continued support is what drives our organization. You make us more hopeful; we’re proud to be in community with you.

FUND-A-THON FAQS

1. What is Fund-A-Thon?

Fund-a-Thon is BAF’s signature community fundraising season, lasting from NOW through April. You may already be familiar with Bowl-a-Thon, which BAF has done for the past 5 years. Fund-a-Thon works the same way, we’re just switching up the celebratory event at the end.

Folks all over Baltimore and beyond are forming and joining teams, offering incentives for donations, and planning events to raise money for BAF! On Sunday, April 26th, we'll gather to, yes, roller skate, but also eat, drink, dance, give out prizes, and celebrate all of the amazing work our community does every year to make sure anyone who wants an abortion can get one, regardless of the cost.

2. Why should I care?

Abortion care is under attack in many states and BAF is committed to helping people who live in or travel to Maryland access the services they need. Did you know that BAF is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization? It's true. Just about all the money we raise goes directly to people who need it. We raised over $50,000 last year at our Bowl-a-Thon. We're going for broke this year at a $60,000 goal that will help us assist even more folks seeking care in Maryland.

Fund-A-Thon is the huge national fundraising effort the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) organizes every year that harnesses the collective power of member funds to raise record-breaking amounts for abortion access. Abortion funds help remove systemic barriers people face to ensure they have access to abortion care no matter their race, socioeconomic status, age, gender identity, or where they live. We are so proud that Baltimore and all of Maryland comes together for this annual event to make abortion funding a reality in our state.

3. How does it work? I'm not sure about fundraising / I've never fundraised before.

Don't worry. We’ll provide lots of fundraising tips throughout the season to make your fundraising fun and easy! Keep an eye out for our emails and social media posts.

4. OK, I'm in. Now what?

Great! Here's what YOU can do...

LET'S GET FUNDING!

Visit BAF’s Fund-a-Thon page today to:

Create or join a team or become a team captain. Friends don’t let friends fund abortion alone! Create a team with some of your friends / enemies / frenemies / colleagues / jazzercise classmates / union members / beer brewing club friends, whomever.

You'll create an online fundraising page on our secure platform, ask your friends and family to donate – and that's it! (Bonus points for funny team names, team costumes, and good puns – and yes, there are prizes for our top fundraisers.)

~OR~

Become an individual fundraiser and set your goal. Did you know that $1,750 will fund our helpline for a week? If you are new to fundraising, you can set your goal low and raise it when you get close to reaching it.

~OR~

Don’t want to fundraise but still want to support? No problem! Donate to any fundraiser or the general BAF Fund-A-Thon campaign! Even a small donation will help us achieve our goal.

Join a team, become an individual fundraiser, or donate here.

FUNDRAISING TOOLKIT

The team at BAF put together a toolkit to help make your Fund-a-Thon fundraising simple and effective. The toolkit includes sample language for:

• Emails to your friends and family
• Social media posts
• Images and infographics
• Virtual event tips
• And more!

We know not everyone can donate right now, but some folx are financially okay and are happy to support. We just need to ask them!

DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT

FUNDRAISING 101

In case you missed it, BAF Board Vice President, Imani Spence, hosted a Facebook Live and answered questions about this year's Fund-a-Thon. She touched on ways to make this Fund-a-Thon unique by hosting virtual events that you, personally, would be excited about.

Click the image to watch the video.