About the Action Fund

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity including public education campaigns, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.

In 1998, the Action Fund formed the Planned Parenthood Federal PAC which is a nationwide, non-partisan political action committee that supports pro-choice, pro-family planning candidates for federal office.

Candidates often do not give voters the information they need to make important election decisions and many anti-choice candidates try to hide their true agenda until after the election. To combat this, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund gets information about candidates to voters.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund played a key role in the dramatic 2000 elections. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund gave over $283,000 in PAC contributions to 115 pro-choice candidates and, together with its special voter education fund, "Planned Parenthood Votes," spent $10 million dollars in radio and TV advertising which played a key role in educating voters and helped choice become an important issue in that election.

Nationwide Network

• There are 75 state and local Planned Parenthood action funds or 501(c)(4) organizations;
• Planned Parenthood 501(c)(4) organizations typically engage in educational and electoral activities such as lobbying, issue advocacy: voter education; candidate forums; Get Out the Vote activities; voter registration; and earned and paid media campaigns.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

The Action Fund's parent organization, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, is the world's largest and most trusted voluntary family planning organization. Planned Parenthood Federation of America not-for-profit affiliates operate more than 850 health centers in 49 states and the District of Columbia, serving nearly five million Americans annually.

Planned Parenthood Services

Planned Parenthood affiliates provide a full-range of reproductive health care services including sexuality education programs for local schools, community and youth groups. In addition, Planned Parenthood engages in public advocacy such as lobbying and public education initiatives.