Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Lilith Fund

Website:

www.lilithfund.org
Location:

Austin, TX
Tax ID:

74-3008249
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $1,904,194
Expenses: $1,452,266
Assets: $1,739,274
Type:

Abortion Advocacy Group
Interim Executive Director:

Neesha Dave

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Lilith Fund is an abortion advocacy organization that operates an abortion hotline and offers abortion funding support to individuals in Texas. 1 It is also known as the “National Network of Abortion Funds Lilith Fund” 2 or “The Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity.” 3

Lilith Fund advocates for abortion through organizing and movement building as well as through litigation. 4

Lilith began by funding abortions for Texans within the state. After Texas SB8 became effective, Lilith changed to fund Texans getting abortions in other states where the practice was still legal. Due to changes in federal and state abortion laws, Lilith Fund paused funding from June 2022 until April 2023. As of April 2023, it announced it would resume funding out of state abortions. 5

Background

The Lilith Fund is Texas’ oldest abortion fund. 6 It provides financial assistance and emotional support to people who need abortions in Texas. 7

Lilith Fund is a member of National Network of Abortion Funds which provides training and infrastructure support to its members. 8 Lilith Fund tax returns are filed under “National Network of Abortion Funds Lilith Funds.” 9

In 2021, Lilith Fund received 4,733 hotline calls. 40 percent of these callers received funding for an abortion. In total Lilith Fund gave $776,392 to 1,872 individuals to facilitate abortions in 2021. 10

On September 1, 2021, SB8 went into effect in Texas, barring physicians from performing abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. 11 Lilith Fund, along with other abortion activist organizations, filed a lawsuit protesting SB8 and took the case to the Texas Supreme Court, but lost. Lilith Fund continued to cover the cost of abortions that Texans get traveling to other states. 12 The group partners with clinics in other states such as New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas. 13

In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade and federal protection for abortion. 14 Lilith Fund announced on its website that it is taking time off to evaluate next steps based on changing federal and Texas state regulations. 15

As of March 2023, Lilith Fund had not announced whether it will begin supporting people for out of state abortions nor provided any timelines for that decision. 16 In April 2023, Lilith Fund announced that it would restart its abortion funding by supporting those traveling to other states to get abortions. 17

Programs

Lilith Fund and abortion advocacy organization Avow created the Know Your Rights campaign to share information on how to get an abortion legally despite Texas SB8 and federal laws. It provides a list of states that still provide abortions and a list of abortion clinics in the states closest to Texas. It also offers links and contact information on organizations that provide abortion assistance funds, including Lilith Fund, National Abortion Federation, and National Network of Abortion Funds. 18

Individuals can join the Hype Squad to spread information about abortion access in their communities. Hype Squad members receive training and a toolkit. 19

Litigation and Politics

In 2020, executive director Amanda Williams testified before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services on the harms of the Hyde Amendment for people who cannot afford abortions. 20 The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funds from the Departments of Labor, Health, and Human Services “to be expended for any abortion or to provide health benefits coverage that includes abortion” with exceptions for rape, incest, and medical emergencies. 21

In 2020, the ACLU Foundation of Texas filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Lilith Fund and Texas Equal Access Fund against seven Texas municipalities that passed anti-abortion ordinances and branded pro-abortion organizations as criminal. 22

Lilith Fund, Texas Equal Access Fund, and Afiya Center sued pro-life advocate Mark Lee Dickson for encouraging cities to declare organizations that provide abortion funding “criminal organizations” and for calling abortion “murder” in social media posts. This lawsuit proceeded to the Texas Supreme Court. 23

In August 2022, Fund Texas Choice, North Texas Equal Access Fund and Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) to block him from enforcing the state’s abortion laws against them for supporting and funding people in Texas to get abortions in other states. 24

Funding

Lilith Fund reported $1,904,194 in revenue and $1,452,266 in expenses for 2020. Of its total revenue, 6.8 percent was paid out for executive compensation and 26.5 percent for other salaries and wages. 25

Lilith Fund’s 2021 Annual Report shows total revenues of $5,083,975 which is mostly made up of $665,591 in foundation grants and $4,297,078 in individual contributions.  Total expenses were $1,625,207. 26

Donors to Lilith Fund include left-of-center funders Hopewell Fund, New Venture Fund, Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, American Online Giving Foundation, National Network of Abortion Funds, Network for Good, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and Tides Foundation. 27

Lilith Fund partners with left-of-center consultancy Equity Agenda, 28 ACLU Foundation of Texas, 29 and Progress Texas, a “media organization promoting progressive messages and actions.” It is a member of the Trust, Respect, Access Coalition, a multi-year pro-abortion campaign, along with National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, AVOW Texas, Texas Freedom Network, Afiya Center, Jane’s Due Process, and Deeds Not Words. 30

Leadership

Activist Amanda Williams was executive director from 2016 through January 2023. Previously she served on the board from 2012 to 2015. She is a board member for left-of-center Youth Rise Texas which advocates against illegal immigrant incarceration and deportation. 31

Neesha Dave is interim executive director, replacing Williams in January 2023. 32 She was deputy director of Lilith Fund since May 2020. Previously Dave was chief of staff for state Representative Armando Walle (D-Houston) and chief of staff for Representative Greg Casar (D-TX). 33

Amanda Reyna became board president for Lilith Fund in 2019. She is a self-employed birth doula and childbirth educator through her company Journey to Motherhood and a best birth program guide for Cleo, 34 a nonprofit that provides support to parents and caregivers. 35

Dianira Aluko is board vice president. She is the board affairs coordinator at Planned Parenthood of South Texas. 36

References

  1. Lilith Fund website. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.lilithfund.org/
  2. Lilith Fund. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019.
  3. “The Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity.” Facebook. Accessed April 21, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/lilithfund/
  4. Lilith Fund. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2019.
  5. Mary Tuma. “Texas abortion funds cautiously resume services following legal reprieve.” The Guardian. April 6, 2023. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/06/texas-abortion-funds-resume-service-legal-reprieve
  6. Shefali Luthra. “Abortion funds in Texas are unsure if they will resume supporting people after court ruling.” The 19th. March 2, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://19thnews.org/2023/03/abortion-funds-texas-could-resume-support-court-ruling/
  7. Lilith Fund website. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.lilithfund.org/
  8. “About Us.” National Network of Abortion Funds. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://abortionfunds.org/about/
  9. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Lilith Fund. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/743008249
  10. Lilith Fund 2021 Annual Report. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.lilithfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2021LilithAR.pdf
  11. “What does Senate Bill 8 say about abortions?” Texas State Law Library. July 21, 2022. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.sll.texas.gov/spotlight/2021/10/are-abortions-banned-in-texas-understanding-senate-bill-8/
  12. Lilith Fund 2021 Annual Report. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.lilithfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2021LilithAR.pdf
  13. “Get Help.” Lilith Fund. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.lilithfund.org/get-help/
  14. “Timeline of Abortion Restrictions in Texas.” Trust Respect Access. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.trustrespectaccess.com/abortion-restrictions-timeline
  15. “Mission, Vision & Values.” Lilith Fund – About. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.lilithfund.org/mission-vision-and-values/
  16. Shefali Luthra. “Abortion funds in Texas are unsure if they will resume supporting people after court ruling.” The 19th. March 2, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://19thnews.org/2023/03/abortion-funds-texas-could-resume-support-court-ruling/
  17. Mary Tuma. “Texas abortion funds cautiously resume services following legal reprieve.” The Guardian. April 6, 2023. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/06/texas-abortion-funds-resume-service-legal-reprieve
  18. Abortion is Health Care website. Accessed April 19, 2023.  https://needabortion.org/
  19. “Join Our Hype Squad.” Lilith Fund. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.lilithfund.org/join-our-hype-squad/
  20. Lilith Fund 2020 Annual Report. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://indd.adobe.com/view/6c5c7038-3144-47e7-ab4c-075c2ea9b720
  21. “The Hyde Amendment: An Overview.” Congressional Research Service. July 20, 2022. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12167
  22. “Texas Equal Access Fund & Lilith Fund v. City of Waskom Et Al.” ACLU Texas – Our Work – Court Battles. February 25, 2020. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.aclutx.org/en/cases/texas-equal-access-fund-lilith-fund-v-city-waskom-et-al
  23. Isaiah Mitchell. “Texas Supreme Court Takes Up Abortion Funds’ Defamation Suits Against Pro-Life Activist.” The Texan. June 21, 2022. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://thetexan.news/texas-supreme-court-takes-up-abortion-funds-defamation-suits-against-pro-life-activist-who-called-abortion-murder/
  24. Brendan Pierson. “Texas AG Paxton dodges subpoena in abortion funds’ lawsuit.” Reuters. November 15, 2022. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/texas-ag-paxton-dodges-subpoena-abortion-funds-lawsuit-2022-11-15/
  25. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Lilith Fund. 2020 extracted financial data. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/743008249
  26. Lilith Fund 2021 Annual Report. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.lilithfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2021LilithAR.pdf
  27. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Lilith Fund. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=lilith+fund
  28. “Clients & Partners.” Equity Agenda. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://equityagenda.org/
  29. ACLU Foundation of Texas. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part III). 2019.
  30. “Our Partners.” Trust Respect Access. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.trustrespectaccess.com/
  31. “Activists and Inspirations.” University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://uh.edu/socialwork/news/onward–the-next-50-years/activists-and-inspirations/
  32. Twitter – Lilith Fund. February 7, 2023. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://twitter.com/lilithfund/status/1623049149686943744
  33. LinkedIn – Neesha Dave. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/neeshad/
  34. LinkedIn – Amanda Reyna. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/areyna/
  35. cleo website. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://hicleo.com/
  36. LinkedIn – Dianira Aluko. Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianira-aluko-815227ba/
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: September 1, 1994

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $1,904,194 $1,452,266 $1,739,274 $183,389 N $1,879,304 $0 $1,368 $99,312
    2019 Dec Form 990 $630,864 $1,060,070 $1,205,899 $101,942 N $631,803 $0 $860 $91,880 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,497,672 $690,075 $1,575,314 $42,151 N $1,500,735 $0 $1,009 $86,506 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $982,461 $396,706 $934,824 $2,670 N $969,372 $0 $370 $70,870 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $372,057 $328,364 $363,995 $17,596 N $376,495 $0 $54 $61,074 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $288,172 $224,414 $304,017 $1,311 N $296,667 $0 $26 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $225,016 $168,229 $239,982 $0 N $231,622 $0 $30 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $229,932 $116,650 $182,299 $-569 N $237,793 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990EZ $104,983 $112,327 $69,017 $-569 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990EZ $115,917 $95,982 $76,930 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Lilith Fund


    Austin, TX