The March for Life Education and Defense Fund (March for Life) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that organizes the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C. The March for Life intends to bring together, educate, and mobilize pro-life individuals in an effort to end abortion. 1
March for Life also organizes rallies at the state level, and as of April 2023 had events planned in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. 2
March for Life Action is the sister lobbying and electoral advocacy organization of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. 3
Activities
The March for Life is an annual pro-life event that brings together individuals and families from across the U.S. to support protecting human life from the moment of conception until natural death. The rally is held in Washington D.C. on the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and aims to change abortion laws at both the state and federal levels. The March for Life also intends to change the hearts and minds of Americans and American culture, ultimately making abortion an unthinkable act. 4
The March for Life rally continues despite the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 and has grown to include rallies at the state level. March for Life claims that Roe v. Wade took away state’s rights to make democratic decisions about abortion issues and that its overturning returns this power to states. The state rallies are intended to show support for mothers, the unborn, and anti-abortion legislation to local leaders and lawmakers. March for Life events are currently being held in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. 5
Funding
The March for Life Education and Defense Fund is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. March for Life’s 2023 sponsors included Knights of Columbus ($100,000), Focus on the Family ($50,000), and the Heritage Foundation ($25,000). 6
Additionally, tax filings confirm donations from the California Community Foundation ($50,000 in 2018), 7 the Gulf Coast Community Foundation ($33,000 in 2018), 8 and the 85 Fund ($25,000 in 2021). 9
Leadership
As of 2023, Jeanne Mancini was the president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. Mancini formerly worked at the Family Research Council and the Department of Health and Human Services. 10
Diana Banister is a public affairs strategist and formerly worked as a senior advisor at the Department of Homeland Security and the White House Domestic Policy Council during the Trump administration. 11
Tim Saccoccia was the chair of the board of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund and also sat on the board of March for Life Action. Saccoccia formerly worked as senior policy director at the Knights of Columbus. 12
Charles “Chuck” Donovan is the president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Donovan formerly worked as legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, executive vice president of the Family Research Council, and senior research fellow in religion and civil society at the Heritage Foundation. 13
Patrick Kelly is the former chair of the board of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund and is currently the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus. Kelly formerly worked as a senior advisor to the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the Department of State. 14
Other members of the board include Thomas McClusky, Lisa Grimes, Thomas Harrington, Donald Kehoe, and L. Michael Perkins. 15
References
- “About the March for Life.” March for Life. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://marchforlife.org/about-the-march-for-life/.
- “State Marches Near You.” March for Life. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://marchforlife.org/state-marches-near-you/.
- “Official Launch of March for Life Action.” March for Life. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://marchforlife.org/mfl-action/.
- “National March for Life.” March for Life. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://marchforlife.org/national-march-for-life/.
- “State Marches Near You.” March for Life. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://marchforlife.org/state-marches-near-you/
- “March for Life Sponsorships.” March for Life. Accessed April 17, 2023. https://marchforlife.org/rose-dinner-sponsorship/.
- California Community Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Schedule I, Part II.
- Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Schedule I, Part II.
- 85 Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2021, Schedule I, Part II.
- “Jeanne Mancini.” Focus on the Family. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.focusonthefamily.com/contributors/jeanne-mancini/.
- “Diana Banister.” Sovereign Global Solutions. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.sovereignglobalsolutions.com/diana-banister/
- “The March for Life Announces New Chairman of the Board.” March for Life, March 18, 2021. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://marchforlife.org/the-march-for-life-announces-new-chairman-of-the-board/
- “Charles A. “Chuck” Donovan. Lozier Institute. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://lozierinstitute.org/team-member/charles-a-chuck-donovan/.
- “Patrick E. Kelly.” Knights of Columbus. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.kofc.org/en/who-we-are/our-supreme-officers/supreme-knight.html.
- March for Life Education & Defense, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.