The New Morning Foundation is a South Carolina-based nonprofit that supports expanded access to birth control and detailed sex education. 1 The organization asserts that women need artificial birth control to plan their lives, including education and employment. 2 New Morning Foundation Main Page. Accessed May 22, 2023.
https://newmorning.org/[/note] The organization frames its advocacy as being intended to avoid “unplanned” or “unwanted” births and pregnancies, and New Morning president Bonnie Kapp has argued that the organization’s activities have reduced abortions. 34
The New Morning Foundation has received multi-million-dollar contributions from the Susan T. Buffett Foundation, 567 a philanthropic institution associated with investor Warren Buffett that extensively funds “reproductive health and family planning.” 8
Advocacy
In the early 2010s, the New Morning Foundation issued a report arguing that South Carolina’s sex education was insufficient. As the report was characterized by FITSNews, the group argued that “three out of four South Carolina school districts are failing to comply with a state law outlining how they should teach sex education” and that therefore “young people [were] not getting the medically accurate information.” 9 The foundation argued for certified sex-education teachers in schools, as is the case with teachers of other subjects. 10
In January 2012, the New Morning Foundation issued a statement opposing a proposed law in South Carolina that would strengthen the rights of healthcare professionals to refuse involvement in services and procedures they found morally objectionable. Brandi Parrish Ellison, the foundation’s associate director at the time, criticized the bill for allegedly having the effect of limiting access to a number of reproductive and other health services, including “birth control, in vitro fertilization and emergency contraception” as well as “HIV medications and even cancer medication.” 11
In April 2014, the New Morning Foundation issued a statement opposing a proposed law in South Carolina that would strengthen the rights of pregnant women to exercise self-defense in situations where their unborn children were threatened. A spokesperson for the foundation claimed that the bill “could outlaw contraception, any form of hormonal birth control, and emergency contraception.” 12
Choose Well
The New Morning Foundation oversees the Southeast’s first statewide birth-control program, known as “Choose Well,” which provides eight methods of birth control at low or no cost. 13
The foundation leads the program together with more than 60 partner organizations that have more than 160 clinics across South Carolina. 14 These partners include federally qualified health centers, state health clinics, hospitals, universities, and nursing programs. 15
Leadership
Bonnie Kapp is the president and CEO of the New Morning Foundation and earned a salary of $200,000 in the organization’s tax year ending June 2020. 16 Following the 2024 election, Kapp wrote an op-ed promoting continued access to contraception. 17
Tiffany Byrd is New Morning Foundation’s associate vice president for clinical programs. 18
Sarah Kelley is the chief operating officer of the New Morning Foundation. 18
Anthony J. Duesler is the chief financial officer of the New Morning Foundation. 18
Dasia M. Jenkins is the health systems manager at the New Morning Foundation. 18
Angie Olawsky, a registered nurse, is the associate vice president for sustainability for the New Morning Foundation. 18
Financials
In its 2020-2021 fiscal year, the New Morning Foundation received just over $10 million in contributions and grants and issued more than $5.1 million in grants of its own. That year, the foundation held net assets of more than $8.8 million. 19
New Morning Foundation has received substantial contributions from the Susan T. Buffett Foundation, 567 a philanthropic institution associated with investor Warren Buffett that extensively funds “reproductive health and family planning.” 8
The J H Walker Legacy Foundation C/o Sterling Foundation Management LLC
THE GRANT WILL APPLY TO, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE AREAS OF INTEREST OF THE NODRAMA.ORG CAMPAIGN, THE PEDIATRIC CLINICS IN THE RURAL HEALTH NETWORK, AND PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON THE YOUNGER SET OF NEW MORNING'S CLIENT BASE.
$40,000
2024
The Jolley Foundation
General Operations
$40,000
2023
The J H Walker Legacy Foundation C/o Sterling Foundation Management LLC
FOR THE NODRAMA.ORG CAMPAIGN, THE PEDIATRIC CLINICS IN THE RURAL HEALTH NETWORK, AND PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON THE YOUNGER SET OF NEW MORNING'S CLIENT BASE
$30,000
2023
Elhapa Foundation Inc
TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATIONS
$30,000
2022
The Self Foundation
to assist with expanding access to contraceptive services in Greenwood County
$25,000
2025
Mary Black Foundation
Free/Low-cost Birth Control
$25,000
2024
Elhapa Foundation Inc
TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATIONS
$25,000
2022
Pete and Sally Smith Foundation
GENERAL OPERATING
$25,000
2022
South Carolina Physicians Care Charity Inc
HEALTH EDUCATION
$20,000
2022
The Stony Point Foundation C/o Andersen Tax
General Support
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
Total Grant Value:$25,668,945
Number of Grants:153
Number of Recipients:89
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:
Amount
Year
Funder
Subject
$1,537,147
2020
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$382,536
2020
Essential Access Health
The Choose Well Initiative also funds capacity-building organizations who design and implement trainings to further the skills of clinicians and staff within all of the partner locations. Trainings involve contraceptive counseling, Family Planning Health Worker Certifications, billing and coding, and more. This gives employees at partner sites the opportunity to become credentialed in areas of interest and ultimately enhances the skillset of many SC clinicians, which will last beyond the Initiative.
$351,024
2020
Fact Forward
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state. This specific partner is funded to manage college campus health centers that are partners under the Initiative.
$316,394
2020
South Carolina State Office of Rural Health Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state. This specific partner is funded to onboard and manage partnering rural health clinics across SC so that the program may reach the more remote areas of the state.
$277,942
2020
Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$253,393
2020
Mcleod Regional Medical Center of the Pee Dee Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$253,100
2020
Fetter Health Care Network Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$252,326
2020
Little River Medical Center Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$205,568
2020
Mid-Carolina Area Health Education Cons
The Choose Well Initiative also funds capacity-building organizations who design and implement trainings to further the skills of clinicians and staff within all of the partner locations. Trainings involve contraceptive counseling, Family Planning Health Worker Certifications, billing and coding, and more. This gives employees at partner sites the opportunity to become credentialed in areas of interest and ultimately enhances the skillset of many SC clinicians, which will last beyond the Initiative.
The Choose Well Initiative also funds capacity-building organizations who design and implement trainings to further the skills of clinicians and staff within all of the partner locations. Trainings involve contraceptive counseling, Family Planning Health Worker Certifications, billing and coding, and more. This gives employees at partner sites the opportunity to become credentialed in areas of interest and ultimately enhances the skillset of many SC clinicians, which will last beyond the Initiative.
$183,000
2020
Primary Care Association of Sc Inc
The Initiative funds the SCPHCA to support and enhance quality improvement activities for contraceptive care in the Patient-centered Medical Home at their participating member organizations, which includes Choose Well FQHC Partners.
$159,146
2020
AnMed Foundation
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$156,318
2020
Low Country Health Care System
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$150,890
2020
PRISMA HEALTH – UPSTATE
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$148,013
2020
Family Solutions of the Low Country
The Initiative has created a network of community-reaching organizations (CROs) across the state who are funded to offer contraceptive counseling to interested clients and work with them to create Reproductive Life Plans of their choosing. If clients desire a birth control method and are eligible for being covered by the grant at a Choose Well Partner clinic, the counselor at the CRO refers the client to the nearest Partner clinic.
$147,017
2020
Joseph F. Sullivan Center
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state. Additionally, to further build the capacity of advanced practice registered nurses in SC, the Initiative funded 4 colleges of nursing to incorporate clinical education for contraceptive service provision (didactic and clinical) within their Family Nurse Practitioner curriculums. Lastly, the Sullivan Center became the Initiative's first funded grantee to provide telehealth services starting in 2020 at the beginning of COVID-19.
$133,908
2020
Affinity Health Center
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$127,416
2020
Foothills Community Health Care Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$125,733
2020
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$122,139
2020
St James Health and Wellness Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$118,615
2020
USC PASOs
The Initiative has created a network of community-reaching organizations (CROs) across the state who are funded to offer contraceptive counseling to interested clients and work with them to create Reproductive Life Plans of their choosing. If clients desire a birth control method and are eligible for being covered by the grant at a Choose Well Partner clinic, the counselor at the CRO refers the client to the nearest Partner clinic.
$114,995
2020
New Horizon Family Health Services Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$112,718
2020
Regenesis Health Care, Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$112,246
2020
Prisma Health – Midlands
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
$110,370
2020
HopeHealth Inc
The Choose Well Initiative funds skilled clinicians to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling services to patients within the partnering clinics across the state of South Carolina. Additionally, the Initiative funds birth control methods for uninsured and underinsured patients of these clinics who desire a method and otherwise may not have been able to afford one. All of these efforts are centered around New Morning's goal to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy across the state.
4. Kapp, Bonnie. “Providing More Access to Birth Control will Reduce Abortions in South Carolina.” The State. October 3. 2020. Accessed November 18, 2022. https://newmorning.org/media
