SisterSong Inc., based in Atlanta, advocates for legal and state-supported abortion. 1 SisterSong is a party in a lawsuit seeking to block Georgia’s ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. 2 It portrays the fight for abortion as essential to the liberation of Black and Indigenous women and the fight against white supremacy. It also works to advance left-wing priorities on other issues like transgenderism3 and prison abolition.4 SisterSong also claims to represent the interests of illegal immigrants and sex workers.5
The organization’s executive director, Monica Simpson, was a guest of Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) at President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address. 6 SisterSong’s board of directors include an “openly queer preschool teacher” and a “Black trans womanist.” 7
Background
SisterSong was founded in 1997 by 16 organizations that had been a part of Women of Color Coalition for Reproductive Health Rights (WOCCRHR).8 SisterSong is based in Georgia and claims to focus much of its activism in southern states.9
Agenda
SisterSong advocates that abortion be not only legal but also provided free to the woman. The organization has affirmed, “Mainstream movements have focused on keeping abortion legal as an individual choice. That is necessary, but not enough. Even when abortion is legal, many women of color cannot afford it, or cannot travel hundreds of miles to the nearest clinic. There is no choice where there is no access.” 1 One of the ways SisterSong wants to achieve this vision is by addressing “intersecting oppressions.” 1
SisterSong has argued that “reproductive politics in the US is based on gendered, sexualized, and racialized acts of dominance that occur on a daily basis.” 10 In an interview, Monica Simpson, the executive director of SisterSong, said, “Abortion has never for us been a single-issue lens. So, when people are voting for abortion, they’re not just voting for abortion. They’re voting for economic justice, they’re voting for queer and trans liberation, they’re voting for the environment.” 11
The Democratic Party’s decision in 2016 to abandon its acceptance of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts direct federal funding of abortions, has been attributed partly to SisterSong; before that time, more prominent abortion advocacy organizations like Planned Parenthood and NARAL had resisted such a step.12
Along with Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and several other organizations, SisterSong is a party to a lawsuit against the state of Georgia that seeks to block a ban on abortions performed after six weeks’ fetal gestation passed by the state legislature in 2019. 2 The ban was enacted in 2019, but it was enjoined by a federal judge. However, after the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction and allowed the ban to take effect. 2 SisterSong and other plaintiffs subsequently filed a lawsuit arguing that the ban was invalid since it was passed before the Dobbs decision. 2 Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney enjoined the law at the plaintiffs’ request, but his ruling was later overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court, allowing the law to temporarily take effect. 13
SisterSong sponsored the 2022 “Let’s Talk About Sex!” Conference14 and has participated in such conferences as far back as 2011.15 SisterSong hosted a conference in Atlanta in January 2023, resulting in the “Visioning New Futures for Reproductive Justice Declaration.”5
People
SisterSong has 11 staff listed on its website and a 10-member board of directors. 167 Members of the board of directors include an “openly queer preschool teacher” and a “Black trans womanist” as well as employees of Planned Parenthood and Everytown for Gun Safety. 7
Monica Simpson was a guest of Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) at the 2023 State of the Union Address. Williams said that she was “grateful for Monica’s leadership in the movement for Reproductive Justice as we continue to work collectively to stop extremist Republican attacks on our freedoms.” 17 Simpson stated that “Congresswoman Williams is a fierce champion of issues that are central to SisterSong’s guiding tenet of Reproductive Justice—including abortion and bodily autonomy, voting rights, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ equality.” 17
Finances
In the 2020 fiscal year, SisterSong’s total revenue was $8,432,588, and its total expenses were $2,374,427. 18 In the 2019 fiscal year, SisterSong had $4,174,386 in total revenue and $2,558,219 in total expenses. 19
SisterSong receives significant funding from and has extensive ties to the Ford Foundation,20 which frequently promotes the work of SisterSong.21 Between 2006 and 2023, the foundation had given 10 grants that totaled $3,295,000 to SisterSong.22
To provide general operating support for SisterSong, the largest multiracial, multiethnic, and multicultural national reproductive justice organization in the United States.
General support to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities
AT THE END OF 2022, BMMA APPLIED FOR SEPARATE (C)(3) STATUS. BMMA WAS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED A PROGRAM OF SISTERSONG. THESE FUNDS WERE MONIES COLLECTED BY SISTERSONG WHICH WERE RESTRICTED TO THE BMMA PROGRAM.
AT THE END OF 2022, BMMA APPLIED FOR SEPARATE (C)(3) STATUS. BMMA WAS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED A PROGRAM OF SISTERSONG. THESE FUNDS WERE MONIES COLLECTED BY SISTERSONG WHICH WERE RESTRICTED TO THE BMMA PROGRAM.
AT THE END OF 2022, BMMA APPLIED FOR SEPARATE (C)(3) STATUS. BMMA WAS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED A PROGRAM OF SISTERSONG. THESE FUNDS WERE MONIES COLLECTED BY SISTERSONG WHICH WERE RESTRICTED TO THE BMMA PROGRAM.
$50,200
2024
A Wombmans Way Warrior Midwife Training
FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE POTENTIAL AND PASSION BUT MAY LACK THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ENROLL IN OUR PROGRAM. BY EASING THEIR FINANCIAL BURDEN, WE HOPE TO MAKE OUR MIDWIFERY TRAINING MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE.
$50,200
2024
African American Breastfeeding Network
FUNDING WILL BE USED TO OFFER DOULA SERVICES TO 25-30 PEOPLE IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN (MILWAUKEE, RACINE AND KENOSHA).
$50,200
2024
Atlanta Doula Collective Inc
TO ESTABLISH THE GEORGIA BLACK DOULA NETWORK (GA-BDN) IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AND EXTEND VITAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME BLACK AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
$50,200
2024
Birth Sanctuary
SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF OUR FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTER TO BE STAFFED BY MIDWIVES, BIRTH ASSISTANTS TO FILL THE PREGNANCY CARE GAP IN A LOCATION WHERE THE NEXT FEASABLE HOSPITAL FACILITY IS 50 MINUTES AWAY.
$50,200
2024
Black Counseling and Consulting Collective
WE WILL USE THIS GRANT TO OFFER THERAPY AND DOULA SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE AT LEAST 30 WEEKS PREGNANT AND OR HAVE EXPERIENCED A PREGNANCY LOSS WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
$50,200
2024
Center of Southwest Culture Inc
THIS GRANT WILL SUPPORT THE CORE DESIGN AND BUILD OF AN EMR SYSTEM TO STREAMLINE DOULA AND LACTATION SERVICES DOCUMENTATION AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT, MAKING IT EASIER FOR INDEPENDENT PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES TO ACCESS THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THIS GRANT WILL SUPPORT THE CORE DESIGN AND BUILD OF AN EMR SYSTEM TO STREAMLINE DOULA AND LACTATION SERVICES DOCUMENTATION AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT, MAKING IT EASIER FOR INDEPENDENT PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES TO ACCESS THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. SUPPORT THE CORE DESIGN AND BUILD OF AN EMR SYSTEM TO STREAMLINE DOULA AND LACTATION SERVICES DOCUMENTATION AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT, MAKING IT EASIER FOR INDEPENDENT PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES TO ACCESS THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
$50,200
2024
Community Birth Companion
TO BUILD CAPACITY BY ORGANIZING A "VILLAGE-MOTHER COUNCIL" IN EACH PARISH THAT WE SERVE. THE VILLAGE-MOTHER COUNCIL WILL CONSIST OF 7 BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE WELL RESPECTED IN EACH COMMUNITY FOR BEING A BIOLOGICAL AND/OR COMMUNITY PARENT, WHO LIVES AND UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURAL LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE. THIS COUNCIL WILL BE A CULTURAL AIDE, TO SHARE SAFE CULTURAL BIRTH AND POSTPARTUM TRADITIONS THAT SUPPORT POSITIVE MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH OUTCOMES.
$50,200
2024
Comunidad Materna En Utah
HIS GRANT WILL HELP CMU TO PROVIDE BIRTH/POSTPARTUM DOULA SUPPORT TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE LOW INCOME, UNINSURED AND VULNERABLE.
$50,200
2024
Delivering Unto You
HESE FUNDS HELP PAY FOR MIDWIFERY SERVICE AND GIVE FAMILIES OF COLOR ACCESS TO HOLISTIC CARE SUCH AS MASSAGE THERAPY, PELVIC FLOOR THERAPY, AND CHIROPRACTIC CARE.
FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CONDUCT OUTREACH, AWARENESS BUILDING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AMONG FOCUS COMMUNITIES ON BIRTH AND PARENTING JUSTICE AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO DOULACARE.
$50,200
2024
For the Village Inc
FUNDS TO BE USED FOR TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENTS AND FORMS FOR THE BIRTHING PEOPLE IN OUR PROGRAM, AND FUND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE BIRTH WORKERS AND EDUCATORS OF OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SUPPORT
$50,200
2024
Iowa Black Doula Collective
THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN 7 BLACK DOULAS AND SUPPORT 21 BLACK BIRTHING FAMILIES IN IOWA THROUGHOUT 2023-2024. WE WILL PROVIDE A STATEWIDE DOULA TRAINING, FACILITATED BY A BLACK DOULA TRAINER FROM A NATIONAL DOULA ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION.
$50,200
2024
Margins: Women Helping Black Women
PLAN TO USE THESE FUNDS TO ASSIST BLACK WOMEN AND TGNC PARENTS WITH GETTING OUT OF LIVING IN SCARCITY.
$50,200
2024
Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation
THE GRANT WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE ANTENATAL AND POSTNATAL CARE TO UNDERSERVED AND LOW INCOME PREGNANT PARENTS WITH DIABETES IN GEORGIA. WITH A FOCUS TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THE STATE.
$50,200
2024
Six Dimensions
FUNDS WILL SUPPORT SEVERAL EVENTS INCLUDING A 5K WALK/RUN FOR BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK WITH A ART AND PUBLIC HEALTH EVENT. WE WILL ALSO USE FUNDS TO COLLECT FOOTAGE FOR A NEW DOCUMENTARY.
$50,200
2024
Topeka Doula Project Inc
FUNDS TO BE USED TO BUILD OUR ORGANIZATION INTO A SMOOTH OPERATION THAT IS ABLE MEET THE CLIENTS NEEDS AND ALLOW OUR DOULAS TO WORK AT THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
$50,200
2023
A Wombmans Way Warrior Midwife Training
FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE POTENTIAL AND PASSION BUT MAY LACK THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ENROLL IN OUR PROGRAM. BY EASING THEIR FINANCIAL BURDEN, WE HOPE TO MAKE OUR MIDWIFERY TRAINING MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE.
$50,200
2023
African American Breastfeeding Network
FUNDING WILL BE USED TO OFFER DOULA SERVICES TO 25-30 PEOPLE IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN (MILWAUKEE, RACINE AND KENOSHA).
$50,200
2023
Atlanta Doula Collective Inc
TO ESTABLISH THE GEORGIA BLACK DOULA NETWORK (GA-BDN) IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AND EXTEND VITAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME BLACK AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
$50,200
2023
Birth Sanctuary
SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF OUR FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTER TO BE STAFFED BY MIDWIVES, BIRTH ASSISTANTS TO FILL THE PREGNANCY CARE GAP IN A LOCATION WHERE THE NEXT FEASABLE HOSPITAL FACILITY IS 50 MINUTES AWAY.
$50,200
2023
Community Birth Companion
TO BUILD CAPACITY BY ORGANIZING A "VILLAGE-MOTHER COUNCIL" IN EACH PARISH THAT WE SERVE. THE VILLAGE-MOTHER COUNCIL WILL CONSIST OF 7 BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE WELL RESPECTED IN EACH COMMUNITY FOR BEING A BIOLOGICAL AND/OR COMMUNITY PARENT, WHO LIVES AND UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURAL LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE. THIS COUNCIL WILL BE A CULTURAL AIDE, TO SHARE SAFE CULTURAL BIRTH AND POSTPARTUM TRADITIONS THAT SUPPORT POSITIVE MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH OUTCOMES.
$50,200
2023
Comunidad Materna En Utah
HIS GRANT WILL HELP CMU TO PROVIDE BIRTH/POSTPARTUM DOULA SUPPORT TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE LOW INCOME, UNINSURED AND VULNERABLE.
4. “Visioning New Futures for Reproductive Justice Declaration 2023.” SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. SisterSong, January 2023. https://www.sistersong.net/visioningnewfuturesforrj.
6. Office of Congresswoman Nikema Williams. “Congresswoman Nikema Williams Hosting SisterSong Executive Director Monica Simpson for State of the Union Address.” February 7, 2023.
8. Silliman, Jael Miriam, Loretta Ross, Gutiérrez Elena R., and Marlene Gerber Fried. Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Justice. Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2016.