Over 40,000 Abortion Seekers Have Reached Out to Chicago Abortion Fund Since The Dobbs Ruling in June 2022
Media Contact:
Eleanor Grano, Communications Manager, Chicago Abortion Fund
Email: communications@chicagoabortionfund.org
Phone: 312-219-1611
CHICAGO, IL — June 10, 2025 — Three years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) has become the largest and most relied-upon independent abortion fund in the country. Since the Dobbs decision, CAF has fielded support requests from over 40,000 people seeking abortion care from more than 40 states—making it a critical safety net in a country where nearly 1 in 7 abortion seekers must now travel out of state to access care.
Since June 2022 (post-Dobbs), CAF has:
Fielded over 40,000 support requests on the CAF Helpline.
Distributed over $15 million in abortion and wrap-around support funding, including travel, lodging, and childcare expenses.
Increased the average support pledged to each caller to $1,000 dollars. This includes procedure costs, travel, lodging, and childcare.
Responded to high call volumes from Indiana (7,911), Illinois (6,244), Wisconsin (3,554), Texas (3,540), and Kentucky (1,401), and supported abortion seekers from over 40 states.
“We’re seeing what happens when states ban or severely restrict access to abortion care: people are driving overnight often with children in the backseat of the car, and spending rent money to access basic healthcare,” said Megan Jeyifo, Executive Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund. “CAF is here to catch people when the politicians in their state let them fall.”
Illinois as a National Access Point
Illinois has become the nation’s clearest example of what’s possible when legal protections are paired with real investment in abortion infrastructure. In a post-Dobbs landscape, the state’s coordinated approach that combines public policy, health system access, and community-based support has made Illinois not just a haven for abortion care, but a national model.
Thanks to investment from the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, CAF has expanded its Helpline capacity, added more bilingual and after-hours staff, and continued to ensure that 100% of callers relying on Illinois for care are able to access abortion care on the timeline that works best for them. CAF’s innovative programs, including an in-clinic patient navigation program, abortion doula support, and hospital navigation for complex procedures. These efforts help ensure callers not only reach their appointments, but receive compassionate and timely care throughout their journey.
In 2024, Illinois provided abortion care to an estimated 35,000 out-of-state patients, accounting for 39% of all abortions in the state, according to the Guttmacher Institute. This is the highest percentage of out-of-state care in the country by far, with nearly 1 in 4 people crossing state lines for abortion care coming to Illinois. Illinois also saw significant increases in patients from Florida and Iowa following their six-week bans.
“Illinois is showing the country what’s possible when you pair strong legal protections with deep investment in infrastructure,” said Megan Jeyifo, Executive Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund. “When you trust abortion providers and abortion funds to lead, and you work alongside policymakers, you can build a system that meets people’s needs—no matter where they come from. Every day, we support people traveling from across the country because their home states have failed them. Illinois is where they can finally get the care they deserve.”
Illinois’ approach of resourcing clinics and supporting community-based organizations like CAF has made it a blueprint for other states navigating how to protect and expand abortion access in a post-Roe era.
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The Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) is the largest independent abortion fund in the country. For 40 years, we've been tearing down barriers to abortion care in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond. We’re not just providing funding; we’re supporting our callers in accessing freedom, dignity, and autonomy.
CAF offers support for people seeking abortion care in Illinois including, procedure funding, travel and related needs like childcare, emotional support and logistical expertise. The organization has relationships with 75+ abortion clinics across 12 states, and supports people nationwide. Since the Dobbs decision, CAF has received support requests from over 40,000 people. In 2024 alone, CAF fielded over 16,000 support requests and distributed over $5 million in direct assistance.