Aftereffects of 9/11 Still Affecting NRLC's Financial Position.(National Right to Life Convention)(Brief Article)

At the National Right to Life Convention in Pittsburgh last month, several workshops and part of a general assembly were devoted to challenges facing the pro-life movement in the area of fundraising. The emphasis was definitely needed.

Although it may seem like a dry topic, the finances of our local, state, and national pro-life groups are critical - - they often determine whether lifesaving programs can even exist - - that is, whether some unborn children will live or die.

Challenges to the financial strength of the pro-life movement have been many over the past year. Terrorist attacks hurt charitable giving to many organizations; mails disrupted by anthrax prevented delivery of some contributions; and the economy was slow until early this year. All of these have had a serious effect on giving to National Right to Life and some of its state affiliates.

In addition, many small organizations have cropped up in recent years with fundraising campaigns in the name of partial-birth abortion and other pro-life issues. They have raised millions of dollars with little noticeable effect. In fact, in some cases, over 90 percent of the money raised has gone to the fundraisers themselves. Unfortunately, this draws down on contributions to the productive pro-life work of National Right to Life, state right to life groups, and crisis pregnancy centers, among others.

Because of these problems, and because of the critical needs of the movement, National Right to Life will be asking its members for extra help for the remainder of this year. ...