NARAL

History and Structure

In 1969, a group of activists established the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL). Four years later, following the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, the organization kept the acronym but changed its name to the National Abortion Rights Action League. In 1993, it again kept the acronym and revised its name to the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, prior to changing its name to NARAL Pro-Choice America.

NARAL Pro-Choice America, Inc., is a 501(c)(4) organization, holding a tax-exempt status that allows it to conduct lobbying activities and participate in legislative processes. NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that enables it to receive tax-deductible donations but restricts the type of political activity in which it may engage. NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC is a political action committee that contributes financially to pro-choice political candidates and further engages in electoral politics. Established in 1978, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC is the largest nonpartisan pro-choice political action committee in the United States.

NARAL Pro-Choice America, Inc., the 501(c)(4) organization, advocates for comprehensive reproductive health policies and reproductive choice. It uses the political and legislative systems, engaging members across the country and lobbying legislators. Excluding electoral activities that the foundation are prohibited from being involved with NARAL Pro-Choice [Page 994]America, Inc., and the foundation are largely intertwined. Sharing office space and staff, together they conduct strategic planning and implement advocacy and public education campaigns. The authority to endorse political candidates, however, lies solely with NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC.

Much of NARAL Pro-Choice America's work between 2000 and 2008 was oriented toward defeating antichoice legislation, judicial appointments, ballot measures, and corporate policy, while mobilizing grassroots efforts to elect pro-choice candidates, support pro-choice elected officials, and expand women's access to reproductive healthcare. For example, the organization helped increase women's access to emergency contraception by acting to persuade Walmart and Kroger to carry it. It also helped prevent President George W. Bush's antichoice nominee from receiving a lifetime appointment as a U.S. district court judge.

In 2004, the organization cosponsored the March for Women's Lives that included between 500,000 and 1.15 million participants, making it one of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history. In May 2008, three months before the conclusion of the Democratic presidential primary campaign, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC made the controversial decision to endorse Democratic candidate Barack Obama for president. NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan explained that both Senator Obama and his opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton, were equally pro-choice, but Senator Obama was likely to win the primary.

...