Fistula Foundation

This is one of the few nonprofits that is well run, effective and gets results for little spend. Highly recommend. No one should suffer from having a baby when such a simple fix is available.

The Fistula Foundation is an honest, transparent organization that serves an essential need.
They serve a population of women that is often forgotten. They honor their mission with integrity and compassion.

So happy to know that you are there to help the women who desperately need it! You give them the chance to live outside the shadow of rejection that they have been forced into. Thank you for all you do!

I have been donating to this organization since I first heard about it in a column by Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times. I had never heard of fistulas before and considering the trauma suffered by these women and the surgery that can be done to correct it is a very worthy endeavor.

No woman should have to suffer this way.

There is no end to the number of appeals from non-profits that land in my in-box and mail box. Why have I supported Fistula Foundation for many years? Because it stays focused on its core mission: providing medical care that helps women regain control of their lives and their dignity. At the same time it has demonstrated that it can be nimble and flexible in responding to RELEVANT changes in the communities it serves. In contrast, too many other organizations bombard me with emotional appeals ripped from the headlines, the cause of the day or the week or the month. I wholeheartedly support Fistula Foundation, both for its work and its thoughtful, informative communication with donors.

I love donating to the fistula foundation, such a small amount of money can create such a significant change in the health and well-being of women’s lives.

My wife Claudia and I have been donating to the Fistula Foundation for more than a decade. We carefully vet every charity we support, and this is simply one of the very best. When I think of the pain and suffering of young women who are afflicted with a torn fistula, and the horrible lives they lead, my heart breaks. What this charity does for them is nearly miraculous. A simple surgery and a short recovery, and their lives can be transformed. I am deeply grateful for the work done by these dedicated people. Thank you! ������❤️

This is by far my favourite charity to donate to. The work that the Fistula Foundation does is so important. I’m very thankful to have discovered it so that I can contribute to fistula surgeries of women in need.

I have donated to the fistula foundation for over a decade and remain impressed by the organisations help for women. I am amazed that so little of my donation is spent on administration and so much goes to front line medicine.

Kate Grant, CEO, reached out to us individually after our first donation. We also received a two DVD set- "Half the Sky" which we are sharing with others to raise awareness of this worthy charity.

We are monthly contributors to FF. We have been doing this for many years and it is our main charity for giving. Before I contribute our hard earned money to any charity I vet them as throughly as possible. FF has always meet the criteria of being most trusted. In addition their mission touches my heart.

I am so impressed with Fistula Foundation- both with the true need for their mission and the work they do to make women's bodies and lives whole. I am a small but passionate donor.

Whilst working as a volunteer In Ethiopia I visited the Fistula Hospital on a few occasions and met many wonderful people there - patients and staff. I found it to be one of the very special places on earth to be and was able to help in a small way, apart from donations. I was aware of an organisation in the UK who donated unused / unwanted /unneeded medical equipment for patients. I put the two organisations together and hope that they are still working together for the benefit of patients.

Years after learning about Fistula Foundation, I am still amazed by what they are able to accomplish with their donations. I admire everything about the organization, from its core mission and ideology to its remarkable effectiveness and scale.

My nice and her husband are medical missionaries in Cambodia. She is an ob/gyn doctor working with women dealing with high-risk pregnancies. She has told me of the many women she sees who are dealing with fistulas. They face heart-breaking issues because of these concerns and many go untreated most of their lives. I KNOW the great work of the Fistula Foundation and I am confident that every penny I donate is well spent and brings positive changes to women and their families.

I support Fistula Foundation as I like charities that give practical help to people. I am very grateful for the healthcare I have experienced all my life, and my heart goes out to people who live in very difficult circumstances and often have little access to medical care. I appreciate getting updates about Fistula Foundation's work.

Making a contribution for a cause to help people heal their lives is valuable.

The Fistula Foundation does great work - the difference they make in the lives of affected women is incredible. Their very specific mission enables them to focus on a critical issue and continue to find ways to be more effective. Also, their staff are very personal - sending customized thank yous for donations and gift purchases regularly. It makes me very happy to support them!

I have worked with FF for over 10 years as a VVF-specialist.
FF is a very professional organization, which helps numerous women al over the globe.
I support FF for 100%. Their work in this difficult period is even more important. The challenges for pregnant women in low resource countries are greater than ever.

I am happy to have been able to give support for many years to this nonprofit group that does so much to help women with obstetric fistula. The work they do is life changing for women who would otherwise be suffering and isolated from their communities. The Fistula foundation is financially sound and has grown to help many more women.

I first came across the Fistula Foundation after reading the appalling story of early fistula research in the US. Dr J Marion Sims carried out horrific experiments on enslaved black women without either anaesthetic or any kind of informed consent and it is very depressing to know that he is still regarded as a hero of gynaecology in some circles. However, this did lead me to reading more about the situation today and the incredible work of the Fistula Foundation, helping to alleviate this painful and humiliating condition. I have found the Foundation to be very informative about how donations are being used and it is so great to see them making a very real difference to the lives of thousands of women worldwide. Keep up the good work!

I wanted to donate to a trustworthy charity during lockdown, and the Fistula Foundation featured as one of the most open and ethical of all charities. Since then that positive reputation has grown; I’ve been in awe of their life- affirming work with young women and the way lives can be utterly transformed by a relatively straightforward operation. I’ve also been really impressed by the very personal way of expressing thanks for each donation. What a great thing to do, to remove the stigma of rejection and to empower women to make the most of themselves. Great work!

I’ve not supported a charity before, except for two or three small donations to an animal shelter. When I came across the message that this organization had put out telling of the service that they’re providing, I was so deeply moved that I knew I had to support their work. I live in the USA and have had 3 births with zero complications. I know that I have my medical team to thank for this. It is through no merit of my own that I have access to this luxury; but by miraculous placement. I am happy to commit my own resources to ensure that other women who are not so fortunate have access to this simple procedure that changes lives and offers higher self-esteem, self confidence, and the ability to live the life of one’s dreams. Thank you to all who support this most essential of causes.

I have been donating to Fistula Foundation since I saw their story on Oprah Winfrey in 2004. Fistula Foundation continues to exceed expectations as a non-profit charity. They keep their donors well informed and are very transparent regarding how the money is spent. I am proud to support Fistula Foundation and plan to continue donating as long as I am able.

Fistula Foundation has brought relief to tens of thousands of women. Donors are kept informed of and connected to the work. It’s a privilege to be a part of this community.

Well-run, effective organisation that communicates efficiently and does essential work.

Fistula foundation’s work was my choice for a recent Birthday fundraiser- The work of this amazing group focuses on providing medical and social supports for women in third world countries who had medical complications from giving birth- Fistula repair offers better sanitation, dignity, and restoring to health women who are other wise suffering - for a surgery that costs just about $500 US.

The organization is well run, fiscally responsible and serves those who need it most - Well done Fistula Foundation

I've been a supporter of the Fistula Foundation for the last decade, even joining the Board because I believe so deeply in the transformative work they do for so many of the poorest , most vulnerable women across Africa.
Last year I went with CEO Kate Grant and other board members to Kenya to see first hand the work they do. We met surgeons, fistula survivors, and women - young and old - who were waiting in hospital beds for fistula surgery, often with babies cradled in their arms. When we met the survivors, many would dance and sing with joy, eager to share their stories about how this simple surgery changed their lives and made them whole again. Some women had lived with fistula for years - shunned by their families and communities - all because they didn't have a simple surgical procedure that often costs less than $500.
Kate Grant and the Fistula Foundation team are without question the most committed, transparent, and passionate changemakers I have ever had the privilege of knowing They are getting it done, one surgery at a time. Brava!

Their mission is clear, their impact important and their communication is effective. I am very confident that my donations make a difference in the lives of women who desperately need basic medical care that I am privileged to take for granted.

Nearly 15 years ago, I first learned about the Fistula Foundation on the Oprah Winfrey show. I felt devastated that so many women around the world were suffering from fistulas due to lack of maternal care available. I have been a proud supporter of this organization ever since. They are very transparent with how they use their donations, Update donors regularly on both successes and challenges, and make me feel connected. I never doubt the direct impact my donations are making.

Highly transparent with excellent communication to donors. The foundation makes you feel connected to the people you're trying to help, sharing their stories in an accessible and affecting way that arouses empathy and makes you feel that your support is contributing to something worthwhile. They keep you informed about their activities and about developments in the fistula realm, without barraging you with too much marketing material or pleas for additional support.

I was moved to donate after a PBS documentary about obstetric fistula. I can't imagine have a fistula but not being able to have it treated. I'm proud to support the Fistula Foundation monthly.

Transparent and effective. I feel very confident that my money is doing good when I donate to the Fistula Foundation.

The Fistula Foundation performs the sort of niche medical assistance that affects many beyond the patients they heal. To treat a woman with a fistula is not only to return her to her family and her society: it is to make her an ambassador to her world, demonstrating in herself the value of resisting fatalism by taking action to alleviate suffering, the value of modern medicine in changing the course of a life, and the value of women to the prosperity, health and well-being of any society or nation. The Foundation does so much and it should be helped to do more.

I have been supporting this wonderful, important organization since the early 2000s when I heard Dr. Hamlin on the Oprah show. Because I rarely watched Oprah's show, I have always felt it was a divine appointment. I was so moved by Dr. Hamlin's story and the commitment she and her husband had to these women. It has been exciting and a real privilege
to support this organization and watch it grow these past 20 yrs. I have told so many of my friends about the Fistula Foundation over they years and they have started supporting the mission, as well. It is a well-run, transparent, multi-level organization. I love the way they communicate both facts and personal stories in their newsletters. It is a deep desire of mine to some day be able to visit one of the hospitals.

As a member of the Fistula Foundation board of directors, I visited hospitals and health centers in Kenya recently along with my wife and other members of the board. I was hugely impressed with the dedication and skill demonstrated by the surgeons and other health professionals supported by the foundation -- and deeply moved by the stories of the women we met both before and after surgery to repair their wounds. The foundation's work in Kenya is part of an ambitious but feasible effort to eradicate obstetric fistula in one country. And a second countrywide program is already underway in Zambia. There will be more. I have worked with hundreds of charities in my 40 years of professional involvement in the nonprofit sector. But I have never seen a more effective organization.

Thanks for allowing such a great opportunity to really help reduce suffering of women with this terrible condition.

I have been supporting the Fistula Foundation since I first became aware of them through a guest appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show. My continued support is the result of the excellent work that they do, the way they use funding for maximum benefit, and the way they communicate results to donors like me. Thank you to Fistula Foundation for the work you do and giving me a chance to be a part of your mission.

The Fistula Foundation makes a lasting difference in the lives of the women it helps. Few organizations can rival the beneficial impact they make on the lives they touch. I am honored to support their life changing work.

The Fistula Foundation restores dignity and health to women injured by difficult deliveries in places where medical care is minimal. I appreciate the opportunity to support them in their mission.

I’ve been contributing to the Fistula Foundation for several years. They deal with a widespread problem on a human, person-to-person scale. They work to heal women and help them reclaim & restore their dignity. When they said that a donation of $586 could pay for a surgery and hospital stay, a new dress and a bus ticket home for one woman, I couldn’t resist. It’s a clear, direct and effective way to make a meaningful contribution - sister-to-sister.

I received information about the Fistula Foundation through the mail.
I was so touched by the accounts of the girls and women who were being helped by these wonderful doctors and workers. The girls who are forced to marry young and do not receive the needed obstetric care. Their babies are trapped in the birth canal and many of the babies die. The girls are torn inside and leak urine or feces through the vagina.
Then they are forced to leave the home because of the drainage and smell. These girls and women are ostracized when they need love and care. I only give to a special few charities and I am honored to be able to give to the Fistula Foundation.

The Fistula Foundation is an excellent charity that helps women and girls who have suffered a type of childbirth injury that can be physically and socially devastating. The Foundation does work that helps out residents of developing countries and allows them to thrive. They are definitely worth your donation.

I first learned about the Fistula Foundation about 7 years ago. I was so impressed with their story that I immediately found out how I could help. I donate to this excellent charity every year. Their work is extremely important, and significantly improves the quality of life for these unfortunate women.
Thank You Fistula foundation and all you that work with them for the service you provide.

Fistula Foundation is doing important work to help improve the quality of women's lives. Donations go farther to make a difference, with a larger portion going to program costs and less towards administration. Supporting this organization is helping them do life changing work.

It is obviously far beyond a man's ability of realization of the suffering of a women for childbearing complications and toll on health. As I came to US from a third world's conservative country I know, how many women and girl has to dedicate their whole life to bear children after children, and men who are the decision maker of the family and that man dominated society just use women's body as a child bearing machine. If any women is not good for this job then she has no value on that society. Moreover, no one realize even without child bearing, due birth defect, accident, sexual violence, early marriage... for many reason so many women suffer many kinds gynecological problem silently, that no one even mentioned. People of USA, even women could not able to imagine how, in backward society full of religiously obstructed protocol just put a tons of shame on those women and through them to an impossible struggle alone.

Why we let them to live a life like that? We should bring every record of their silent pain to account and help to raise awareness and funds for their treatments. As I donor, I sincerely appreciate the Great job that Fistula Foundation is doing to break that silence. We should be committed to help on their efforts. Thanks.

We lived in Addis Ababa in the 1970's when my husband was assigned to the Naval Research Unit there....NAMRU2...he was a medical entomologist and he worked on insect borne diseases such as Malaria and Relapsing Fever. Our American Wives Club worked on a project with the Hamlins at the Fistula Clinic they started. Our job was to make skirts and blouses for the girls after they completed their surgery and were ready to return home. We also provided the money to pay for thieir bus trip home.
We made the skirts and blouses out of border print sheets that we ordered from the states with our military privileges. We made them so "one size -fits all." They were quite colorful and we heard the girls were happy with them . I always remember seeing the girls waiting out- side of the clinic for "their turn" to go in. They would walk miles to get there for this opportunity. It truly was an amazing experience for us to be really involved in that way to help the women. It was an honor for us to be involved with the Hamlins....we met them once or twice. Our two children and my husband will never forget or stop being thankful for that experience we had in Ethiopia

Once I learned of this organization through the New York Times, I have supported it. They are friendly and highly organized. They are quite transparent about their finances and where the money goes--a number of poor or under-serviced countries. They make an effort to keep their supporters up to date. Periodically, they relay first-person accounts from women who have benefited--i.e. ,had the operation at one of their clinics.

All the evidence I've seen, and my experience with them indicate that this is an excellent humanitarian project with real, tangible benefits to harmed and shamed women in a number of poor countries.

This charity is doing excellent work treating a problem that most people never hear about but which can be devastating to people who don’t have access to the necessary surgery.

I first heard of Fistula Foundation at a Christian women's retreat many years ago. A percentage of our retreat fee was given to Fistula Foundation and there was a segment of the program featuring the work of this amazing nonprofit. I cannot imagine the suffering, shame, and shunning women with fistula face. The condition reminds me of the biblical woman who was subject to a bleeding disorder for 12 years before Jesus healed her. Everyone connected with Fistula Foundation is like a little Jesus, bringing compassion, hope, and a cure. I have been donating to Fistula Foundation ever since that retreat! Cindy W

This charity gives women dignity during a very difficult time.

The Fistula Foundation supports a critical gap in maternal child health--making lasting change for women and families affected by fistula, training front line practitioners, and advocating on this terribly important issue. I am a sustaining supporter for many years. As a professional working in humanitarian aid, I can attest that there are few organizations that focus on the topics that the Fistula Foundation does--that is what keeps me supporting them.

Fistula Foundation does work that is literally life-changing, allowing women to reclaim their lives after years of ostracism and shame. I'm honored to support this fine organization.

I admire and support this organization and its medical professionals and other volunteers who dedicate themselves to helping our sisters across the globe struggling with debilitating obstetric fistula. God bless them and their efforts!
SueU

I can't think of a better dollar spent than those spent helping women and girl pariahs to change their status. It's possible that being rejected by society is a worse penalty than the obvious physical problems.
Furthermore, the Fistula Foundation has a great record being financially responsible with their donations.

I read some chilling stories about third world women crippled by childbirth and it seemed to be something I could help with so I signed up for monthly donations to Fistula Foundation. Also, I had recently been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, so it seemed appropriate to help other women, and I hoped it would bring me luck.
Karen

The work that this organization does is truly amazing and life-changing for the women it helps. I am proud to be a donor after hearing about this cause from a friend who is a fellow supporter.

This Fistula Foundation is my ideal of a well run, effective, inspiring charity. It doesn't bombard me with requests or gimmicks, but it does send out interesting updates on the critical work they do for some of the most vulnerable women in the world. A wonderful organization.

I have been a wound, ostomy, continence nurse for 30 years and have worked with many patients with abdominal fistulas. The patients I work with are fortunate enough to have the means to pay for their surgeries and have accessibility. I support the Fistula foundation to help others in more disadvantaged situations. Thank you for all you do!

Last year as I was doing my field work I got a mother who had been discriminated by the husband due to leakage of urine this touched me as health worker I deed psychology counseling, and with the help of pastor I managed to take the mother to Bomu hospital for repair, since then I have been getting some mother and mothers who come for assistant of the same problem.
Challenges that I come a cross is there some men who have some how the same problem and to my effort I have been referring them to health facilities.
My plan is to hold a meeting doing psycho education (sensitization) to the community.

As I have watched the US government diminish and withdraw support from causes that help poor women and children overseas, I have realized how essential it is to have organizations like the Fistula Foundation. What they do is life-saving for women and their families - in many cases appropriate intervention to prevent fistula or simple surgery to repair it can make a tremendous difference. Their tireless work and excellent public interface are examples for all non-profits to emulate! I will be pleased to continue my financial support of this organization, and I urge others to consider similar support.
Diane Mitchell, Hemet, CA

I have supported the Fistula Foundation for years for the vital work they do in numerous countries. They give women a new life with the treatment and support they provide. I’m proud the be associated with this organization and I plan to continue indefinitely!