She warned that in the U.S. “we’re going backwards, we’re not going forward,” but noted that young people offer hope for the future, working in tandem with older generations who know what it was like to see friends die because of lack of access to reproductive health services, including safe abortion services.

Thankfully public health professionals like Dr. Miguel Gutierrez and advocates like Alix Gordon, who also spoke at the event, are energized and committed to fighting for women’s access to reproductive health services worldwide and ensuring that we continue to move forward.

Alix Gordon with Dr. Miguel Gutiérrez at the event.

Dr. Miguel Gutiérrez, the Peru Country Representative for Pathfinder International, invited the audience to “join us in advocating for policies—in the U.S. and in the countries where Pathfinder works, like Peru—that are based on evidence and support public health best-practices.”

Alix Gordon emphasized the need for political will and diverse alliances to empower women and improve access to basic family planning and reproductive health care services.

After sharing her personal reflections on the Peru study tour that she participated in with PAI and Pathfinder, Alix closed by saying “We must be engaged to prevent the access problems we encountered in Peru. This is a matter of social and economic justice. As we act in support of access in the U.S., let’s join in support of a strong U.S. development budget that includes robust funding for maternal and reproductive health and family planning.  Act for all women and girls throughout the world. Act for the future of our planet.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Right now, 222 million women — more than the populations of Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, and The Netherlands combined — want modern contraception, but they can’t get it. If we gave these women what they wanted, we could have saved more than 1 million lives last year. Share this video to spread the word: we can save lives and money by investing in family planning.

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Thank you for supporting Population Action International. We work with our partners to turn your contributions into hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign assistance from the United States and other donor governments for international family planning efforts.

In 2012 and beyond, we will continue to champion the critical role that reproductive health plays in improving women’s lives and addressing nearly all of the world’s development concerns including peace, security, human rights and climate change.

Jacqui and Jeff Morby on a PAI study Tour to Mexico in 2008, where they visited family planning clinics, met with Mexican advocates, and saw the impact of PAI's work in action.

For nearly a decade, PAI has benefited from the support of Jacqui and Jeff Morby. As a former chair of PAI’s board of directors, Jacqui in particular has worked to further PAI’s mission. Here, Jacqui – a Senior Advisor and former Managing Director at TA Associates, a prominent private equity firm – reflects on her experience with PAI.

When people ask me how I decide to invest in a company in my professional life, I say that the company must have a market, and be unique in some clear and compelling way.  If I take that philosophy and apply it to my philanthropic investments, PAI is a strong stand-out.  PAI’s market is evident – there are over 215 million around the world who want access to modern contraception right now and don’t have it.  Those women are ultimately the customer, and PAI keeps them at the center of its strategies every single day.  As for being unique – with its extraordinary network of partners and policymakers, its small-grants strategy, its ability to operate complex projects while maintaining flexibility, and its commitment to women and families, PAI occupies a singular niche.

We are proud of our investments in PAI, and would encourage you to join us in supporting this outstanding organization.

EMERITUS MEMBERS

• The Honorable Robin Chandler Duke
• The Honorable William H. Draper, III
• Phyllis Tilson Piotrow, Ph.D.
• Dr. Nafis Sadik
• Dr. Fred T. Sai

Statement of Financial Position As of December 31, 2011
(With Comparative Totals for 2010)

In 2011 there were unprecedented attacks on women’s health both domestically and internationally, PAI’s advocacy team helped marshal support in Congress that surprised even the cynics. The final funding for family planning was the second highest in history, and we fended off the Global Gag Rule with letters of support from across the country.

Integrating Reproductive Health and HIV to Save Women’s Lives

In many developing countries, women often have to travel for miles to access health services. And when it comes to HIV and reproductive health, it’s rare that they can find both in the same place. The Integration Partnership works with partners in six countries to change that. This year, PAI trained 118 civil society advocates and launched the Tipping Point website to help groups improve health service delivery.

PAI began the RH BudgetWatch project to track and monitor whether promised in-country funding for contraceptives was spent, and will be training partners in Tanzania and Kenya to hold their governments accountable.

Addressing Global Climate Change and the Environment

In 2011, PAI continued its work to help those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and to make sure family planning is included in strategies to help people adapt. We brought this message to the UN climate conference in Durban, and debuted a new documentary, Weathering Change, showing how women in Ethiopia, Nepal and Peru struggle to care for their families while enduring crop failures and water scarcity.

Changing the Conversation around 7 Billion

As the world’s population approached 7 billion in October 2011, PAI made the population milestone personal with its online application What’s Your Number? The app went viral and helped turn a conversation about numbers into one about people – about the 215 million women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy but lack contraception. PAI also released Why Population Matters, a report that explains the ways in which affects development issues such as maternal health, poverty, and the environment.

This past year was filled with brazen attacks on women’s health. Congress put a strong focus on contraception and it nearly shut down the government over the Global Gag Rule. Unfortunately, this relentless onslaught shows no sign of stopping.

Our Annual Report shows the challenges we faced and the actions we need to take now to protect women around the world.

We urge you to read the report and support PAI so we that can continue to fight for women’s empowerment.

Thank you once again for your support

Suzanne Ehlers
President and CEO
Population Action International

• 

  Message From Our President

• 

  Accomplishments

• 

  Financials

• 

  Board of Directors

• 

  Thank You

Message From Our President

2011 Annual Report

This past year was filled with brazen attacks on women’s health. Congress put a strong focus on contraception and it nearly shut down the government over the Global Gag Rule. Unfortunately, this relentless onslaught shows no sign of stopping.

Our Annual Report shows the challenges we faced and the actions we need to take now to protect women around the world.

We urge you to read the report and support PAI so we that can continue to fight for women’s empowerment.

Thank you once again for your support

Suzanne Ehlers
President and CEO
Population Action International

• 

  Message From Our President

• 

  Accomplishments

• 

  Financials

• 

  Board of Directors

• 

  Thank You

• Donate

Accomplishments

Fighting the Escalating War on Women

In 2011 there were unprecedented attacks on women’s health both domestically and internationally, PAI’s advocacy team helped marshal support in Congress that surprised even the cynics. The final funding for family planning was the second highest in history, and we fended off the Global Gag Rule with letters of support from across the country.

Integrating Reproductive Health and HIV to Save Women’s Lives

In many developing countries, women often have to travel for miles to access health services. And when it comes to HIV and reproductive health, it’s rare that they can find both in the same place. The Integration Partnership works with partners in six countries to change that. This year, PAI trained 118 civil society advocates and launched the Tipping Point website to help groups improve health service delivery.

PAI began the RH BudgetWatch project to track and monitor whether promised in-country funding for contraceptives was spent, and will be training partners in Tanzania and Kenya to hold their governments accountable.

Addressing Global Climate Change and the Environment

In 2011, PAI continued its work to help those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and to make sure family planning is included in strategies to help people adapt. We brought this message to the UN climate conference in Durban, and debuted a new documentary, Weathering Change, showing how women in Ethiopia, Nepal and Peru struggle to care for their families while enduring crop failures and water scarcity.

Changing the Conversation around 7 Billion

As the world’s population approached 7 billion in October 2011, PAI made the population milestone personal with its online application What’s Your Number? The app went viral and helped turn a conversation about numbers into one about people – about the 215 million women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy but lack contraception. PAI also released Why Population Matters, a report that explains the ways in which affects development issues such as maternal health, poverty, and the environment.

• 

  Message From Our President

• 

  Accomplishments

• 

  Financials

• 

  Board of Directors

• 

  Thank You

• Donate

Financials

Statement of Activities for the Year Ended December 31, 2011

	Unrestricted	Temporarily Restricted	Permanently Restricted	2011 Total
Support and Revenue
Grants and contributions	5,376,746	2,265,875	-	7,642,621
Investment Income	(74,614)	-	-	(74,614)
Other	1,610	-	-	1,610
Net assets released from restrictions	982,291	(982,291)	-	-
Total Support and Revenue	6,286,033	6,286,033	–	7,569,617
Expenses
Program Services	5,517,693	-	-	5,517,693
Resource Development	448,237	-	-	448,237
General & administrative	470,072	-	-	470,072
Total Expenses	6,436,002	0	0	6,436,002
Change in net assets	(149,969)	1,283,584	–	1,133,615
Net assets:
Beginning	2,464,536	354,498	156,668	2,975,702
Ending	2,314,567	1,638,082	156,668	4,109,317

Statement of Financial Position As of December 31, 2011
(With Comparative Totals for 2010)

	2011	2010
ASSETS
Cash	4,810,186	3,278,713
Real Estate Security Deposit	27,273	27,273
Pledges & other receivables	822,828	267,530
Prepaid Expenses	28,768	34,336
Total Current Assets	5,689,055	3,607,852
Total Investments	2,124,234	2,203,932
Net Fixed Assets	277,168	110,568
Total Assets	8,090,457	5,922,352
LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS
Accounts & payroll taxes payable	142,051	83,490
Accrued salary & vacation expense	58,745	51,574
Deferred Rent	457,879	168,106
Refundable Advance	3,278,328	2,581,411
Capital Lease Obligations	44,137	62,063
Total Current Liabilities	3,981,140	2,946,644
Total Net Assets	4,109,317	2,975,708
Total Liabilities & Net Assets	8,090,457	5,922,352

• 

  Message From Our President

• 

  Accomplishments

• 

  Financials

• 

  Board of Directors

• 

  Thank You

• Donate

Board of Directors

Donor Spotlight: Jacqui and Jeff Morby on Why They Invest in PAI

Jacqui and Jeff Morby on a PAI study Tour to Mexico in 2008, where they visited family planning clinics, met with Mexican advocates, and saw the impact of PAI's work in action.

For nearly a decade, PAI has benefited from the support of Jacqui and Jeff Morby. As a former chair of PAI’s board of directors, Jacqui in particular has worked to further PAI’s mission. Here, Jacqui – a Senior Advisor and former Managing Director at TA Associates, a prominent private equity firm – reflects on her experience with PAI.

When people ask me how I decide to invest in a company in my professional life, I say that the company must have a market, and be unique in some clear and compelling way.  If I take that philosophy and apply it to my philanthropic investments, PAI is a strong stand-out.  PAI’s market is evident – there are over 215 million around the world who want access to modern contraception right now and don’t have it.  Those women are ultimately the customer, and PAI keeps them at the center of its strategies every single day.  As for being unique – with its extraordinary network of partners and policymakers, its small-grants strategy, its ability to operate complex projects while maintaining flexibility, and its commitment to women and families, PAI occupies a singular niche.

We are proud of our investments in PAI, and would encourage you to join us in supporting this outstanding organization.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Moises Naim, Ph.D., Chair
• The Honorable Harriet C. Babbitt, Vice Chair
• Dr. Pouru Bhiwandi, Treasurer
• Vicki Sant, Secretary
• Jacqueline Morby, Former Chair

• Dr. Jacques Attali
• Carlo de Benedetti
• Pamela Bevier, PhD., M.P.H.
• Clara Brillembourg
• Susan G. Esserman
• The Honorable John H Gibbons
• Michael Keating
• Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy
• Dr. Elizabeth Lule
• Dr. Patricia Seemann
• The Honorable Bruce Smart

EMERITUS MEMBERS

• The Honorable Robin Chandler Duke
• The Honorable William H. Draper, III
• Phyllis Tilson Piotrow, Ph.D.
• Dr. Nafis Sadik
• Dr. Fred T. Sai

• 

  Message From Our President

• 

  Accomplishments

• 

  Financials

• 

  Board of Directors

• 

  Thank You

• Donate

Thank You

Thank you for supporting Population Action International. We work with our partners to turn your contributions into hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign assistance from the United States and other donor governments for international family planning efforts.

In 2012 and beyond, we will continue to champion the critical role that reproductive health plays in improving women’s lives and addressing nearly all of the world’s development concerns including peace, security, human rights and climate change.

• 

  Message From Our President

• 

  Accomplishments

• 

  Financials

• 

  Board of Directors

• 

  Thank You

• Donate

Download the PDF

I’m in Tarrytown, NY, at the annual strategic retreat of the Green Group CEOs. A fitting location from which to send this memo:

To: All progressive climate donors interested in exponentially advancing the cause

From: Suzanne Ehlers, President & CEO, Population Action International

Subject: Invest in PAI, a global leader in promoting women’s access to contraception

The Bridgespan Group has just put out a compact and pithy piece about the need to plan for the likely impact of climate change, and invest in efforts to help the most marginalized among us be less vulnerable and more resilient.

In other words, the business case for your investment has been written up, and it is as tailored to PAI’s approach as it can be without being suspicious (i.e., we did not ghost write the piece, nor were we consulted for it).

For the past five years, PAI has been working with local partners in places like Malawi, Bangladesh and Peru. We have supported efforts to bring together diverse coalitions at the country level to talk about climate adaptation. We have helped build local knowledge and expertise on these connections. We have funded homegrown media and communications efforts to put these issues front and center in a way that helps average citizens read, learn and get engaged.

Our efforts have contributed to building the field around adaptation. We believe in reducing greenhouse gases, but that is not where PAI’s value-added is. And in order to participate in one of the biggest and most pressing challenges of our time—climate change—one needs to determine niche and unique value-added. We did that homework.

Our efforts have put women in the lead as stakeholders, decision-makers and advocates. Is family planning the solution for all climate challenges? No, but family planning is an incredible tool for women to advance their own empowerment efforts and strengthen their position in communities. It is truly a multiplier investment for nations, not to mention a relatively low-cost and low-hanging opportunity.

We have helped reframe the debate around people—especially women and young people—and deepened an appreciation for the social benefits that can emerge from thoughtful and holistic engagement on climate change.

In looking at extreme storms such as Sandy, at the devastation today in Oklahoma, and at potentially explosive situations like Keystone, it is clear that climate is not just an “environmental issue.” It is a wide-ranging and potentially transformative opportunity that can and should pull together any activist anywhere who is committed to the redirection of the planet. For people everywhere.