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FREEDOM FROM FISTULA FOUNDATION US INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 453541106 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE Q33 · International Affairs · Micro (<$100K) · freedomfromfistula.org
revenue
$60K
expenses
$60K
net assets
$5K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

THE FREEDOM FROM FISTULA FOUNDATION (US) ("FOUNDATION")'S PURPOSE IS TO HELP WOMEN IN AFRICA SUFFERING FROM OBSTETRIC FISTULAS WHICH ARE CAUSED BY PROLONGED, OBSTRUCTED CHILDBIRTH, AND LACK OF ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE MATERNITY CARE. THE FOUNDATION AIMS TO HELP THESE WOMEN BY PROVIDING FREE SURGERY TO THOSE SUFFERING FROM FISTULAS. IN ADDITION, BY PROVIDING PROPER TRAINING TO LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS AS WELL AS FREE MATERNITY CARE, THE FOUNDATION SEEKS TO HELP PREVENT FISTULAS FROM OCCURRING AND ENSURE SAFER CHILDBIRTH PRACTICES IN THE FUTURE.

profile · synthesized from sources

Nonprofit providing free surgical repair and recovery programs for women suffering from obstetric fistula in Africa. Operates Fistula Care Centres in Malawi and Madagascar, offering reconstructive surgery, post-operative care, and income-generation initiatives such as tailoring programs. Also supports prevention through training local healthcare workers and expanding access to maternal care.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Aberdeen Women's Centre (AWC)
Maternal health facility in Freetown, Sierra Leone providing care for pregnant women and skills training for teenage mothers
Fistula Care Centre
Provides free surgical repair and post-operative care for women with obstetric fistula in Malawi and Madagascar
Income Generation Program
Equips former fistula patients with sewing machines, materials, and support to launch tailoring businesses
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Maternal Health Fistula Prevention and Treatment 4 activities
    • Delivering free maternity care and safe childbirth services
      Provides free maternity care including pre- and postnatal services, safe delivery, and health education to prevent obstetric fistulas. Delivers up to 3,000 babies annually at its maternity unit in Sierra Leone and supports over 1,000 additional safe deliveries at partner clinics in Malawi and Madagascar.
    • Providing free fistula surgery and comprehensive care
      Provides free surgical treatment for women in Africa suffering from obstetric fistulas, including rehabilitation, family planning, and post-operative support. Operates clinics in Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Madagascar, serving over 1,000 patients annually.
    • Training community health workers and patient ambassadors
      Trains former fistula patients, nurses, and community health workers to identify and refer women with fistula, raise awareness about care, and support community education efforts.
    • Training medical professionals in fistula care and surgical repair
      Provides surgical and clinical training for doctors, nurses, anesthetists, and surgeons in fistula screening, management, and repair. Operates as a FIGO-registered training center and conducts short- and long-term programs in Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Madagascar.
  • Menstrual Health and Hygiene Equity 2 activities
    • Operating Patient Rehabilitation, Education and Empowerment Program (PREP)
      Runs the PREP program, which provides life skills training in literacy, numeracy, handicrafts, cooking, microfinance, and enterprise development to women and girls recovering from fistula to support reintegration and independence.
    • Supporting income generation for fistula survivors
      Implements income generation programs for former fistula patients, including providing sewing machines and materials to start tailoring businesses in Malawi, and producing reusable sanitary pads in Madagascar and Malawi as a pathway to economic empowerment and social reintegration.
  • Individual Child Education Sponsorship 1 activity
    • Funding maternity services at partner clinics
      Funds maternity services at three partner clinics in Malawi, enabling the safe delivery of 1,025 babies and ensuring 155 mothers received antenatal care through supported programs.
  • Direct Clinical Care Delivery 1 activity
    • Operating outpatient pediatric care clinics
      Provides primary health care and immunizations to children through outpatient clinics, including treatment for malaria, malnutrition, and respiratory infections. Serves 100–120 children daily and delivered over 21,000 outpatient consultations and more than 7,000 vaccinations in 2024 at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre in Sierra Leone.
  • Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services 1 activity
    • Providing care and rehabilitation for sexual and gender-based violence survivors
      Delivers medical care, counseling, social work support, and rehabilitation services to over 50 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence annually through dedicated programs.
  • Vocational Sewing and Tailoring Training 1 activity
    • Providing vocational training for teenage mothers
      Offers vocational skills training in tailoring, catering, hospitality, hairdressing, and arts and crafts to 60 teenage mothers annually through the Skills Development Training program and the Skills Training Centre at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre in Sierra Leone.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$60K
Contributions & grants$60K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$60K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$45K
balance sheet
Total assets$9K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$5K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -3.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 5
  • CHRISTINA KIRSHBAUM — TREASURER/DIRECTOR
  • DAME ANN GLOAG — DIRECTOR
  • DORTHE TATE — PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
  • DR JEFFREY WILKINSON — DIRECTOR
  • KELLEY DAVIS — SECRETARY/DIRECTOR
relationships · 24

Who they work with

  • Aberdeen Women’s Centre Partner — Hosts supplementary support programs for teenage mothers, including the 'Dream Girls' and Skills Training Centre.
  • Achikonai Community Clinic Partner — Funded to provide maternity services and safely deliver babies in Malawi.
  • Aminata Maternal Foundation Partner — Provides support for pre- and postnatal services and skills training programs for teenage mothers at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre.
  • CapaCare Partner — Partnership to provide clinical training for trainee doctors from Masanga Hospital at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre maternity unit.
  • Chiluzi ANC Partner — Funded to provide antenatal care to mothers in Malawi.
  • Dame Ann Gloag Network — Named supporter and likely board or leadership member expressing appreciation in the annual review.
  • Ellen Johnson-Surleaf Partner — Former President of Liberia serving as an ambassador for Freedom From Fistula Foundation US Inc.
  • Embassy of Iceland in Lilongwe Partner — Supports the implementation of the income generation program for former fistula patients in Malawi.
  • FIGO Government — Recognizes the fistula care center in Madagascar as a registered training center for surgeons.
  • Freedom From Fistula Centre Partner — Clinic in Madagascar where fistula treatment is provided.
  • Government Hospital Partner — Collaborates with FFF's Aberdeen Women’s Centre in Sierra Leone for nurse training on fistula screening and referrals.
  • Joyce Banda Partner — Former President of Malawi serving as an ambassador for Freedom From Fistula Foundation US Inc.
  • Madagascar Government — Conducts patient outreach, training, and reusable pad production programs in partnership with local systems in Madagascar.
  • Malawi Government — Implements patient support, training, and income-generation programs in collaboration with local health systems in Malawi.
  • Masanga Hospital Partner — Source of trainee doctors who receive hands-on c-section training at FFF's maternity unit in Sierra Leone.
  • Mosaic Global Partner — Kim Macmanus, Director of Mosaic Global, visited FCC Malawi with Former President Dr. Joyce Banda and made a donation to support the work.
  • Mtengowantenga Catholic Hospital Partner — Funded to provide maternity services and safely deliver babies in Malawi.
  • Pavilion Sainte Fleur Partner — Local surgical partners in Madagascar receiving short-term fistula training from FFF.
  • Roma Torre Partner — NY1 Anchor serving as an ambassador for Freedom From Fistula Foundation US Inc.
  • SALFA Partner — Local organization in Madagascar whose surgeons received short-term fistula training from FFF.
  • Sierra Leone Government — Operates healthcare training programs in partnership with local systems in Sierra Leone.
  • UNFPA Malawi Partner — Collaborates with Freedom From Fistula Foundation US Inc to deliver the income generation program for women recovering from fistula in Malawi.
  • local facilities Partner — Collaborates with local healthcare facilities to improve fistula and maternity care
  • partner clinics Partner — Collaborates with clinics to support safe deliveries and extend maternal health services.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Economic Empowerment for Social Reintegration
    methodology: economic_reintegration_through_vocational_training
    By providing vocational training and income-generating opportunities after surgical repair, the organization enables long-term recovery and social reintegration because economic self-sufficiency reduces stigma, restores dignity, and strengthens community reacceptance of fistula survivors.
  • Holistic, Trauma-Informed Care Model
    methodology: holistic_care_with_trauma_support
    By integrating surgical treatment with trauma-informed care, youth health services, and social reintegration support, the organization addresses the full spectrum of physical, emotional, and social consequences of obstetric fistula because comprehensive care improves long-term recovery and well-being.
  • Integrated Treatment and Prevention Model
    methodology: integrated_treatment_and_prevention
    By combining surgical repair with training of healthcare workers, preventive maternity care, and health education, the organization addresses both the immediate need for treatment and the systemic causes of obstetric fistula, thereby reducing recurrence and improving maternal health outcomes because sustainable impact requires both clinical and preventive interventions.
  • Local Partnership and Leadership Model
    methodology: local_partnership_model
    By delivering fistula care through locally led programs and partnerships with in-country healthcare facilities, the organization ensures culturally appropriate, sustainable, and trusted services because local leadership increases community engagement, program effectiveness, and long-term health system integration.
  • Peer Outreach for Treatment Access
    methodology: peer_outreach
    By using former patients or their family members to reach women with fistula, the organization increases treatment-seeking behavior because lived-experience outreach builds trust, reduces fear, and overcomes stigma associated with the condition.