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Fistula Foundation

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Fistula Foundation
Founders
  • Richard Haas
  • Shaleece Haas
TypeNonprofit
FocusMaternal health
Location
Area served
Africa, Asia
MethodAid
Chief Executive Officer
Kate Grant
Revenue$28.0 m USD (2023)
Expenses$22.9 m USD (2023)
Websitefistulafoundation.org

Fistula Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization focused on treating of obstetric fistula, a health condition affecting women in developing countries with low access to maternal health care. As of 2024, the foundation reported that it supported over 100,000 surgeries over 35 countries. The foundation covers the full cost of fistula repair surgery for women cannot afford it. It also funds public education campaigns to potential patients, patient outreach and screening, surgery training, and post-surgery support.

The foundation has been recommended by commentator Nicholas Kristof[1] and philosopher Peter Singer (through his book The Life You Can Save) as a highly impactful charity. In 2023, the foundation received a $15 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

Focus

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The majority of funds directly pay for the cost of surgeries, which cost about US$598 in 2022 (equivalent to $643 in 2024). The foundation also sets up treatment networks focused on finding patients, training health care professionals in fistula surgery, expanding health care facilities, and post-surgery rehabilitation. The treatment networks aim' to treat all fistula patients in a country. As of 2022, the organization had treatment networks in Kenya and Zambia.[2]

As of 2024, the organization is active in 26 countries in Africa and Asia.[3] In 2024, the organization reported that it supported over 100,000 surgeries across 35 countries. The top three countries by number of surgeries supported were Kenya, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[4]

History

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The Fistula Foundation was founded in 2000 by Richard and Shaleece Haas as a volunteer organization supporting the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia.[5][2] In 2009, the organization expanded to a global scope. Its first partner outside of Ethiopia was Denis Mukwege in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[6]

In 2014, according to a paper written by Fistula Foundation staff, the foundation launched a Fistula Treatment Network (formally called Action on Fistula) in Kenya, an effort to increase access to free fistula surgery for women. The network collaborated with community serving organizations to reach out to prospective patients and link them to healthcare providers who could provide the surgery at no cost. The initiative partnered with the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics to train healthcare providers in treating fistula. The initiative also developed programs to help patients reintegrate into society after surgery, such as follow-up visits, support groups, and vocational training. Between 2014 and 2020, 5,720 patients with fistula were treated with surgeries for free. Astellas Pharma EMEA provided seed funding for the program.[7]

In 2017, the Fistula Foundation launched a second Fistula Treatment Network in Zambia. Between 2017 and 2023, at least 1,439 women underwent treatment, of which 88% had successful outcomes (on discharge from hospital, the fistula was closed with no urinary incontinence).[8]

Offices and Leadership

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The Fistula Foundation is headquartered in San Jose, California, and has offices in Kenya and Zambia. In 2023, the organization raised $28.0 million USD and spent $22.9 million USD.[9]

Fistula Foundation is led by CEO Kate Grant, who joined the organization in 2005 as its first chief executive. The chair of the Board of Directors is Cleo Kiros.[10]

Ratings

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Fistula Foundation has earned a four-star rating on Charity Navigator every year since 2006, based largely on Accountability & Finance criteria.[11]

The foundation was a recommended charity in the 10th anniversary edition of ethicist professor Peter Singer's book, The Life You Can Save.[6] Singer's related organization, also called The Life You Can Save, includes Fistula Foundation on its list of the "best charities" for high impact.[12][13]

In 2021, the charity evaluator GiveWell said of the foundation: "We think that Fistula Foundation may be in the range of cost-effectiveness of our current top charities. However, this estimate is highly uncertain for a number of reasons."[14] Givewell listed outstanding questions about whether other organizations would step in, long-term results of surgery, and the value of the fistula repair.

Media

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Journalist and commentator Nicholas D. Kristof positively covered the foundation's work in his New York Times column, first in October 2009.[15] In 2024, Kristof named the Fistula Foundation as one of three awardees of the Holiday Impact Prize. The Fistula Foundation received $50,000 directly as part of the award. Kristoff also encouraged readers of his column to donate to the foundation.[16][17]

The foundation was a sponsor of the 2007 documentary film A Walk to Beautiful, a film about women in Ethiopia who receive treatment for fistula.[5][18]

In 2015, the investment firm The Motley Fool selected Fistula Foundation for its "Foolanthropy" holiday fundraising drive.[19] They reported that they raised over $75,000.[20]

In 2016, comedian Louis C.K. raised $50,000 for the Fistula Foundation on Celebrity Jeopardy.[21][22][23]

In 2023, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $15 million to the Fistula Foundation. The organization said that the donation would fund its five-year plan to provide 80,000 surgeries, launch treatment networks to five new countries, and add 40 additional organizations to its network.[24][25][26]

References

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  1. ^ Kristof, Nicholas (23 November 2024). "Gift Ideas That Push Back the Darkness". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  2. ^ a b Longley, Liz (2022-03-17). "How the Fistula Foundation Chases a Singular Goal, One Surgery at a Time". Inside Philanthropy. Archived from the original on April 25, 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  3. ^ Haynes, Emily (2024-01-18). "Nonprofit Puts Life-Saving Surgeries in Reach for Women". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Archived from the original on April 25, 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  4. ^ "Celebrating 100k Life-Transforming Surgeries". Fistula Foundation. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  5. ^ a b Nolsøe, Christian Pállson (2015-12-31). "Campaign to End Fistula with special focus on Ethiopia - A walk to beautiful Is there a role for ultrasound?". Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 16 (2): 45–55. doi:10.1002/j.2205-0140.2013.tb00165.x. ISSN 1836-6864. PMC 5029988. PMID 28191174.
  6. ^ a b Singer, Peter (2019). The Life You Can Save: How to Do Your Part to End World Poverty (Tenth anniversary ed.). Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA and Sydney, Australia: The Life You Can Save. pp. 131–133. ISBN 9781733672702.
  7. ^ Pollaczek, Lindsey; El Ayadi, Alison M.; Mohamed, Habiba C. (December 2022). "Building a country-wide Fistula Treatment Network in Kenya: results from the first six years (2014-2020)". BMC Health Services Research. 22 (1): 280. doi:10.1186/s12913-021-07351-x. ISSN 1472-6963. PMC 8889651. PMID 35232440.
  8. ^ Mutola, Sianga; Chomba, Bwalya Magawa; Ng, Nawi; Menda, Dhally M.; Louis, Valérie R.; Michael, Lowery Wilson (2025-04-17). "Surgical success in obstetric fistula repair and associated factors: findings from a retrospective cohort study in Zambia". BMC Surgery. 25 (1). doi:10.1186/s12893-025-02910-z. ISSN 1471-2482. PMC 12004560. PMID 40247318.
  9. ^ "Annual Tax Returns | Fistula Foundation". www.fistulafoundation.org. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  10. ^ "Our Team". Fistula Foundation. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  11. ^ "Charity Navigator - Rating for Fistula Foundation". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  12. ^ "Fistula Foundation". The Life You Can Save. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  13. ^ "Best Charities to Donate to in 2024 with High-Impact". The Life You Can Save. Archived from the original on 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  14. ^ "Fistula Foundation". Givewell. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  15. ^ Kristof, Nicholas (2009-12-23). "Opinion | A Most Meaningful Gift Idea". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  16. ^ Kristof, Nicholas (23 November 2024). "Gift Ideas That Push Back the Darkness". The New York Times.
  17. ^ Matthieson, Connie (2024-12-23). "Nick Kristof's Holiday Impact Prize Supports Reading From Day One". Inside Philanthropy. Archived from the original on 2025-05-04. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  18. ^ "A Walk to Beautiful — NOVA | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2025-05-06. Additional funding for this program is provided by The Fistula Foundation, the Marianthi Foundation, and The Fledgling Fund.
  19. ^ Lomax, Alyce (2015-12-16). "Maximize Your Giving Dollars With an Investing Mindset". The Motley Fool. Archived from the original on 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  20. ^ Lomax, Alyce (2016-01-13). "The Ripple Effects of Directing Your Money for Good". The Motley Fool. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  21. ^ Blistein, Jon (2016-05-19). "Watch Louis C.K. Win $50,000 For Charity on 'Jeopardy'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2025-04-28. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  22. ^ Kelly, Cara. "Louis C.K. just won $50,000 for the Fistula Foundation on 'Jeopardy!'. But what is it?". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  23. ^ "Louis C.K.'s 'Jeopardy!' wins $50K for San Jose nonpropfit - San Jose Mercury News". Archived from the original on 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  24. ^ Holtzclaw, Barry (2023-05-24). "San Jose's Fistula Foundation Receives $15 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott". San Jose Inside. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  25. ^ J. Jennings, Moss (23 May 2023). "San Jose nonprofit Fistula Foundation gets record $15M donation from MacKenzie Scott". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  26. ^ Pizarro, Sal (2023-05-27). "San Jose's Fistula Foundation receives $15 million donation from MacKenzie Scott". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
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