Fistula Foundation

The majority of funds directly pay for the cost of surgeries, which cost about {{Usd|598|2022|round=0|showyear=yes}}. 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.

As of 2024, the organization is active in 26 countries in Africa and Asia.{{Cite web |last=Haynes |first=Emily |date=2024-01-18 |title=Nonprofit Puts Life-Saving Surgeries in Reach for Women |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/nonprofit-puts-life-saving-surgeries-in-reach-for-women |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250425083552/https://www.philanthropy.com/article/nonprofit-puts-life-saving-surgeries-in-reach-for-women |archive-date=April 25, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=The Chronicle of Philanthropy |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Celebrating 100k Life-Transforming Surgeries |url=https://fistulafoundation.org/celebrating-100k-life-transforming-surgeries/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Fistula Foundation |language=en-US}}

The Fistula Foundation was founded in 2000 by Richard and Shaleece Haas as a volunteer organization supporting the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia.{{Cite journal |last=Nolsøe |first=Christian Pállson |date=2015-12-31 |title=Campaign to End Fistula with special focus on Ethiopia - A walk to beautiful Is there a role for ultrasound? |journal=Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=45–55 |doi=10.1002/j.2205-0140.2013.tb00165.x |issn=1836-6864 |pmc=5029988 |pmid=28191174}}{{Cite web |last=Longley |first=Liz |date=2022-03-17 |title=How the Fistula Foundation Chases a Singular Goal, One Surgery at a Time |url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022-3-17-the-ceo-of-the-fistula-foundation-chases-a-singular-goal-one-surgery-at-a-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250425084135/https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022-3-17-the-ceo-of-the-fistula-foundation-chases-a-singular-goal-one-surgery-at-a-time |archive-date=April 25, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Inside Philanthropy |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Singer |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Singer |title=The Life You Can Save: How to Do Your Part to End World Poverty |publisher=The Life You Can Save |year=2019 |isbn=9781733672702 |edition=Tenth anniversary |location=Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA and Sydney, Australia |pages=131–133 |language=en}}

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.{{Cite journal |last1=Pollaczek |first1=Lindsey |last2=El Ayadi |first2=Alison M. |last3=Mohamed |first3=Habiba C. |date=December 2022 |title=Building a country-wide Fistula Treatment Network in Kenya: results from the first six years (2014-2020) |journal=BMC Health Services Research |language=en |volume=22 |issue=1 |page=280 |doi=10.1186/s12913-021-07351-x |doi-access=free |issn=1472-6963 |pmc=8889651 |pmid=35232440}}

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).{{Cite journal |last=Mutola |first=Sianga |last2=Chomba |first2=Bwalya Magawa |last3=Ng |first3=Nawi |last4=Menda |first4=Dhally M. |last5=Louis |first5=Valérie R. |last6=Michael |first6=Lowery Wilson |date=2025-04-17 |title=Surgical success in obstetric fistula repair and associated factors: findings from a retrospective cohort study in Zambia |url=https://bmcsurg.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12893-025-02910-z |journal=BMC Surgery |language=en |volume=25 |issue=1 |doi=10.1186/s12893-025-02910-z |issn=1471-2482 |pmc=12004560 |pmid=40247318 |doi-access=free}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Annual Tax Returns {{!}} Fistula Foundation |url=https://www.fistulafoundation.org/financials/annual-tax-returns/ |access-date=2019-11-06 |website=www.fistulafoundation.org}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://fistulafoundation.org/about/our-team/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Fistula Foundation}}

Fistula Foundation has earned a four-star rating on Charity Navigator every year since 2006, based largely on Accountability & Finance criteria.{{Cite web |title=Charity Navigator - Rating for Fistula Foundation |url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/770547201 |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=www.charitynavigator.org}}

The foundation was a recommended charity in the 10th anniversary edition of ethicist professor Peter Singer's book, The Life You Can Save. Singer's related organization, also called The Life You Can Save, includes Fistula Foundation on its list of the "best charities" for high impact.{{Cite web |title=Fistula Foundation |url=https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/best-charities/fistula-foundation/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=The Life You Can Save |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Best Charities to Donate to in 2024 with High-Impact |url=https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/best-charities/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424090348/https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/best-charities/ |archive-date=2025-04-24 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Life You Can Save |language=en-US}}

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."{{Cite web |title=Fistula Foundation |url=https://www.givewell.org/international/charities/Fistula-Foundation |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Givewell |language=en}} Givewell listed outstanding questions about whether other organizations would step in, long-term results of surgery, and the value of the fistula repair.

Journalist and commentator Nicholas D. Kristof positively covered the foundation's work in his New York Times column, first in October 2009.{{Cite news |last=Kristof |first=Nicholas |date=2009-12-23 |title=Opinion {{!}} A Most Meaningful Gift Idea |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/opinion/24kristof.html |access-date=2019-11-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Gift Ideas That Push Back the Darkness |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/opinion/charity-holiday-gift-women-children-reading.html |website=The New York Times|date=23 November 2024 |last1=Kristof |first1=Nicholas }}{{Cite web |last=Matthieson |first=Connie |date=2024-12-23 |title=Nick Kristof’s Holiday Impact Prize Supports Reading From Day One |url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/nick-kristofs-holiday-impact-prize-supports-reading-from-day-one |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250504225401/https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/nick-kristofs-holiday-impact-prize-supports-reading-from-day-one |archive-date=2025-05-04 |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Inside Philanthropy |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |title=A Walk to Beautiful — NOVA {{!}} PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/a-walk-to-beautiful.html |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.pbs.org |quote=Additional funding for this program is provided by The Fistula Foundation, the Marianthi Foundation, and The Fledgling Fund.}}

In 2015, the investment firm The Motley Fool selected Fistula Foundation for its "Foolanthropy" holiday fundraising drive.{{Cite web |last=Lomax |first=Alyce |date=2015-12-16 |title=Maximize Your Giving Dollars With an Investing Mindset |url=https://www.fool.com/foolanthropy/2015/12/16/maximize-your-giving-dollars-with-an-investing-min.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224211806/https://www.fool.com/foolanthropy/2015/12/16/maximize-your-giving-dollars-with-an-investing-min.aspx |archive-date=2016-02-24 |access-date=2019-11-06 |website=The Motley Fool |language=en}} They reported that they raised over $75,000.{{Cite web |last=Lomax |first=Alyce |date=2016-01-13 |title=The Ripple Effects of Directing Your Money for Good |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/13/the-ripple-effects-of-directing-your-money-for-goo.aspx |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Motley Fool |language=en}}

In 2016, comedian Louis C.K. raised $50,000 for the Fistula Foundation on Celebrity Jeopardy.{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=2016-05-19 |title=Watch Louis C.K. Win $50,000 For Charity on 'Jeopardy' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/watch-louis-c-k-win-50000-for-charity-on-jeopardy-226522/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250428203630/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/watch-louis-c-k-win-50000-for-charity-on-jeopardy-226522/ |archive-date=2025-04-28 |access-date=2025-04-28 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Cara |title=Louis C.K. just won $50,000 for the Fistula Foundation on 'Jeopardy!'. But what is it? |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/05/18/louis-ck-just-won-50000-fistula-foundation-but-what/84550754/ |access-date=2019-11-06 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Louis C.K.'s 'Jeopardy!' wins $50K for San Jose nonpropfit - San Jose Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_29912338/comedians-jeopardy-win-puts-san-jose-based-fistula |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520112633/http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_29912338/comedians-jeopardy-win-puts-san-jose-based-fistula |archive-date=2016-05-20 |access-date=2016-05-19}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Holtzclaw |first=Barry |date=2023-05-24 |title=San Jose's Fistula Foundation Receives $15 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott |url=https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/san-joses-fistula-foundation-receives-15-million-gift-from-mackenzie-scott/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=San Jose Inside |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=J. Jennings |first=Moss |date=23 May 2023 |title=San Jose nonprofit Fistula Foundation gets record $15M donation from MacKenzie Scott |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2023/05/23/fistula-foundation-mackenzie-scott-15-million.html |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}{{Cite web |last=Pizarro |first=Sal |date=2023-05-27 |title=San Jose's Fistula Foundation receives $15 million donation from MacKenzie Scott |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/27/san-joses-fistula-foundation-receives-15-million-donation-from-mackenzie-scott/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://fistulafoundation.org/}}
• [https://www.glowm.com/safer-motherhood The Global Library of Women's Medicine: Safer Motherhood Section] - Non-profit offering freely downloadable material, including fistula surgery, for healthcare professionals.

{{Effective altruism}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Health charities in the United States

Category:Surgical organizations based in the United States

Category:Healthcare in Ethiopia

Category:Organizations based in San Jose, California

Category:Medical and health organizations based in California

Category:Foreign charities operating in Ethiopia

Category:501(c)(3) organizations

Category:Maternal health

Category:2000 establishments in California

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the San Francisco Bay Area