National Institute of Family and Life Advocates

{{Short description|US nonprofit organization}}

The National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) is an American 501(c)(3) charitable organization that seeks to provide alternates to abortions for U.S. women.

Founded in 1993, it is based in Fredericksburg, Virginia and has the aim of "developing a network of life-affirming ministries in every community across the nation in order to achieve an abortion-free America." A member of the National Pro-Life Religious Council,{{cite web |title=NPRC Board Members |url=http://www.nprcouncil.org/members.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322232617/http://www.nprcouncil.org/members.htm |archivedate=22 March 2015}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20150115105256/http://www.nifla.org/pdf/IRS_Form_990_2009.pdf IRS Form 990 for 2009] submitted by NIFLA. Accessed 2011-06-06. the organization provides legal advice to more than 1,350 crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) within its membership network. The bulk of CPCs in the US are affiliated with NIFLA, Care Net and Heartbeat International.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanindependent.com/210920/the-rising-power-of-crisis-pregnancy-centers|title=The rising power of crisis pregnancy centers|publisher=The American Independent Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134224/http://www.americanindependent.com/210920/the-rising-power-of-crisis-pregnancy-centers|archive-date=May 28, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyoffbeat.com/articles/7312/20150322/fake-abortion-clinic-christian-groups-cpc-abortion.htm|title=Why Abortion Clinics Are Run By These Christian Groups|work=Daily Offbeat|author=Cathy Cabrea|date=22 Mar 2015|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=24 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324050113/http://www.dailyoffbeat.com/articles/7312/20150322/fake-abortion-clinic-christian-groups-cpc-abortion.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.coloradoindependent.com/113772/crisis-pregnancy-centers-push-anti-abortion-agenda-nationally|title=Crisis pregnancy centers push anti-abortion agenda nationally|work=Colorado Independent|author=Sofia Resnick|date=23 Feb 2012|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414233340/http://www.coloradoindependent.com/113772/crisis-pregnancy-centers-push-anti-abortion-agenda-nationally|url-status=live}}[http://www.nifla.org/about-us-history.asp NIFLA website, About Us, History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727123545/http://www.nifla.org/about-us-history.asp |date=2011-07-27 }} Accessed 2011-02-10.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/bs-xpm-2014-06-23-bs-ed-abortion-lawsuit-20140623-story.html|title=City's subpoenas in the pregnancy center lawsuit intimidate and harass anti-abortion groups|work=Baltimore Sun (Op-Ed)|date=23 Jun 2014|author=Matt Bowman|access-date=2015-04-10|archive-date=2015-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414213118/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-06-23/news/bs-ed-abortion-lawsuit-20140623_1_baltimore-city-council-ordinance-pro-life-groups|url-status=live}} The organization's 2009 IRS Form 990 stated that the group spent $759,259 in annual advocacy expenses.{{cite web|url=http://projects.pewforum.org/religious-advocacy/national-institute-of-family-and-life-advocates/|title=Lobbying for the Faithful|publisher=Pew Research Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306134031/http://projects.pewforum.org/religious-advocacy/national-institute-of-family-and-life-advocates/|archive-date=March 6, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.focusonthefamily.com/about_us/news_room/news-releases/2011/20110503-leading-pro-life-groups-host-live-webcast-event.aspx|title=Leading Pro-Life Groups Host Live Webcast Event|date=3 May 2011|publisher=Focus on the Family|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907003023/http://www.focusonthefamily.com/about_us/news_room/news-releases/2011/20110503-leading-pro-life-groups-host-live-webcast-event.aspx|archivedate=September 7, 2015|url-status=dead|quote=Focus on the Family, Care Net, Heartbeat International and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates ( NIFLA ) will co-host the live UNITEforLIFE webcast event to benefit pro-life pregnancy care organizations}}

In 2004, Focus on the Family started the Option Ultrasound Program, which along with NIFLA, funds medical consultants to obtain ultrasound machines for crisis pregnancy centers and converts them to medical-style clinics.{{cite book|author=Sara Diamond|title=Not by Politics Alone: The Enduring Influence of the Christian Right|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I_4QIcEBDmUC|date=1 January 2000|publisher=Guilford Press|isbn=978-1-57230-494-9|page=154}}{{cite web|url=https://nifla.org/about-nifla/|title=About Us|date=January 2015|publisher=NIFLA(Self published)|access-date=May 11, 2019|archive-date=May 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511173159/https://nifla.org/about-nifla/|url-status=live}} 1,000 of their members are medical clinics that use ultrasounds. Hundreds of CPCs have become medical clinics through NIFLA's Life Choice Project, which increases the number of women going to the clinics, including those described by the organization as "abortion-minded."{{cite book|author=Janelle S. Taylor|title=The Public Life of the Fetal Sonogram: Technology, Consumption, and the Politics of Reproduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=17oxLmzervYC|year=2008|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=978-0-8135-4364-2|page=164}}[http://www.nifla.org/about-us-history.asp NIFLA website, About Us, What We Do] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727123545/http://www.nifla.org/about-us-history.asp |date=2011-07-27 }} Accessed 2011-02-09.

Its founder and president is Thomas Glessner. NIFLA provides legal counsel to CPCs as well as medical training, having trained over 2,500 nurses in ultrasound use. NIFLA publishes two monthly newsletters aimed at CPCs, Legal Tips and "Clinic Tips" as well as a quarterly publication, The Life Sentinel.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} NIFLA also works with an insurance company that secures insurance for CPCs.[http://www.nifla.org/membership-insurance.asp NIFLA website, Membership, Insurance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727123555/http://www.nifla.org/membership-insurance.asp |date=2011-07-27 }} Accessed 2011-02-10.