South Carolina is considering imposing a total abortion ban.

Currently, South Carolina bans abortion care after six weeks of pregnancy. The bill scheduled for debate in the state legislature in early October would outlaw the procedure entirely, including in cases of rape and incest.

In 2025, it is already very difficult for South Carolinians to receive abortion care. But it isn’t impossible. A network of nonprofits is still working to to help people get the reproductive health care they need: abortion funds.

Abortion funds are grassroots groups that provide free financial and logistical assistance to people who need abortion care. Over 100 independent abortion funds exist in the U.S. I am a member of the Palmetto State Abortion Fund’s board, in South Carolina.

If the state’s new bill becomes law, however, our activities would become illegal.

As a gender studies scholar, I see the work of abortion funds as a crucial component of reproductive justice. Given the growing restrictions on reproductive rights across the U.S., I think it is important that the public understand what abortion funds do.

Most commonly, a person who does not want to be pregnant calls or texts the abortion fund’s intake line. Intake specialists at the fund ask the pregnant person about the amount they will need to help cover the procedure, and if they also require support for travel, accommodations, or other logistics.

After confirming clinic appointments, abortion funds tell clinics how much money the fund can allocate for an appointment based on their budget, which is funded by donations and grant money. If one fund can’t cover the full amount, they’ll typically reach out to ask another fund to pledge........

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