Planned Parenthood loses private support but pulls in profits, annual report shows

Washington D.C., Dec 15, 2004 / 22:00 pm

There are few hopeful signs for pro-life organizations found in this year’s Planned Parenthood annual report. An analysis of the report by the American Life League indicates that fewer people are now supporting Planned Parenthood through private donations.

The organization’s annual report demonstrated a decline for the second time in three years, as contributions and bequests dropped 17 percent to $191 million, and the income of its national headquarters dropped by 19.8 percent.

The number of Planned Parenthood clinics declined from 866 clinics to 849 in the last year. Since its heyday in 1995, when it operated 938 clinics, it has closed 89 clinics. 

The analysis was conducted by the American Life League’s STOPP International, which has monitored Planned Parenthood's operations for 20 years. 

STOPP pointed out, however, that while private funding has decreased, the same is not true from public funding. Elected officials gave Planned Parenthood a record $265.2 million last year, nearly 33 percent of its $810 million total income.

With regard to abortions, Planned Parenthood increased the number of surgical abortions at its own facilities by 6.1 percent to 244,628. These figures bring the total number of babies aborted by the organization since 1970 up to 3.5 million.

Planned Parenthood aborted 138 children for every adoption referral to an outside agency this past year – a growing trend since the late 1990s. During Gloria Feldt's first full year as president of PPFA (1997), the group's abortion/adoption ratio was 18:1. Under Feldt, abortions have consistently increased and adoption referrals have decreased.

Surgical abortions drew a revenue of $104 million, accounting for over one-third of its $302.6 million clinic income. And, for the 18th year in a row, Planned Parenthood turned a net profit. This year's total is $35.2 million. The total profits over 18 years are $538 million.

Planned Parenthood sold 95,000 units of RU-486, an abortion pill, at 203 of its clinics. Forty-nine clinics that do not perform abortions began selling the pill last year.