Anna Lalor Burdick Program

The Anna Lalor Burdick Program is a private grant initiative administered by The Lalor Foundation that focuses on advancing reproductive health education and access for women. The program is designed to support projects that provide women with information and access to reproductive health care services, including contraception and pregnancy termination, with the goal of expanding their life choices and improving overall well-being. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that empower women through knowledge and access, particularly in environments where reproductive rights are restricted or under threat. The program reflects the legacy of Anna Lalor Burdick, an educator and advocate for women’s advancement whose career spanned teaching, school leadership, and federal service in education. Her lifelong commitment to improving opportunities for women informs the foundation’s continued emphasis on education, independence, and informed decision-making. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed over one million dollars in grants supporting reproductive health initiatives, demonstrating a sustained commitment to this area of public health and social equity. Funding through the Anna Lalor Burdick Program is directed toward innovative and impactful projects that provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education. The program is particularly interested in initiatives serving women who face barriers such as poverty, discrimination, geographic isolation, lack of access to comprehensive sex education, or restrictive public policies. Projects are expected to incorporate unbiased information about all reproductive options, demonstrate clear goals and measurable outcomes, and include plans for evaluating impact and long-term sustainability. Programs that integrate advocacy or policy change efforts consistent with nonprofit regulations are also considered. The program encourages new initiatives and innovative expansions of existing programs rather than ongoing operations. It places emphasis on projects that can serve as models for replication and that demonstrate the potential for sustainability beyond the grant period. While a range of reproductive health topics may be included, the program generally does not support projects focused exclusively on specific areas such as sexually transmitted disease prevention, menstrual health, or maternal and infant health unless they are part of a broader reproductive health strategy. Eligibility is limited to organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not classified as private foundations. Applicants must be based in the United States, although funded projects may take place internationally. The program does not provide funding to individuals, nor does it support scholarships, endowments, major capital projects, crisis pregnancy centers, or programs that do not present unbiased reproductive health information. The application process begins with the submission of an online concept paper. Concept papers are due twice annually on May 1 and November 1. The application portal opens approximately one month prior to each deadline. Following submission, applicants are notified within six to eight weeks regarding whether they are invited to submit a full proposal. Only a limited number of applicants advance to the full proposal stage, where additional documentation and detailed planning are required. Grants are typically awarded for one-year project periods, with occasional opportunities for follow-up funding for particularly successful initiatives.

Focus on innovative approaches clear measurable outcomes and comprehensive reproductive health education