The narrow defeat of a proposal to expand abortion rights in Florida is motivating some people to donate money to groups that support abortion rights, including funds that help people pay for abortion care.

The Tampa Bay Abortion Fund received more than $20,000 in just the first two days after Tuesday’s election, with about 100 people donating, according to Bree Wallace, director of case management.

Just over 57 percent of voters approved Amendment 4, which would have allowed abortions until the fetus is viable — usually around 24 weeks of pregnancy — or after that if the patient’s health care provider deemed it necessary. But measure failed because unlike most states, Florida requires 60% of the vote for constitutional amendments to pass.

That means a six-week abortion ban with limited exceptions remains in effect.

“People are angry, and when you’re angry, you donate, you get out in your community, you organize, you fundraise, and I think that’s what people are doing right now,” Wallace said.

For Wallace and fellow abortion fund workers, the election night news was devastating, but it didn’t change their mission.

“We all got some good shouts and went right back to the work we had been doing,” Wallace said.

Abortion funds help cover appointment and travel costs for people who need an abortion. Florida groups pay for women to receive care in the state if they are not yet six weeks pregnant. For those who have passed this level, the funds help them out of state travel to perform abortions, which can be very expensive.

Stephanie Colombini

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WUSF

The Tampa Bay Abortion Fund has helped 150 people travel out of state for care since the six-week ban went into effect in May. That’s three times more than in the first four months of this year, when a 15-week ban was in place.

Demand for out-of-state travel support has also increased costs for Emergency medical assistancean abortion fund based in Palm Beach County. The group is on track to spend $550,000 this year, up from $320,000 last year, according to executive director Jessica Hatem.

“The money it costs to be able to support people is huge. It’s huge, and I think people realize that, but at the same time, the need and the circumstances are going to get worse,” Hatem said.

The increased spending is also due in part to a national partner’s decision to cut funding for patient support this year, which Hatem said leave local funds with more costs to cover.

Emergency medical care also got more money after the election, though Hatem said, at least so far, it’s not as big of an increase in so-called “throwing a tantrum” as funds across the country saw after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Those donations disappeared as people moved on to other issues. Any increase in funding is great, Wallace said, but she would prefer to see sustained support.

“We may be stuck with (a six-week abortion ban) for another two, four or more years, depending on what we can do about it. So I think it’s just trying to get donations to come in, no matter what, even if it’s not first-time news,” Wallace said.

Courtesy of Jessica Hatem

Opponents of Amendment 4 celebrate its defeat, along with residents in rural areas from central and northwest Florida representing a large number of “no” votes. While some defend the six-week abortion ban, other abortion opponents are calling for even more restrictions.

“The only realistic way to ensure that Florida becomes completely abortion-free is for the Legislature to enact full legal protections for unborn children from the moment of conception,” said Andrew Shirvell, executive director of Florida Voice for the Unbornsaid in a statement late Tuesday.

Advocates on both sides of the issue say they will continue the fight for abortion rights in the next legislative session, which begins in March.

But for abortion funds, Hatem said community outreach is more of a priority, both for fundraising and other efforts. In addition to paying for abortion care, staff and volunteers distribute prevention and emergency contraception supplies in the areas they serve and provide reproductive health information to residents.

Scaling up these initiatives in the new year will be critical to building long-term support, she said.

“So as long as we can get our message out there and show up for our communities again, those are wins for us,” Hatem said.

You can find an abortion fund to serve your community on this website.