What is Planned Parenthood?

12 Planned Parenthood was one of the founding members of the International Planned Parenthood Federation when it was launched at a conference in Bombay, India in 1952. Following Sanger, Alan Frank Guttmacher became president of Planned Parenthood and served from 1962 till 1974. 14 During his tenure, the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of the original birth control pill, giving rise to new attitudes towards women's reproductive freedom.

12 Also during his presidency, Planned Parenthood lobbied the federal government to support reproductive health, culminating with President Richard Nixon's signing of Title X to provide governmental subsidies for low-income women to access family planning services. 15 The Center for Family Planning Program Development was also founded as a semi-autonomous division during this time. 16 The center became an independent organization and was renamed the Guttmacher Institute in 1977.

Faye Wattleton was the first woman named president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in 1978 and served till 1992. 17 She was the first African-American to serve as president, and the youngest president in Planned Parenthood's history. 18 During her term, Planned Parenthood grew to become the seventh largest charity in the country, providing services to four million clients each year through its 170 affiliates whose activities were spread across 50 states.

From 1996 to 2006, Planned Parenthood was led by Gloria Feldt. 2021 Feldt activated the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the organization's political action committee, launching what was the most far reaching electoral advocacy effort in its history. 22 She also launched the Responsible Choices Action Agenda, a nationwide campaign to increase services to prevent unwanted pregnancies, improve quality of reproductive care and ensure access to safe and legal abortions.

12 Another initiative was the commencement of a "Global Partnership Program" with the aim of building a vibrant activist constituency in support of family planning.