About
Fistula Foundation is a San Jose, California-based nonprofit dedicated to treating obstetric fistula and severe perineal tears — childbirth injuries that can leave women incontinent, and too often isolated. The foundation raises funds globally and directs resources to doctors and hospitals in high-need areas across Africa and Asia, and states that it provides more surgeries to more women than any other organization, including the U.S. government and the United Nations.
Mission
"We believe no woman should endure a life of misery and isolation simply for trying to bring a child into this world." The foundation's work centers on delivering high-quality surgical treatment that can cure a woman's incontinence and restore her health.
What they do
- Fund surgical treatment for obstetric fistula and severe perineal tears, at a cost of $624 per high-quality surgery
- Partner with local doctors and hospitals in high-need areas across Africa and Asia, directing donor resources to where treatment capacity is needed
- Maintain offices in San Jose (USA), the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, with teams of dedicated professionals across two continents
History
Fistula Foundation was founded in 2000 as an all-volunteer organization supporting a single hospital: the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. On February 27, 2009, it expanded its mission to fight fistula globally. In 2018, its partner Dr. Denis Mukwege won the Nobel Peace Prize. Today the foundation supports more than 20 times as many women as it did a decade ago.
Scale and impact
Since going global in 2009, the foundation has supported treatment in more than 35 countries across Africa and Asia. As of June 2026, it has provided more than 130,000 life-changing surgeries.
Financials
According to its IRS Form 990 as reported by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, Fistula Foundation reported total revenue of $21,118,320, total expenses of $19,726,107, and net assets of $29,567,644. Contributions accounted for 94.4% of total revenue, approximately $19.9 million. The foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States (Tax ID 77-0547201), with its IRS tax exemption issued in April 2001, and publishes its Form 990 and annual reports on its website.