Introducing... The Heart of the Future
by Jor-El Godsey, Vice President
The notice went out in February 2004 for every organization in the world to revisit their logo. It happened again in June 2007. Did you get your notice?
Actually, those were the launch dates of Facebook and the first iPhone, respectively, with both signposts signaling a smaller space in which logos would compete.
As these notices were issued, the 20-year-old Heartbeat logo and the “swoosh” heart were cleaned up incrementally to try and keep pace with the shift from print to electronic communications. But, its design, echoing some early ’90s trends, was difficult to size down for a profile picture on Facebook, or for showing up on a really small screen as more and more of us access the Web from our smartphones.
With these practical concerns in mind, and through a recent process of strategic planning, Heartbeat has committed to a logo refresh, which we officially unveiled at this year’s Annual Conference in Dallas.
We’ve kept some elements the same—the name structure and font—but are introducing a new corporate color (Midnight Blue) and our brand new network symbol, “The Heart of the Future.”
Crafted by our own award-winning graphic designer, Brett Foster of Extend Web Services, The Heart of the Future follows the five core elements of a good logo design—simplicity, memorablility, versatility, appropriateness and timelessness.
For Heartbeat International, it’s a familiar symbol that capitalizes upon the heart we’ve used since 1993 to capture the focus of our mission, networking efforts, and corporate culture.
We call it The Heart of the Future because pregnancy help is focused on just that. Our future—at least the one God desires for us—is established upon the foundational truth of the sanctity of life and the promise of life everlasting. As we focus together on preserving and welcoming the next generation, we serve together to strengthen our society’s future, because at the heart of a healthy society is the family.
Everything the pregnancy help community does today—save babies, uplift women, and restore families—is vital to the health of every community’s future.
Moreover, we know the call of God is upon the pregnancy help work, because it is truly His Heart. The Heart of the Future is recognition that God is at the heart of all we do in championing both the Gift and the Giver of Life.
New Directors Gear up for Busy Fall
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Geared to meet the needs of directors with three years or less experience guiding a pregnancy help ministry, the training event focused on topics such as development and organizational vision in a collaborative atmosphere made up of leaders from as far away as Hawaii and South Carolina, where the next Heartbeat International Annual Conference is slated to be held, March 24-27, 2014.
“This was a great group to work with, and to learn from throughout the week,” Director of Ministry Services Betty McDowell said. “The team here at Heartbeat is confident in these leaders, and we look forward to the work God will do through them and their ministries in the years to come.”
Among the group of 47 attendees, 15 leaders serving in urban contexts attended the event on scholarship, thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous financial partner.
“Heartbeat International’s New Director Oasis has enabled me to acquire the best knowledge and training that I will need to be an instrument of God in the work involved in our crisis pregnancy center,” one attendee said.
Another new director views her experience at New Director Oasis as a precursor for Heartbeat’s upcoming Annual Conference, as well as the myriad of training opportunities Heartbeat offers throughout the year.
“I have been to many conferences and this was by far the best. Thank you so much for making me feel connected to other directors and to Heartbeat! You did a great job with this event and I am looking forward to the Annual Conference in the spring.”
Advancement Trends in the Life Community Archives
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Insurance FAQs
Why is insurance important?
- Insurance is a protection against loss, especially catastrophic loss, should something negative happen. Quality insurance is necessary to protect the organization, board members, staff and volunteers. Insurance, when needed, helps restore damage to resume serving and fulfilling the mission
What are key insurance products to look for when selecting insurance coverage?
- General liability (theft, slip and fall).
- D&O (Directors’ and Officers’ Liability) to cover the cost of defending against a legal action or the possibility of personal liability, especially related to hiring and firing of employees.
- Professional liability that covers staff, including peer-counselor and volunteer liability.
- Liability coverage for medical personnel, if you are a clinic.
- Cyber-security is increasingly important to consider.
Want to Start a Pregnancy Help Ministry?
Every day, in every corner of the world, God is moving His people to launch new efforts on behalf of mothers and children at-risk for abortion, as well as efforts aimed at healing those affected by previous abortions and reaching communities with positive pro-life messages focusing on imago Dei and Sexual Integrity.
Heartbeat International is here to support front-line life-savers carry out the unique call of God with excellence in real-life settings and circumstances. Through support and resources, Heartbeat is available to answer your questions and provide guidance as you journey down this new path. Just email our Ministry Services department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and a specialist will connect with you.
Whichever ministry you decide upon, we recommend looking at some key resources to get you started on the right foot.
Recommended Resources for Start-Ups:
- Built By Design (Manual and/or Online Course)
- A Vision for Your Organization
- Pregnancy Center Life Launch Grant
Click any of the below to start with the information you need.
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| Pregnancy Center | Maternity Home | Pregnancy Help Medical Clinic |
Abortion Recovery |
Long-Term Care |
Answering the call to reach, rescue, and renew men, women, and children—even entire communities—from the violence of abortion requires a team effort, with every life-saver pulling on the same rope.
Click one of the below to learn more about your unique calling... and what you can do to become best equipped on the front lines of the Pregnancy Help Movement.
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| Executive Director | Development Director | Healthcare Worker | Board Member | Volunteer |
Thank You for your Heart Cart order!
Please review the following policies relating to your Heart Cart order. If you have any questions regarding your order, please contact us by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (888)550-7577.
FAQs | Pregnancy Help Center Life Launch Grant
To discuss Heartbeat International resources available to startup organizations, contact Heartbeat International’s Affiliate Services Specialist, Sara Dominguez, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
WHAT IS THE LIFE LAUNCH GRANT?
Life Launch, a Pregnancy Help Center Start-Up Grant, is dedicated to inspiring a new season of pregnancy help center start-ups by supporting individuals and/or established organizations open in underserved communities. Qualified candidates will initially be considered for $10,000 in in-kind resources. Additionally, Life Launch candidates who have been accepted as full recipients may also be considered for operational grant opportunities. Qualified candidates will be considered based on available funding for the Life Launch Grant Program.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE LIFE LAUNCH GRANT?
The Life Launch Grant is designed to support new pregnancy help center start-ups open their doors, advancing pregnancy help in those underserved communities. In some select cases, existing pregnancy help centers planning to open a new satellite location or pregnancy help centers who have opened their doors no more than 6 months prior to submitting their grant application may be eligible. Maternity homes and non-profit adoption agencies are excluded from this grant program.
HOW CAN I BE CONSIDERED?
Qualified candidates will be considered based on available funding for the Life Launch Grant Program. To be considered for the Life Launch Grant Program, complete the initial qualification assessment. The qualification assessment will help to identify if your center qualifies as a start-up pregnancy help center in an underserved community. The Heartbeat team will then review all submitted qualification assessments and invite eligible centers to apply for the Life Launch grant based on available funding.
WHAT IS AVAILABLE UPON ACCEPTANCE INTO THE GRANT PROGRAM?
Upon acceptance into the Life Launch grant program, grant recipients will receive $10,000 in in-kind resources including their first of three years of Heartbeat Affiliation, Heartbeat International’s Pregnancy Help Starter Kit, access to Heartbeat International’s fundraising webinars (fundraising 101, fundraising 102, and fundraising for matching grants), their first of two years of Extend Web Services (both client and donor websites are included), and their first two years of Next Level CMS intake and data collection services. Grant recipients will also receive a scholarship to attend Pregnancy Help Institute at Heartbeat International’s headquarters in Columbus in July as well as an on-site Board of Directors Training by a Heartbeat specialist.
To discuss Heartbeat International resources available to startup organizations, contact Heartbeat International’s Affiliate Services Specialist, Sara Dominguez, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Pro-Life Writer's Row Application
If you are registered for the Heartbeat Conference and are a published author interested in the Pro-Life Writer's Row event, please complete the application below. Preference will be given to Heartbeat affiliates.
Applications Due: February 15 | Decisions Expected: March 3
Staying Connected with Clients in These Uncertain Times
We are called into a movement where relationships are so important. How do you maintain these relationships, though, when your doors are closed?
First and foremost, look at your organization's policies and procedures. What does it say about confidentiality? In all that we do, we must maintain the confidence from our clients that their private information stays that way. Before implementing any of the references below, ensure that you are mindful of the most appropriate means to maintain confidentiality.
More...
Loving & Caring Partners with Heartbeat International
Now in partnership with Heartbeat International, Loving & Caring materials - including the My Baby & Me series - is available for purchase through Heartbeat's online store, Heart Cart. Years of relationship and collaboration developed into this partnership as Heartbeat's vast library of resources for pregnancy help organizations was already reaching a global network of pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and medical clinics. The natural next step was to include Loving & Caring's proven resources and brochures within in order to make abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations.
What to Do if Your Center is Vandalized
While attacks on pregnancy help organizations have slowed significantly since the Dobbs decision, anniversaries (like June 24 for the Dobbs decision), holidays (particularly long weekends), and various news events can easily reignite ire from abortion advocates.
According to a 2022 survey, 1 in 6 PHOs experienced targeted harassment ranging from fake online reviews to vandalism, including destruction of property in May or June of 2022.
Heartbeat has created a growing resource that goes over many practical steps that you can take to protect your center, its personnel, and its clients, which you can find here. But what if you arrive at your center to find it vandalized?
- Ensure your immediate safety. If there appears to be any suspicious or dangerous activity presently occurring, alert those who are expected to arrive at your center in the coming hours and encourage them to await further instruction. We would not recommend that you attempt to engage with vandals or arsonists (or worse). Instead, call 911.
- For non-emergent scenarios contact your local police through its non-emergency number. Explain what you see, and request that an officer come out to make a police report. This is very important for recovering funds from insurance, encouraging the police to increase its presence near your center, and, potentially in a case against the perpetrators. Threats of violence or vandalism of a PHO can be submitted through the FBI Tip Line at FBI.gov. Sometimes, this prompts a faster response than a local Police Department can or would provide. The FBI is taking this very seriously and has an open investigation on Jane's Revenge.
- Alert your Board. Your board is part of your team, so be certain that they are in the know and a part of your plan.
- Preserve the Evidence. As far as possible, do not touch or move anything at the scene. Preserve the evidence exactly as you found it.
- Document the Damage. Take pictures of the damage. If there are any written messages in the vandalism, be sure to take pictures that ensure that the messages can be read clearly. Write down as many details as you know or can remember about the potential timing of the attack, when you arrived at the center, what you saw, who you called, what you told them. If you have security cameras (you should!), obtain whatever footage you can obtain. The police may take your pictures, notes, and security footage, but be sure to keep a copy of everything. Document the name and badge number of the officer(s) you work with (if it is not on the police report).
- Contact Heartbeat. There may be certain legal remedies available to a center that is persecuted by these activities. If a connection can be drawn between the vandalism or arson of a number of different centers, that may open up even more legal options. We are better together – even in Court! You can contact us by emailing Beth Diemert, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and please CC This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
These are troubling times, and it is natural to feel intimidated or nervous. “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3. As you walk compassionately with women, offering them help and hope, “be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6.
Heartbeat is here for you. We are inspired by you. We are fighting alongside you. And we are praying for you.
Politics and Pregnancy Help
Since the overturning of Roe, many states, cities, and local elected officials have turned their eyes toward pregnancy help organizations -- some seek to investigate and restrict the work of pregnancy help, while others look for ways to support and fund the movement. We are seeing attacks coming in many forms from New York passing legislation to “conduct a study” on centers, to Minnesota’s AG issuing a consumer alert, to the city of Columbus funding a pro-abortion activist group to do an investigation of centers. At the same time, 12 states passed legislation funding pregnancy centers in 2023, and Mississippi expanded its state tax credit for pregnancy help centers from $3.5 million to $10 million. As the fight for life shifts from the national level with the U.S. Supreme Court back to the local level with state legislatures and city councils, these battles will likely continue.
In light of this, we must continue to be diligent in our service to women in our communities providing them with the compassionate care that they deserve. We must also work to build relationships with our local, state, and federal legislators to ensure that they understand the work that we do every day.
Here are some key resources for you as you work in your state to advance the work of pregnancy help:
Legislators
As always, stay alert to what your local officials are working on. Building relationships with them will allow you to speak up for pregnancy help when it is under attack and open the eyes of the legislators to the life-changing impact that you have in their community.
Legislation
- AUL State Legislation Tracker - You can find Pregnancy Help-related legislation under the "Pregnancy Resource Centers" category.
- Plural Policy Legislation Tracker - Search and track any legislation both state and federal.
Status of Current Abortion Laws
- Guttmacher Institute's Overview of Abortion Laws - Guttmacher is a pro-abortion research organization, however, their information on the status of all current abortion-related laws is the most detailed available at this time. This will allow you to stay up to date on the laws in your state and where they stand in the courts.
- FRC's Pro-Life Laws in the States - View your state's current abortion limits and other abortion laws on FRC's interactive maps!
Additional Resources:
- Pregnancy Help in Your State - Talking Points and state by state numbers
- Pregnancy Center Myths Debunked - Podcast
- Abortion Myths Debunked - Podcast
- Pregnancy Center Truth - Website
- Pregnancy Help News - News Site
Pregnancy Help Organizations = Reproductive Health Care Providers
by Andrea Trudden, Vice President of Communications & Marketing
Heartbeat International
Have you heard the term "Reproductive Health Care Provider" before? If you are like me, the phrase brings to mind "Reproductive Rights" and therefore I automatically think of Abortion Facilities. But I would be wrong.
As a pregnancy help organization, you provide reproductive health care through a variety of means for women: abstinence education, pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, and in some cases, STI/STD testing and prenatal care. We are blessed to have healthcare professionals on staff or volunteering at pregnancy centers across the nation, using their God-given gifts to help the mission and care for women at one of the most delicate times in their lives.
This nuance of language is important as we navigate new waters that are sometimes putting pregnancy centers in harm's way through abortion-related violent extremism.
Leveraging the label "Reproductive Health Care Provider" properly appropriates language that actually applies more to us, who discuss all options, than those who only favor abortion. In fact, the Department of Justice (DOJ) identifies pregnancy help centers as "Reproductive Health Care Providers" which empowers them (the DOJ) to do more to protect you from threats of violence under the FACE Act.To pull from our Protect Your PHO page:
FACE Act
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (“FACE Act”) likely applies to your center and could be a very powerful tool in dealing with protestors. The FACE Act prohibits violent, threatening, damaging and obstructive behavior toward anyone obtaining or providing reproductive health services. Violators of the FACE Act could be fined or even imprisoned. The Act also provides civil remedies to the victims, including compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief. The FACE Act provides for statutory damages, making it even easier to recover money from protesters who violate it. If protesters outside your clinic attempt to block or impede access to the clinic, to intimidate your clients, or cause property damage, please contact Heartbeat to discuss your options. We have been informed that from the FBI's perspective, pregnancy help organizations are covered under the FACE Act.
It is important for us to be aware of what laws exist that we can use to help protect our organizations and push back against violent extremists. While we are glad that the physical attacks against pregnancy help organizations have lessened, it is important that we remain vigilant and have a clear understanding of our rights.
The work we do is good. Our clients know it, our supporters know it, and we know it. Keep up the life-changing work you do!
Practical Tip #1: Review Protect Your PHO with your staff and Board.
Practical Tip #2: Sign up for tomorrow's webinar - The "8Ds" of Risk Management (October 12, 2022 at 12pm EST), presented by Darin J Goodwiler MBA, CCEP, Samaritan's Purse VP of Compliance and Risk/CCRO. In this webinar, you'll learn the methodology of a risk management assessment that measures and evaluates risks to people, facilities, infrastructure, internal controls, and reputations. This thorough assessment has been taught for 30 years and will provide you with an effective framework to help you ensure that you have all your bases covered to keep your organization protected!
