Our Evolution

Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota’s structure and organization can be traced back to 1928 when the Motherhood Protection League was formed in Minneapolis. Originally designed for educational purposes, the League expanded to include medical services and incorporated in 1931 as the Minnesota Birth Control League. Thus began the evolution of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.

In 1935, the St. Paul Maternal Health Center, under the auspices of the Minnesota Birth Control League, opened its doors to the community. In the early 1940s, the Center changed its name to Ramsey County League for Planned Parenthood and, in 1957, to Planned Parenthood of St. Paul.

Both Planned Parenthood affiliates (Minneapolis and St. Paul) exhibited slow and steady growth until the mid-1960s. By 1965, the two agencies recognized their own inability to provide for outstate needs, and the Minnesota Project was formed as a joint venture to promote community knowledge and understanding of family planning outside of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.

Early in 1968, the Minnesota Project separately incorporated as Planned Parenthood of Minnesota. This action resulted in three affiliates within the state. The newest affiliate was primarily concerned with areas beyond the Twin Cities and established a successful - although small - program in Duluth.

During the next two years, the three organizations grew rapidly. In October of 1971, at a joint membership meeting held in St. Paul, the three affiliates voted to formally merge into one nonprofit corporation. The more representative name of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota was chosen to be the banner of the newly formed organization.

A year later, the affiliates once again merged - this time with the Duluth-based Family Planning Clinic of St. Louis County. The name of the resulting organization remained Planned Parenthood of Minnesota. This second merger in two years at last brought all Planned Parenthood agencies in the state under one administrative roof.

In the early 1990s, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota expanded to include the state of South Dakota with two clinic sites in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. In 2003, we added the state of North Dakota to our affiliate; previously, North Dakota was the only state that did not have a Planned Parenthood presence.

The present Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota stands as one of the largest and oldest of the approximately 100 Planned Parenthood affiliates in the nation. We celebrated our 80th year of service in 2008.

Our organization is involved in a broad range of activities, including reproductive health care services, contraception, abortion care, medical research, community education, public policy and advocacy, private fundraising, and program development. Our mission is Affirming Human Rights to Reproductive Health and Freedom.