Paying for IVF can be a daunting task, especially when combined with the common plight of inadequate insurance coverage for infertility treatments. There are many ways to earn money for your IVF cycles, including crowd sourced fund raising and IVF grants. There are more than a few non-profits that offer grants for IVF cycles these days. Don’t expect something for nothing, however, if you are lucky enough to win one of these grants expect to be used for publicity purposes. If you have no problems with this then apply away. Factoring the probable amount of time you will asked to give in return for the grant – it makes one hell of an hourly rate :) As in most giveaways your chances of receiving one these grants is low, but as they say, “you cant win if you don’t play.” So without further ado below you will find a list of IVF grants with descriptions and application instructions for each. Good Luck!
Current IVF Grants
INCIID (InterNational Council for Infertility Information Dissemination)
They provide IVF scholarships to couples with financial and medical need. You must be a member of INCIID to apply ($55/annually) and . You must be medically and financially in need, and they ask for pays tubs, tax returns, and doctor’s notes to verify your eligibility.
Fertile Dreams – The Embracing Hope Grant
This org selects two to three couples each year to receive up to $10,000 that can be used for fertility treatments at any fertility clinic in the country. The couples must have medical insurance but lack coverage for infertility.They ask for proof of income through paystubs, and recent tax returns. If selected you will be asked to sign away full media release giving Fertile Dreams full rights to publish and photograph your story throughout your fertility treatments.
Contact info: Fertiledreams **UPDATE – THEIR WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY DOWN**
Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation
This non-profit offers a range of grants from partial to full coverage. They used to only offer grants to NC residents but have recently opened up their grants to all states and they state the money can be used at any fertility clinic as long as they are a member of SART (dont worry, most fertility clinics are members of SART or the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technologies). They award several grants throughout the year to couples where the women is under 40 and they have no income requirements.
Contact: www.payitforwardfertility.org/
Gift of Life Foundation
The Madeleine Gordan Gift of Life Foundation offers grants up to $10,000 to eligible couples in the greater Cincinnati area. Their requirements include: no children, have never undergone through IVF, combined income of less than $70k, and documented medical need for IVF.
Contact info: www.gordongiftoflife.org
The Tinina Q. Cade Foundation
This foundations Building Family grant provides up to $10,000/ family to fertility treatments or adoption costs. The number of grants varies depending on the amount of available funds. The only restrictions are: 1) medically diagnosed as infertile, and 2) Legal US resident. They also have a “Savannah Grant” available only to Shady Grove Fertility patients. Applications are currently open for the 2014 grant. Be aware there is also a non-refundable $50 grant processing fee.
Contact info: www.cadefoundation.org
B.U.M.P.S Inc by Bringing U Maternal Paternal Success
This Florida based non-profit gives out grants to couples who are in need both medical and financial, with preference given to those without children. Couples must be medically diagnosed as infertile . The grants can be used for a variety of infertility treatments. ***They are not currently accepting applications. Their website states they are currently fundraising***
Contact info: www.yourbump.org
Angels of Hope Foundation
This foundation provides two grants a year to locals within 24 miles of Morris, IL. Couples must be married, have little or no insurance, and be a medically appropriate for treatment. They favor couples with higher chances of success, as evidenced by your doctor’s notes. If you are interested, you must complete an application and include a letter from their doctor, a medical records release, and a financial statement. Application deadlines are March 31 and August 31.
Contact info: www.angelsofhopeinc.org
BabyQuest Foundation
This foundation offers three grants a year to couples who cannot afford infertility treatments. They accept applications from heterosexual couples, same-sex couples and singles. Once awarded you may use the funds at the clinic of your choosing. Funds are dispersed soon after their March, July, and November deadlines.
Contact info: www.babyquestfoundation.org
Sparkles of Life
This non-profit dedicates itself to helping couples become parents. They offer one grant a year in the amount of 33% of 1 IVF cycle. The cycle must be undergone at the Houston Fertility Institute. Applicants must submit a short statement of need, a complete application and a $100 non-refundable processing fee (Paypal).
Contact info: http://sparklesoflife.org
Sharing Hope Financial Assistance Program
This programs offers financial assistance to couples in need of fertility preservation before undergoing treatment for cancer. They are a part of the Fertile Hope organization and do not offer grants to applicants directly. Instead, they work with fertility clinics and companies to provide discounted treatment and medications. To be eligible patients must make under $75k single/ $100k combined income, have an eligible cancer diagnosis and must not have already started fertility-reducing cancer treatments.
Contact info: www.fertilehope.org
New York DOH IVF grants
NY state created a series of grants to help reduce the cost of fertility treatments to residents of the state. This program works with a series of fertility clinics throughout the New York state to help defray the costs off treatment. Patients will receive from 2.5% to 97.5% off their treatment costs, depending on household income. Since the grants are made available to patients of the fertility clinics that signed up for this program you will have to apply through the clinic of your choice. Eligibility might vary a little from clinic to clinic, but patients must be residents of the state, between ages 21-44, have a private health insurance (not medicare..etc), and fall below a certain income threshold. Some patients will need to undergo IUI treatments first to be eligible, and patients with a very low likelihood for success will not be accepted.
Here is a list of clinics that participate in the program.
FertileHope
is a a national LIVESTRONG initiative dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.
Fertile Action
is a cancer charity working to ensure fertile women touched by the disease have he option to preserve their fertility prior to receiving cancer treament that can cause infertility. Fertile Action’s Parenthood After Cancer Treatment (PACT) Grant was established to provide financial support for female cancer surviors. It is not a cash award but is aimed at significantly reducing the cost of IVF, egg donation and surrogacy for cancer survivors through fertility specialists that have been recruited to offer their services at a discount or donate their services to the grantee.
Did I miss any IVF grants or scholarships or get the details wrong on something? If so please let me know in the comments so I can add them to the list. For those of you thinking about applying for any of the above grants I wish you the best of luck. Remember, you can win if you don’t try.
Cheers!
What about if you do not reside in the states,you live in Africa,but can not afford IVF, is there any chance of financial assistance, I am really desperate.
I am sorry to hear about your situation. I know the cost of IVF and related treatments can be too expensive for many. Unfortunately, I do not have knowledge of any IVF assistance programs in Africa. I would suggest you start contacting local IVF clinics and asking if they offer any assistance programs or know about any grants. I did a brief internet search but was only able to find this mention of discount IVF to find any reference of such a program. Good luck!