IVF and donor egg costs
10 Donor Egg Grants to Know About
November 26, 2024
Last updated:
November 26, 2024
If you’re exploring fertility treatments involving donor eggs, you know how daunting the costs can be. But, some good news: if you qualify, grants are available to help families access fertility care — with some grants including treatments using donor eggs. Whether you’re considering donor eggs because you’re navigating infertility, part of a same-sex couple, or a cancer survivor, these grants can ease the financial burden and hopefully bring you closer to parenthood.
In addition to grants, you might want to consider alternatives to the traditional egg donation model, which often relies on high cash compensation for donors and results in significant costs for intended parents. Programs like Cofertility’s Split model offer a more human and ethical approach to donor egg IVF. With this option, intended parents can match with a woman freezing her eggs for her own future use and donates half of the mature eggs retrieved to a family who can’t conceive. This model is more economical, fosters a sense of shared humanity, and shifts away from the transactional nature of traditional egg donation. Learn more about egg sharing here.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of donor egg grants and financial assistance programs to help fund your donor egg journey. We also take a closer look at how programs like our Split model can further reduce costs and create a better experience for everyone.
1. Baby Quest Foundation Grant
The BabyQuest Foundation provides nationwide financial assistance for fertility treatments, including donor egg IVF, with an emphasis on diverse family types and significant financial need.
- Amount provided: Varies; typically ranges from $2,000 to $16,000.
- Type of assistance: Financial assistance for procedures, not direct cash to the grant recipient. Funds are paid to the clinic or service provider.
- Application process: Applications are accepted year-round, but there are specific deadlines for each cycle (typically every 3-4 months). Applicants must submit an online form with detailed personal, medical, and financial information, along with a $50 application fee.
- Eligibility criteria: Open to U.S. citizens regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and provide proof of medical necessity for fertility treatments.
Learn more about Baby Quest here.
2. Tinina Q. Cade Foundation Family Building Grant
The Cade Foundation offers grants to support infertility treatments — including donor eggs — prioritizing applicants with compelling stories and demonstrated financial challenges.
- Amount provided: Up to $10,000 per family.
- Type of assistance: Funds are awarded directly to clinics to cover treatment costs.
- Application process: Annual application window (typically opens in the spring and closes in the summer). Requires a personal statement, medical history, proof of financial need, and a $50 application fee.
- Eligibility criteria: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents. Open to single individuals and couples; donor egg treatments are eligible.
Learn more about the Cade Foundation here.
3. The Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP) by Men Having Babies
Men Having Babies’ GPAP program provides significant financial assistance to same-sex male couples pursuing parenthood through surrogacy and donor egg IVF.
- Amount provided: Varies; includes free services, discounted rates, and direct financial aid.
- Type of assistance: A combination of cash grants, discounts from participating clinics, and donated services.
- Application process: Applications are accepted year-round in two stages. Stage I provides access to discounts and pro bono services, while Stage II offers grants and financial aid based on need. Applicants must complete an online application, provide financial documentation, and submit a personal statement.
- Eligibility criteria: Open to gay couples and individuals pursuing surrogacy and egg donation. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and readiness for parenthood.
Learn more about Men Having Babies’ GPAP here.
4. Gift of Parenthood Family Grant
Awards grants quarterly for global applicants, focusing on broad inclusivity and addressing the emotional narratives of intended parents.
- Amount provided: Up to $10,000.
- Type of assistance: Financial support paid directly to the fertility clinic or provider.
- Application process: Grants are awarded quarterly, and applications are accepted year-round. Applicants must submit a written application, including financial and medical documentation, and pay a $25 fee.
- Eligibility criteria: Open to individuals and couples globally. Preference is given to those demonstrating financial need and a compelling story.
Learn more about the Gift of Parenthood Family Grant here.
5. Hope for Fertility Foundation Grant
Hope for Fertility provides annual grants to U.S. residents facing infertility, emphasizing financial barriers and medical need for treatments like donor egg IVF.
- Amount provided: Typically $2,000–$5,000.
- Type of assistance: Financial assistance is paid directly to the fertility clinic.
- Application process: Applications are accepted annually, typically between January and March. Applicants must complete an online form, provide medical documentation, and pay a $50 fee.
- Eligibility criteria: Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and demonstrate financial need. Open to heterosexual and same-sex couples, as well as single parents.
Learn more about the Hope for Fertility Foundation here.
6. Journey to Parenthood Grant
The Journey to Parenthood Grant offers annual grants to help families offset the high costs of fertility treatments or adoption, with a straightforward application process.
- Amount provided: Varies; up to $10,000.
- Type of assistance: Funds are provided directly to the fertility clinic or provider.
- Application process: Annual application cycle (typically open from spring to early summer). Applicants must submit an online form, medical history, and proof of financial need.
- Eligibility criteria: Open to U.S. residents facing infertility or needing assistance to grow their family. Same-sex couples and single parents are eligible.
Learn more about Journey to Parenthood here.
7. The SAM Fund Family Building Grant
For cancer survivors whose treatment has resulted in infertility, The SAM Fund offers grants that can be used for fertility treatment, including donor eggs.
- Amount provided: Varies; typically up to $4,000.
- Type of assistance: Financial support for fertility-related expenses.
- Application process: Applications open annually in the fall. Applicants must provide documentation of cancer treatment and financial need.
- Eligibility criteria: Open to U.S. residents under age 45 who are cancer survivors and face financial barriers to fertility treatments.
Learn more about The SAM Fund Family Building Grant here.
8. BIVF Foundation Financial Assistance Grant
The BIVF Foundation offers financial assistance to those in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island who are undergoing fertility treatments, including donor egg IVF.
- Amount provided: Up to $10,000 in cash support for eligible family-building care.
- Type of assistance: Financial support paid directly to the fertility clinic or service provider.
- Application process: Applications are accepted annually. Applicants must submit an online application, including personal statements, medical documentation, and proof of financial need.
- Eligibility criteria: Applicants must reside in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Rhode Island, have an annual household income of less than $200,000, and demonstrate a lack of fertility or family-building insurance coverage. There are also age restrictions.
Learn more about the BIVF Foundation and its grants here.
9. Nest Egg Foundation Grant
This grant supports IVF treatments — including donor eggs — for Connecticut and New York residents.
- Amount provided: Covers up to 50% of the cost of a single IVF cycle (including egg donation) at participating clinics.
- Type of assistance: Subsidized fertility treatment.
- Application process: Applications are accepted year-round. Applicants must submit an online form with financial and medical documentation.
- Eligibility criteria: Must reside in Connecticut or New York. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have medical proof of infertility.
Learn more about the Nest Egg Foundation here.
10. Parental Hope Family Grant
Parental Hope offers grants to individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatments, including those involving donor eggs.
- Amount provided: The grant covers the full cost of treatment, including IVF and donor egg procedures.
- Type of assistance: Financial support paid directly to the Institute for Reproductive Health in Cincinnati, Ohio — which is where granted treatment would take place and recipients would need to travel. Note that while this grant may cover an egg donor cycle, it does not include donor fees or medication.
- Application process: Applications are accepted annually. Applicants must submit a comprehensive application, including personal statements, medical documentation, and proof of financial need.
- Eligibility criteria: Applicants must have a diagnosis of infertility from their doctor and be legal, permanent U.S. residents.
Learn more about Parental Hope Family Grant here.
Summing up the savings
Navigating the high costs of donor egg treatments doesn’t have to feel insurmountable. By combining grants with innovative solutions like our Split model, you can reduce financial barriers while participating in a more human and ethical process. Explore grants (be sure to double-check deadlines and requirements!), apply widely, and cross those fingers.
We also recommend checking out RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association for more on financial assistance for fertility treatment and Fertility Within Reach for guidance on insurance coverage.
Lastly, please reach out if we can be of service. Cofertility offers discounted rates for active military members and cancer survivors. Additionally, we've partnered with lenders to offer you fertility financial resources. Sunfish offers the most comprehensive marketplace of financial options for IVF, egg freezing, embryo preservations, gestational surrogacy, egg donations, and more, up to $100,000 at industry-low rates. For more information, click the link above.
We wish you all the best!
Arielle Spiegel
Arielle Spiegel is a Cofertility Co-Founder and Advisor. She previously founded the original CoFertility, a community and content platform that aimed to answer every fertility question, inspired by her own experience trying to conceive. She is incredibly passionate about starting the fertility conversation at an earlier age. Before founding CoFertility, Arielle spent several years in digital marketing at Victoria’s Secret PINK. She also led global social media activations for Coach and spent years agency-side, building social media strategies for various consumer brands. Today, Arielle lives in the Boston area with her husband, dog, and two miracle babies. She currently engages as a marketing strategy consultant for brands across industries.
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Arielle Spiegel