Frequently Asked Questions

Click 'Start a Fundraiser' and create an account. You'll be guided through setting up your fundraiser with a story, photos, and a fundraising goal. It only takes a few minutes to get started.

As long as you need. Your fundraiser stays live — and can keep receiving donations even after you pass your goal — until you choose to close it from your dashboard.

No — creating a fundraiser is completely free, and so is sharing it, inviting your contacts, and posting updates. A small platform fee (3%) plus standard card processing (2.9% + $0.30) applies only when a donation comes in — see the full breakdown on our pricing page.

Donors can contribute using credit/debit cards or other supported payment methods through our secure Stripe payment integration. No account is needed to donate, and donors can choose to give anonymously.

Two fees come out of each donation: a 3% platform fee and standard payment processing (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) — everything else goes to the fundraiser. The platform fee is what keeps Gift of Parenthood running: secure payments, fraud protection, the sharing and invite tools organizers use to reach their community, and a real support team. Donors can also choose to add an optional tip, which supports the platform and never reduces the amount going to the fundraiser. You can run the exact math for any amount on our pricing page.

Donations to an individual's fundraiser are treated as personal gifts to the recipient and are generally not tax-deductible; the crowdfunding platform is operated by Give Panda, LLC, a for-profit company. Separately, donations to the Gift of Parenthood grant fund — run by Gift of Parenthood, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — may be tax-deductible. We recommend consulting a tax advisor for specific guidance.

You can request a payout anytime once your available balance is above the minimum (currently $10) and you've connected your bank via Stripe. Each request is reviewed by our team, and approved payouts typically arrive in your bank account within a few business days.

The Gift of Parenthood Grant Program awards need-based grants of up to $20,000 toward fertility treatments, adoption, surrogacy, and other family-building expenses, with four grant cycles every year. The program is designed to ease financial burdens while fostering community support and open dialogue.

The program is funded by:

Community Donations: Contributions from individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who believe in supporting others on their family-building journey.

Fundraising Events: Charity galas, auctions, walkathons, and online campaigns help raise awareness and strengthen the program.

Without this collective generosity, the Gift of Parenthood Grant Program would not be possible.

The Gift of Parenthood Grant Program embraces diversity. Grants are open to heterosexual couples, same-sex couples, and individuals.

To be eligible for our grant program, you must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Provide documentation of your infertility journey
• Demonstrate financial need
• Complete the full application process

We welcome applicants regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or relationship status.

Yes. Applicants must be in good physical and mental health, with no conditions that would put them—or, in the case of female applicants, the child they may carry—at serious risk.

Yes. At least one partner (or the individual applicant) must be employed and able to demonstrate the means to provide ongoing child support.

Yes. Applicants must have basic health insurance with sufficient prenatal coverage for mother and baby. We generally do not provide grants to those with extensive fertility insurance coverage.

We generally do not provide grants to those already receiving significant financial assistance from other charities. However, clinic discounts and bank loans do not affect eligibility.

Applications are submitted directly through our Grant Program portal, available via the "Grant Program" link in the top navigation.

Here's how the process works:

1. Start your application through the Grant Program portal.
2. Complete the full application form, including eligibility details and required documentation.
3. Answer a few short questions about your family-building journey and financial situation.
4. Your application will be carefully reviewed by the Gift of Parenthood Grant Review Board during the next quarterly cycle.
5. If selected, you will be notified and guided through the next steps to receive funding.

The Gift of Parenthood Grant Program may fund a variety of family-building paths, including:

• In vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Egg and sperm donation
• Embryo donation
• Egg freezing
• Gestational surrogacy
• Adoption
• IVF with PGD/PGT (genetic testing)

You can receive support in two ways:

1. By applying to the Gift of Parenthood Grant Program, which provides up to $20,000 in funding each quarter.

2. By exploring financing options through our Apply for Financing portal, designed to help bridge financial gaps for those beginning or continuing their family-building journey.

No. Grants cannot be used for treatment that began prior to award notification.

Our grant cycles run quarterly:

Q1 (Winter): January 1 - March 31, Results by April 15
Q2 (Spring): April 1 - June 30, Results by July 15
Q3 (Summer): July 1 - September 30, Results by October 15
Q4 (Fall): October 1 - December 31, Results by January 15

Applications must be submitted and paid for during the open quarter. Late applications will be considered for the next available cycle.

Recipients are announced on or around the 1st of every quarter. You can always find the official announcement date by checking your account Dashboard.

Recipients are expected to begin treatment within three months of receiving their award.

Our selection process is based on a scoring rubric applied by our independent advisory board. Reviewers evaluate each anonymized application based on criteria such as:

* Clarity of Need
* Medical Readiness/Feasibility
* Potential Impact
* Financial Need

We review applications holistically, considering your story, need, and plan for using the grant funds.

All applications are reviewed and selected by the Gift of Parenthood Grant Review Board.

For fairness and transparency, the following individuals are not eligible to participate:

• Employees, officers, directors, or agents of Gift of Parenthood
• Partners, related companies, agencies, or agents
• Immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings, children, grandparents) of the above
• Individuals living in the same household as any of the above

Awards can be distributed in two ways:

Directly to your healthcare provider – Funds may be sent to your clinic or provider to cover current or future treatments and medical expenses.

Into an active fundraising campaign – If you have a campaign on our platform with real donations and engagement, funds can be deposited there to help build additional community support.

This policy ensures that support goes directly toward genuine, active efforts to build or grow a family.

Your application fee helps us run the grant program well. Here is what it covers:

• Application review by qualified advisory board members
• Platform and technology that keep your application secure
• Administrative costs like payment processing and communications

We keep the fee as low as possible while ensuring a thorough and fair review for every applicant, and the fee never influences selection outcomes.

The $75 application fee is required to complete a standard application. It helps cover the costs of running the grant program, including application review and administration. The fee is nonrefundable and has no effect on the selection process. If you raise $100 or more from at least two supporters on a Gift of Parenthood fundraiser, your fee is waived automatically.

Yes! You can gift a single-cycle application ($75) or a $250 Four-Cycle Pass. Your nominee will receive an email invite to accept the gift and create an account. They have 90 days to accept. To protect privacy, you will not see their application details.

Yes. Applicants may apply up to four times per year. Each application requires the $75 application fee and updated forms.

The $250 Four-Cycle Pass is a convenient way to pre-pay for four application submissions over a 12-month period. This saves you money compared to paying the application fee for each cycle individually. The pass is tied to your account, is nontransferable, and unused redemptions expire after 12 months. Like the single-cycle application fee, it has no effect on selection outcomes.

The Four-Cycle Pass offers several advantages:

• Cost savings: $250 for 4 applications vs $300 if contributing individually
• Flexibility: Use within any 4 quarters over 12 months
• Peace of mind: No need to re-contribute if not selected
• Priority consideration: Demonstrated commitment to the process

If you're planning to apply multiple times or want to ensure you can reapply if needed, the pass provides the best value.

No — you do not. Your journey is deeply personal, and we will always respect your right to privacy. Sharing your story or photo is never a requirement to receive funding.

At the same time, the mission of the Gift of Parenthood Grant Program is to help break the stigma around infertility by creating a community where stories are shared and voices are heard. When recipients choose to share their experiences, it helps normalize the conversation, reduces isolation, and inspires others who may be struggling in silence.

Whether you share publicly or keep your story private, you are still an important part of the Gift of Parenthood community, and we are honored to support you. If you have concerns or wish to discuss how we can best honor your preferences, please reach out to us directly.

We take privacy seriously:

• Anonymous Review: Reviewers see anonymized applications without identifying information
• Secure Storage: All data is encrypted and stored securely
• Limited Access: Only authorized personnel can access full applications
• No Public Sharing: Your information is never shared publicly without explicit consent

Reviewers only see your story and relevant details needed for evaluation, not your name, contact information, or other identifying details.

Click 'Forgot Password' on the login page and enter your email address. You'll receive a password reset link within a few minutes.

Yes. We use industry-standard encryption and security practices to protect your data. We never share your personal information with third parties without your consent.

Yes. Contact our support team to request account deletion. Please note that active fundraisers must be closed and all funds withdrawn before deletion.