Applying for fertility grants

Applying for a grant means telling a stranger a very personal story and handing over paperwork, usually while you are also managing appointments and bills. It is a lot. A little planning makes it lighter.

This guide is about the process, not about any one program. Each program decides who can apply and how, so the details always live on its own page.

Start with the rules

Each grant program sets its own eligibility, documents and deadlines. That is the most important thing to keep in mind, because what is true for one program may not be true for the next.

For every program you are considering, read its own page before you spend time on an application. A good place to start is the RESOLVE list of scholarships and grants, then follow the links to each program:

• Baby Quest Foundation
• Tinina Q. Cade Foundation
• The Hope for Fertility Foundation
• Starfish Infertility Foundation
• Gift of Parenthood

Our Questions to ask tool has a Grant or financing application list. It covers things like whether there is a fee, which clinics you can use, and how you will hear back. Bring those questions to each program.

Gather your documents once

Programs often ask for things like the items below. Confirm the exact list on each program's page, since it will differ.

• Identification for you, and for a partner if it applies
• Recent tax return or other income information
• A letter or estimate from your clinic that describes the plan and the costs
• A personal statement in your own words

Make a folder, on your phone or your computer, and put a copy of each one inside. When a new application asks for something, you will already have it. Write the date next to anything that goes out of date, so you know when to refresh it.

The Cost and funding planner can help you get your own numbers in one place before you fill out a form.

Writing your story

The personal statement is the part people dread. Try to think of it as a letter, not a test.

• Be honest. You do not need to make your story bigger or sadder than it is.
• Be specific. A few real details about your path and what you are hoping for say more than general phrases.
• Use your own words. Write it the way you would tell a trusted friend, then tidy it up.
• Answer what is asked. Read the prompt again before you send.
• Ask someone to read it. A second pair of eyes can catch typos and missing pieces.

Save your draft. Parts of it may be useful again for the next application, though you should still read each prompt fresh.

Deadlines and a simple tracker

Deadlines are easy to lose when you are juggling several things. A simple tracker is enough. A notes app, a spreadsheet or a piece of paper on the fridge all work. For each program, write down:

• The program name and a link to its page
• The deadline, and the date you plan to finish the application
• The documents it wants, and which ones you have already gathered
• The date you applied, and how you will hear back
• Any reference or confirmation number you were given

Put the deadlines on your calendar with a reminder a week ahead. If a program page does not state a date clearly, ask the program.

Applying to more than one

Many people look at more than one program. Each program has its own rules, so check whether it is fine to apply elsewhere too, and ask whether help from another source changes anything on their end.

Keeping a tracker makes this manageable, and you can reuse your document folder each time. Try to pace yourself. One careful application is better than five rushed ones.

When you hear back, and if you are not chosen

Write down the date you hear back and what the program asks you to do next, such as accept, sign something or send another document. Ask the program if the next step is not clear.

If you are not chosen, it can hurt, and it is fine to feel that. When you are ready, you can ask whether you may apply again and whether there is any limit, then update your tracker and look at the other programs on your list.

The grants section of our directory collects these programs in one place, each linked to its own page.