For people who are unable to carry children of their own, surrogacy can make the dream come true. 

But, like many good things in life, surrogacy comes with a price tag. After all, it’s a process that involves a vast range of professional services and expertise: medical practitioners, fertility specialists, health organizations, and various other expenses. 

Not surprisingly, the costs can mount up, and many would-be parents are left wondering how they can afford to have children through surrogacy after all. 

Surrogacy might not be inexpensive, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach! Couples and individuals hoping to pursue surrogacy have more than a few ways to pay for the costs involved. Let’s look at what financing options are available. 

1. Fertility Financing Loans

Yes, you can get a loan to build your family through surrogacy. Many organizations offer “fertility financing,” a loan or financial aid plan covering clinic procedures, lab work, medications, and other necessary procedures. These plans may also offer low-interest rates, discounts, and fertility expert support. 

Family Source Consultants recommends Prosper Healthcare Lending, one of the best-known fertility financing companies in the US. Prosper Healthcare Lending has helped more than 250,000 people grow their families through surrogacy. As the premier financing company in the fertility and surrogacy industries, it has provided over $3 billion in funded loans – so their record speaks for itself.

Some of the amazing benefits of using Prosper Healthcare Lending include:

  • Financial aid for ANY fertility or surrogacy-related expenses, including medication and travel
  • Loans of up to $100,000
  • Terms of up to 7 years 
  • Instant decision without affecting your credit on loans under $35,000 when submitted through the Standard Credit Program.
  • Fast: it takes less than two minutes to apply through your provider’s website.

To learn more about Prosper Healthcare Lending, visit https://www.prosper.com/vib/healthcare/program_select?provider_id=006834

2. Crowdfunding for Surrogacy

Crowdfunding is a fantastic way to raise money for an important cause. It involves asking a large number of people (i.e., a crowd) to donate small, affordable amounts of money over a limited period of time. The larger the group, the more money you can accumulate, and the easier it is to hit your target. 

Crowdfunding can be used by almost anyone these days, from artists and startups to those needing help with medical expenses and, yes, even surrogacy. Causes are usually announced on social networks such as Instagram and Facebook, which makes it easy for supporters to share. 

Setting up a crowdfunding project means you’ll have to publicly share details about your personal struggle with infertility and/or your decision to have children via surrogacy. Supporters are most often friends, family, social connections, and acquaintances. 

If you’re happy with this, you’ll need to choose a crowdfunding site that allows donations for surrogacy – not all of them do! (Kickstarter, for example, only allows creative projects.) Some crowdfunding sites that support family-building include GoFundMe, AdoptTogether, and Indiegogo. 

Other things to check include fees for setting up your projects and receiving donations, payment options, and how user-friendly the site is. 

Creating your campaign requires a bit of creativity. When writing your story, be honest and passionate. Explain why you’re pursuing surrogacy, why building a family is important to you, and how you will use the funds. 

If you can, break down the costs required for each part of your surrogacy journey. Give examples of expenses or how much each medical procedure might cost. 

And of course, include photos of yourself, or maybe even a video!

3. Surrogacy Grants

Another option for prospective Intended Parents is surrogacy grants. These are usually given by nonprofit organizations that provide “scholarships” and grants for family building. 

A surrogacy grant is a quantity of money given by an organization to help fund your dream of becoming a parent. Unlike a loan, a surrogacy grant doesn’t have to be paid back. 

Surrogacy grants can cover any expenses associated with surrogacy, including IVF, agency fees, and any medical services that may be required. The way the grant is paid depends on the organization. Some will pay directly to your fertility clinic or surrogacy agency, while others may give the money directly to you. 

It’s important to note that some organizations will require specific criteria, such as couples who are married and/or are legal residents of the United States, along with an official diagnosis of infertility by a medical professional. Others may have no geographical or marital criteria but require at least one applicant to have an infertility diagnosis.

In general, surrogacy grants are awarded once or twice yearly and are worth amounts ranging from $2,000 to $16,000. 

Grants won’t cover the full cost of the surrogacy process, but they can certainly help! 

The next step

Building a family through surrogacy doesn’t have to drain your life’s savings. There ARE options for financial assistance – it’s just a matter of finding the options that suit your needs. 

If you need to know more, simply get in touch with the FSC team. They’re the experts on all things surrogacy-related: many have already been through it themselves! 

Staci Swiderski, CEO and owner of Family Source Consultants has been involved in the field of reproductive medicine since 2002. Staci has vigorously grown the comprehensive egg donation and gestational surrogacy agency to become a worldwide leader in the third-party reproduction field. Staci is a former intended parent herself. She and her husband welcomed their son via gestational surrogacy in 2005. Additionally, Staci had the experience of assisting an infertile couple (AKA Recipient Parents) build their family through her efforts as an egg donor, with her donation resulting in the births of their son and daughter.