Thrive Fund

The Thrive Fund recognizes that gender-affirming care extends beyond surgery and hormone therapy. Many transgender individuals have health and wellness needs that significantly impact their quality of life and ability to live authentically, yet these needs often fall outside traditional funding sources.

Created by LGBTQ+ community members and transgender individuals, this fund addresses the smaller but equally important aspects of gender transition that help people thrive in their daily lives.

We support a wide range of needs including but not limited to: quality wigs and hairpieces, chest binders and breast forms, fertility preservation (egg or sperm freezing), voice therapy and vocal training, medical tattooing (areola reconstruction, scar camouflage), gender-affirming clothing and undergarments, and other wellness needs on a case-by-case basis.

Our goal is to be flexible and responsive to the real-world needs of our community, recognizing that everyone's journey is different and that small interventions can have a big impact on daily well-being.

About The Program

The Thrive Fund recognizes that gender-affirming care extends beyond surgery and hormone therapy. Many transgender individuals have health and wellness needs that significantly impact their quality of life and ability to live authentically, yet these needs often fall outside traditional funding sources.

Created by LGBTQ+ community members and transgender individuals, this fund addresses the smaller but equally important aspects of gender transition that help people thrive in their daily lives.

We support a wide range of needs including but not limited to: quality wigs and hairpieces, chest binders and breast forms, fertility preservation (egg or sperm freezing), voice therapy and vocal training, medical tattooing (areola reconstruction, scar camouflage), gender-affirming clothing and undergarments, and other wellness needs on a case-by-case basis.

Our goal is to be flexible and responsive to the real-world needs of our community, recognizing that everyone's journey is different and that small interventions can have a big impact on daily well-being.

Age Requirement

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application.

U.S. Residency

Must be a current resident of the United States with valid documentation.

Financial Need

Demonstrated inability to afford the requested item or service through personal funds or other means.

Gender-Affirming Purpose

The requested item or service must be related to gender-affirming care or support your ability to live authentically.

Specific Request

Must have a specific item or service in mind with an estimated cost. General requests without specifics cannot be considered.

One Request Per Cycle

You may apply for one type of support per funding cycle. You may reapply in future cycles for different needs.

Requirements

Age Requirement

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application.

U.S. Residency

Must be a current resident of the United States with valid documentation.

Financial Need

Demonstrated inability to afford the requested item or service through personal funds or other means.

Gender-Affirming Purpose

The requested item or service must be related to gender-affirming care or support your ability to live authentically.

Specific Request

Must have a specific item or service in mind with an estimated cost. General requests without specifics cannot be considered.

One Request Per Cycle

You may apply for one type of support per funding cycle. You may reapply in future cycles for different needs.

Before applying, please consider the following questions to determine if this fund is right for you:

Are you 18 years of age or older?
Do you reside in the United States?
Do you have a specific item or service in mind that would support your gender-affirming care?
Is the estimated cost $1,500 or less?
Do you lack the financial means to purchase this item or service on your own?
Have you researched providers or vendors for your specific need?
Is this a one-time need, or will there be ongoing costs you need to plan for?

Self-Assessment

Before applying, please consider the following questions to determine if this fund is right for you:

Are you 18 years of age or older?
Do you reside in the United States?
Do you have a specific item or service in mind that would support your gender-affirming care?
Is the estimated cost $1,500 or less?
Do you lack the financial means to purchase this item or service on your own?
Have you researched providers or vendors for your specific need?
Is this a one-time need, or will there be ongoing costs you need to plan for?

1

Initial Application

Submit your application through apply.thafund.org describing your specific request, why it's important for your well-being, and estimated cost.

2

Review

Our team reviews your application for completeness, eligibility, and alignment with fund guidelines.

3

Committee Review

Applications are evaluated based on financial need, impact on quality of life, and available funding.

4

Conditional Approval

If selected, you will receive conditional approval specifying the approved amount and any conditions.

5

Provider Registration

For services (like vocal training or medical tattooing), your provider must register with THAF. For products, you may receive direct reimbursement.

6

Approved

Final approval is granted and funds are reserved for your request.

7

Documentation

Receive your item or service. For reimbursement, submit receipts within 60 days of approval.

8

Completed

Your request is fulfilled! Consider sharing how the support impacted your life to help others understand the fund's impact.

Application Process

1

Initial Application

Submit your application through apply.thafund.org describing your specific request, why it's important for your well-being, and estimated cost.

2

Review

Our team reviews your application for completeness, eligibility, and alignment with fund guidelines.

3

Committee Review

Applications are evaluated based on financial need, impact on quality of life, and available funding.

4

Conditional Approval

If selected, you will receive conditional approval specifying the approved amount and any conditions.

5

Provider Registration

For services (like vocal training or medical tattooing), your provider must register with THAF. For products, you may receive direct reimbursement.

6

Approved

Final approval is granted and funds are reserved for your request.

7

Documentation

Receive your item or service. For reimbursement, submit receipts within 60 days of approval.

8

Completed

Your request is fulfilled! Consider sharing how the support impacted your life to help others understand the fund's impact.

Application review typically takes 2-3 weeks for Thrive Fund applications.
Funding may be provided as direct payment to a vendor/provider or as reimbursement after purchase.
For reimbursement, you must submit receipts showing the purchased item or service matches your application.
Approved amounts are based on reasonable costs for the requested item or service.
We may suggest alternatives if your request is outside our guidelines or budget.
Quality matters - we aim to fund items that will serve you well long-term.
Our team is available to help you find vendors or providers for your specific need.

What to Expect

Application review typically takes 2-3 weeks for Thrive Fund applications.
Funding may be provided as direct payment to a vendor/provider or as reimbursement after purchase.
For reimbursement, you must submit receipts showing the purchased item or service matches your application.
Approved amounts are based on reasonable costs for the requested item or service.
We may suggest alternatives if your request is outside our guidelines or budget.
Quality matters - we aim to fund items that will serve you well long-term.
Our team is available to help you find vendors or providers for your specific need.

Please Read Carefully

The maximum grant is $1,500 per request. Requests exceeding this amount will not be considered unless you can cover the difference.
We fund specific, defined requests only. Requests for general financial assistance cannot be considered.
A non-refundable $10 administrative fee is required with each application. Fee waivers are available.
Fertility preservation is time-sensitive and expensive. While we can help with initial costs, ongoing storage fees are your responsibility.
We do not fund items that are readily available at low cost or that would not provide meaningful improvement to your well-being.
Approved funds must be used within 90 days unless other arrangements are made.
THAF is working toward 501(c)(3) status. Donations may not currently be tax-deductible.

Important Notes

Please Read Carefully

The maximum grant is $1,500 per request. Requests exceeding this amount will not be considered unless you can cover the difference.
We fund specific, defined requests only. Requests for general financial assistance cannot be considered.
A non-refundable $10 administrative fee is required with each application. Fee waivers are available.
Fertility preservation is time-sensitive and expensive. While we can help with initial costs, ongoing storage fees are your responsibility.
We do not fund items that are readily available at low cost or that would not provide meaningful improvement to your well-being.
Approved funds must be used within 90 days unless other arrangements are made.
THAF is working toward 501(c)(3) status. Donations may not currently be tax-deductible.

The Thrive Fund supports a wide range of gender-affirming needs including: quality wigs and hairpieces, chest binders, breast forms, packers, gaffs, fertility preservation (egg or sperm freezing), voice therapy/vocal training, medical tattooing (areola reconstruction, scar camouflage), gender-affirming clothing basics, legal name/gender change fees, and other items on a case-by-case basis. If you're unsure if your need qualifies, apply and explain your situation.

The maximum grant amount is $1,500. Most grants range from $200 to $1,000 depending on the request. We evaluate each request based on reasonable market costs for quality items or services.

You may apply for multiple related items in a single application as long as the total is under $1,500 (for example, a binder and breast forms together). However, you may only have one active Thrive Fund application at a time. After completion, you may apply for different needs in future funding cycles.

Yes, we can help with initial fertility preservation costs. However, please be aware that fertility preservation is expensive and has ongoing storage fees. A typical egg or sperm freezing cycle can cost $5,000-$15,000, plus annual storage fees of $300-$800. Our grant can help with a portion of these costs, but you should have a plan for the remaining expenses and ongoing storage.

Yes! Voice therapy and vocal training are important for many transgender individuals. We can help cover sessions with a speech-language pathologist who specializes in transgender voice or with qualified voice coaches. Please include a treatment plan or estimate from your provider in your application.

If your request is denied, we will provide a brief explanation. Common reasons include: the request doesn't align with our guidelines, financial need was not demonstrated, the requested item is readily available at low cost, or funding was simply not available in that cycle. You may reapply with a different or revised request in future cycles.

If your request is approved for reimbursement (rather than direct vendor payment), you will purchase the approved item yourself and submit receipts to us. We will reimburse you via check or electronic transfer within 2-3 weeks of receiving your documentation. Receipts must match your approved request.

Yes! Court filing fees, certified document copies, and other direct costs associated with legal name and gender marker changes are eligible for Thrive Fund support. We cannot cover attorney fees, but can help with the standard filing costs which vary by state.

Frequently Asked Questions