Annual Trans Surgery Fund

Annual Trans Surgery Fund is sponsored by Point of Pride. This scholarship-like program provides direct financial assistance to trans individuals who cannot afford gender-affirming surgery.

Financial aid for gender-affirming healthcare by Point of Pride Annual Trans Surgery Fund Point of Pride’s Annual Transgender Surgery Fund is a scholarship-like program that provides direct financial assistance to trans folks who cannot afford their gender-affirming surgery.

We have very few requirements in an effort to be as inclusive as possible: You identify as transgender (FTM, MTF, non-binary, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, and all other non-cis identities.) You are 18 years of age or older at the time of your surgery. You have financial need that prevents you from affording gender-affirming surgery.

You can demonstrate past attempts at affording care (i.e. saving money, fundraising, attempting to get insurance coverage.) You complete your surgery in the United States with a US-based surgeon. Your surgery takes place on or after March 1 of the following year.

This program is intended to help trans folks who otherwise can not afford gender-affirming surgery. We ask that you consider your access to healthcare before applying for this grant. Here are some questions to consider: Do you have health insurance coverage that is trans-inclusive?

If not, do you qualify for Medicaid? ( Learn more ) Do you have access to healthcare providers who are trans competent, and are able to travel to them to receive care? Are you employed and able to save some money towards surgery?

Are you a citizen or documented immigrant? Do you consider yourself healthy and able-bodied (i.e., not living with a chronic or long-standing illness)? Do you identify as white, or do you experience white/light-skinned privilege?

If you answered YES to most of these questions, you may consider making space for our trans siblings who mostly answered NO. (Even if you answer YES to most or all of these questions, you are still eligible to apply.)

Left: 2018 recipient Cairo following gender-affirming top surgery; Right: 2018 recipient Leah shared she felt “like a whole person” following her facial feminization surgery Point of Pride staff will host live "Before You Apply" info sessions to walk potential applicants through our requirements and processes, and answer questions. These are completely optional to attend and will not impact your application positively or negatively.

All 2025 info sessions have concluded. You can watch a previously recorded session on YouTube. More about privacy & security Your privacy and security are our top priorities.

Your personal information will be hidden from other participants. Your video and microphone will be disabled. You won't have access to view or interact with other attendees.

Instead, you can communicate only with staff via private chat. The webinar will include automatically generated captions with Zoom's built-in real-time translation. Live ASL interpretation will also be provided.

If you're unable to attend or prefer watching a video recording, you can watch a recorded session on YouTube. Applications are open on November 1. The deadline to apply is November 30 by 11:59pm EST.

All applications must be submitted online. Carefully read this page, especially our Frequently Asked Questions section. Review our Instruction Packet , which walks you through each question of the application form.

Submit your application via the form below. Once the application period ends, our Board of Directors and team of Community Grantmaking Fellows (trained volunteers) evaluate each and every application received. This process is necessarily difficult and time-intensive, so thank you for your patience!

Throughout this process, Point of Pride will never ask you for your banking information, account/routing numbers, PINs, or other extremely sensitive identity or financial details. Read our safety statement If our reviewers determine they need additional information, you will be contacted by late February–early March via email.

You may be invited to submit additional writing samples and/or participate in a brief phone or online interview. If you are selected as a recipient, you will be contacted via email or phone regarding next steps. You will have a window of 18 months to schedule your surgery date (not necessarily complete surgery.)

The full details of your award will be explained in your recipient agreement. For even more detail, this resource serves to provide complete context and clarity around our financial assistance programs, and why we have certain requirements or parameters in place. Privacy and safety: We know many applicants feel vulnerable in sharing their experiences, and we take this very seriously.

Anything you share with us in your written responses will be kept strictly confidential and private. Recipients will have the opportunity to publicly share their stories in the way that feels safest and most affirming for them, as well as hide identifying information if preferred. Language: Our application is not an English test.

We will not consider grammar/spelling or writing ability when reviewing your responses. Above all, please give us detailed, thorough responses so we understand your unique situation. We hope to provide full translation support in the future.

Accessibility: We understand that some applicants may want or need extra support in completing their application. You may list someone else on the application as your liaison, translator, or support person. This person will be CC'd on all email notifications regarding your application status.

(Access can be revoked at any time by the applicant by contacting Point of Pride.) Equity: Our organization prioritizes equity as one of our guiding principles . Your application will be assessed on the responses you provide and in accordance with this guiding principle.

Point of Pride does not discriminate based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, or any other identity. Is there an age requirement? Applicants must be at least 18 years old by your surgery date.

There is no upper limit for age. Is ____ an eligible procedure? Yes.

We accept applications for any gender-affirming procedure. For surgeries that are multi-step or consist of several procedures (such as facial feminization surgery), this grant will cover only those procedures that can be performed on a single surgery date. Can I apply if I have health insurance?

Yes. Please note this information in your application. Note that we do not have any requirements like that you need to have attempted coverage in the past, you need to have received a denial letter, or anything like that.

We recognize there are many scenarios in which you may have inclusive healthcare coverage and still cannot use your insurance. Can I apply if I live outside the United States? Yes, you are welcome to apply for the Surgery Fund if you live outside the U.S. However, all surgeries must take place in the United States or its territories with a surgeon licensed in that location.

This means you must be physically and financially able to travel to the U.S. for your care. (At this time, Point of Pride grants cover healthcare expenses only, and cannot be applied to travel, lodging, or other expenses.) When you apply, you'll be asked some questions about your readiness to travel to the United States, which you can read ahead of time in our Instruction Packet.

Traveling for medical care can be complex, especially for trans individuals and non-U.S. citizens, as immigration laws and travel policies can change quickly and unexpectedly. If you are selected as a recipient of the program and awarded a grant, Point of Pride will do our best to support you in navigating these challenges.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide financial or legal assistance for immigration-related matters, including deportation or detention. If you accept your grant, we will strongly encourage you to consult immigration professionals and plan ahead for potential disruptions. Can I apply for assistance if I live in a state with restrictions on gender-affirming care?

You are welcome to apply for our programs regardless of the status of gender-affirming care laws in your state. Note that Point of Pride complies with all state and federal laws, which may impact our ability to award you with a grant. If you have questions about gender-affirming care in your area, please check your local and state regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Can I apply if I have already scheduled my surgery? Yes; if you have a surgery date scheduled, there is an option to include that in your application. Because of the time it takes our volunteers to review the high number of applications we receive each year, however, we can not fund applicants who are having surgery in the months of November–February of the current cycle.

So, when you submit an application in November, your surgery would need to be scheduled on or after March 1 of the following year in order to receive funding. Can I apply for myself if I’m also a support person for someone else? Yes, you can be both an applicant for your own application and a support person for someone else's application during the same cycle.

Can I apply to pay back medical loans/expenses for a surgery I’ve already had? We understand the challenges of debt and medical loans that so many of us deal with in order to afford care. Unfortunately, no; you must apply for financial aid towards a future surgery.

Our grants are paid directly to health care providers specifically for the procedure itself, before it takes place. How can I submit a high-quality application? We strongly encourage you to review our Instruction Packet , which walks you through each question of the application with tips.

Ultimately, our reviewers are looking for thorough responses that answer each question with specific examples and detailed explanations. Can I snail-mail you my application? No, we can not accept any materials sent through the mail.

All documents must be uploaded via our online form. Can I send you a letter of recommendation? No, letters of recommendation are not accepted at this time.

Can I submit an application on behalf of someone else? We recognize there may be barriers that prevent someone from submitting an application on their own without help. You may submit an application on behalf of someone else only if you are working directly with the applicant and clearly reference their involvement in completing the application.

(For example, if you are providing technological support, language translation, or other assistance on behalf of the applicant, please note your role and that the applicant is still the primary author of their responses.) However, you may not submit an application without the applicant's involvement. (For example, applying for a loved one without their knowledge.)

While we understand the desire to surprise someone with a grant, our process builds on the fundamental idea that trans people are our own best advocates: we want to ensure that this belief is reflected throughout the application process. Can I edit my application after I submit it? Unfortunately, no. All submitted applications are final, and you cannot edit your responses.

When will I receive a response about my application? You will receive an email from an "@pointofpride. org" account in 8-12 weeks following the end of the application period.

(Please check your spam folder and the quota limit on your inbox to make sure it hasn’t been filtered or bounced back. You may need to search for email accounts that end in “@pointofpride. org” or update your settings to allow emails from “@pointofpride.

org” accounts.) When are recipients selected? Typically, recipients are selected and notified in late February–early March.

We are a primarily volunteer-operated non-profit, so sometimes it can take longer as we process the high volume of applications. We appreciate your patience! Does my application need to be submitted in English?

No. You are welcome to submit your application in the language you are most comfortable with. You may also work with a trusted support person if you need help with translation or accessibility. Can the grant be applied towards travel, lodging, or other expenses before, during, or after surgery?

We understand the challenges of debt and medical loans that so many of us deal with in order to afford care. Unfortunately, no; at this time, our grants are paid directly to health care providers specifically for the procedure itself, before it takes place. We cannot apply grant awards toward transportation, lodging, general expenses or (for international applicants) getting a visa and other logistical expenses.

How much money do grant recipients receive? Grant awards vary widely. The fund covers a high percentage (70-97%) of your total surgical, anesthesia, and facility fees.

You will be responsible for a smaller percentage of your care, with a maximum out-of-pocket expense specified in your recipient agreement. You should expect to cover travel fees, lodging, food expenses, time away from work, postoperative nursing care (when required), and certain postoperative medications. Will you help me find a surgeon?

Unfortunately, no. Point of Pride does not provide medical advice, referrals, or endorsements of any provider. Importantly, every person's surgery goals and priorities are unique. So many factors – a given surgeon's specialty or expertise, the procedure type that's right for you, whether or not you're willing/able to travel for surgery – means that finding a surgeon is a highly individualized decision.

Therefore, you will ultimately be the best judge of who your provider should be. We recommend that you reach out to local LGBTQ+ centers and trans support groups, as well as your current healthcare providers and/or insurance company (if applicable), for recommendations to help you as you research. If Point of Pride needs to pay me directly (as opposed to a retailer or provider), what tax or income implications does this mean for me?

In extremely rare cases, we may need to send funds directly to you instead of paying a provider or retailer on your behalf. If you receive $600 or more from us in a calendar year, we are legally required to report it to the IRS and issue you a 1099 form. This may be considered taxable income, depending on your personal situation and local laws.

We always recommend speaking with a tax advisor or accountant to understand how this might affect you. Your safety and trust are extremely important to us. Please know that we will never ask you to send us money .

To protect yourself and avoid a scam, we invite you to please read our safety statement. Do I have to share my photo or use my real name if I’m awarded a grant? No, you are not required to share a photo of yourself or use your legal or chosen name publicly in order to apply or to receive support.

We understand that privacy and safety are deeply personal, and everyone’s situation is different. If you are awarded a grant, you will have flexible options for how (or if) you are represented in any public-facing materials. This can include remaining fully anonymous, using a pseudonym, using a blurred photo, or using a stock photo that represents you.

Will choosing to stay anonymous affect my chances of being selected? No. Your decision to remain private will not impact your application or eligibility in any way. We review applications based on need and alignment with our program criteria, not on whether someone is willing to share their story publicly.

Your safety, comfort, and autonomy always come first. Applications are currently closed. The next cycle will open on Nov.

1. On mobile, tap the ••• icon and select Bookmarks. On desktop, press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (Mac).

Get notified before the next application period Over $3,173,000 in financial assistance awarded to 170 recipients. Elise (she/her) was six years old when she told her mother she was a girl. The discomfort she felt in her body left her feeling lost and unsure of where she would ever be accepted.

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Mithran (he/him) is a resilient 22-year-old navigating significant challenges while striving for self-actualization. He has faced unstable housing, estrangement from family, and manages chronic illnesses without health insurance. As a dedicated ...

Myrical (she/her/hers) is a resilient 44-year-old transgender woman whose journey is marked by authenticity and purpose. Despite facing significant financial hurdles, including medical debt from previous gender-affirming procedures and depleted ... Alexis (She/Her/Hers, He/Him/His, They/Them/Theirs) is a 33-year-old genderfluid individual residing in Texas.

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He has actively pursued his ... Sammy (he/him) is a 33-year-old Trans Male who has dedicated 11 years to serving as a Sergeant First Class in the Army, where he has worked in a first responder and medical capacity. As the main provider for his spouse and two children, one of whom ...

Alexandria (she/her/hers) is a 31-year-old transgender woman who has demonstrated remarkable resilience and dedication throughout her life. A US military veteran, she served over ten years as a firefighter in the Air Force, including a deployment to ... Merit (he/him) is a 36-year-old trans man seeking top surgery.

As a student and a single dad to five young children, he has been living paycheck to paycheck without familial financial support. Things have been tight, to say the least. Unable to afford ...

Oz (he/him) is a 30-year-old transmasculine person who has been pursuing top surgery for over five years. Struggles with his health and a severe car accident in 2024 limited his ability to save for surgery. After attempts to find trans-affirming ...

Estela (she/her/hers) is a 27-year-old trans woman residing in Texas. Despite facing significant financial challenges, including unemployment and the denial of government disability benefits, Estela has consistently prioritized her care, covering the ... Lilith (she/her, they/them) has been trying to access gender-affirming surgery for the past three years.

She remained in a job where she was constantly harassed and discriminated against for being both trans and disabled because their health benefits ... Sasha (she/her/hers) is a 48-year-old trans woman who has navigated significant challenges throughout her life with remarkable resilience. From a young age, she grappled with depression and anxiety, yet consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to ...

Musa (he/him) is a trans man from the UK who has spent years trying to access top surgery privately due to NHS waitlists that can stretch well over a decade. As a single dad raising two children, Musa lives with chest dysphoria and cannot safely bind ... Cece (she/her/hers) is a young student driven by a desire to create positive change within her field and for marginalized communities.

Her journey has instilled in her a profound resilience, having overcome significant challenges related to her ... A (he/him) has always planned to pursue gender-affirming surgery, even though life often forced him to set that goal aside. As he puts it, life kept “life-ing,” and the timing never seemed right.

When he began seriously looking into surgery, he ... Aria (she/her) is a transgender woman who has been seeking reconstructive surgery for the past nine years. Her surgery was originally scheduled for 2025, but it was suddenly cancelled when her surgeon’s office began requiring patients to pay entirely ...

Ace (he/him, they/them) is a 21-year-old Black, disabled trans man and a junior in college. Despite navigating significant financial challenges, Ace is deeply committed to their gender-affirming journey, paying for their hormone therapy, disability ... Yanela (She/Her/Hers) is a 41-year-old trans woman from Mexico who has embarked on a courageous journey to build a new life in the United States while seeking asylum.

Her path has been marked by significant challenges, including navigating immigration ... Eli (he/him) is a 52-year-old man who has known he was trans since he was at least eight years old, a journey of self-discovery that led him to come out at the age of 50. He began hormone therapy on July 27th, 2025, and is already embracing the ...

Zeta ToZi Arellano (they/them) is a 33-year-old gender-expansive, divinely fluid queer Xicanx person born and raised on the north side of Chicago by two resilient and empowering undocumented parents from Mexico. Their identities and background planted ... Mac (they/them/theirs) is a 26-year-old first-year medical student with a profound commitment to community and advocacy.

Mac has actively worked to establish an LGBTQ+ group for medical students on campus, fostering a supportive environment for their ... Santi (he/him, they/them) is a transmasculine person who has faced housing insecurity and job loss while caring for a sick family member. After moving to Texas and using most of his resources to support his family, Santi found himself living on public ...

Flora (she/they) is a trans non-binary person of color who has always found solace in creativity. Whether through music or writing, artistic expression has been a mirror for self-recognition and connection. Music became an escape from childhood abuse, ...

Noa (she/her) has faced immense challenges on her journey to living as her authentic self, but her resilience and determination have never wavered. She works tirelessly to make ends meet, but with high living expenses and little financial support, ... Mariah (she/her) has spent much of her life feeling like she’s on the outside looking in—held back by the deep insecurity and self-doubt that dysphoria has instilled in her.

“I’d like to think that I’m so much more than my trans identity,” she shared, ... Hunter (he/they) is a nonbinary transmasc person who has spent years navigating barriers to gender-affirming care, financial instability, and an unsupportive home environment. Despite working full-time, saving for top surgery has been a constant ...

Sol is a 22-year-old transmasc/nonbinary person who has been seeking to get top surgery, the biggest step he feels he has to take for his gender affirming care. He struggled a lot with his mental health as a kid, a teen, and even as a young adult. ...

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Connex (he/him) is a Black trans man and dedicated human rights activist who has spent his life advocating for the LBTIQ+ community in Malawi. As the Vice chairperson of the Southern African Intersex Forum (SAIF) and an Advocacy and Grants Manager for ... Hayden (they/them) is a nonbinary transmasc person and a dedicated single parent who has faced immense challenges while striving to create a stable and supportive life for their child.

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For the past 7 years, she has been advocating that the Department of Veterans Affairs cover all transition-related healthcare needs up to and including gender affirming surgeries. While she ... We know how challenging it can be to access necessary gender-affirming care.

Below are some resources you may find helpful. How to Approach Getting Insurance Coverage for a Trans Surgery Does Medicare Cover Gender-Affirming Surgery? Trans Health Coverage: Deductibles, copays, coinsurance & more My Insurance Has Denied My Gender Affirming Surgery.

Now What? [GoFundMe] Guide to medical crowdfunding [GoFundMe] Guide to fundraising for gender-affirming surgery [TransGuys.

com] Comprehensive Guide to Surgery Fundraising 6 Creative Ways to Raise Money Breaking Down Your Surgery Quote: Understanding Fees and Costs Tips for Traveling Out-of-State for Gender-Affirming Surgery Traveling for Gender-Affirming Surgery in Another Country: Things to consider A Guide to PTO, FMLA, and Disability Leave for Gender-Affirming Care