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Thrive Fund

Collage of recipients

About the program

Point of Pride’s Thrive Fund provides small grants to trans folks who cannot afford gender-affirming health and wellness services that fall outside of our existing programs.

What this program is designed for

This fund prioritizes applicants in need of purchases or services that happen one time or have clearly defined start and end dates, though you are still eligible to apply if your needs are ongoing. This fund also prioritizes applicants facing intersecting healthcare needs or gaps in existing structures, such as if your request is a prerequisite or associated with another gender-affirming healthcare need.

Examples of some of the types of care you can apply for include:

  • The purchase of gender-affirming prosthetics or wigs
  • The fees associated with obtaining approval towards gender-affirming care, such as letters from licensed therapists in order to access HRT or surgery
  • The fees associated with getting or updating passports, driver’s licenses, state IDs, birth certificates, and Tribal IDs
  • The cost of hiring professional nursing or caregiving support following gender-affirming surgery
  • The purchase of at-home Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) hair removal devices
  • Waxing services or other non-permanent forms of hair removal
  • Vocal therapy or voice training sessions
  • Medical tattooing
  • Fertility preservation or reproductive health services, including contraception, IUDs, and birth control implants

If you are unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to still apply. Our team will notify you if your request is ineligible.

You may request up to a maximum award of $2,500. Typically, grants are paid directly to a service provider or retailer; in rare instances where Point of Pride must pay you directly, it will be your responsibility to report this income to the IRS. (Please see FAQ below.)

Applicants should be prepared to describe the total cost of their request and how they intend to make up the difference in cost, if applicable.

What this program is NOT designed for

This fund does not cover:

This fund does not cover transportation, housing, or emergency needs, including:

  • Travel or lodging expenses to receive care in another state or country
  • Permanent relocation to a state or country where care is legal or more accessible
  • Basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, clothing, and groceries
  • Crisis or emergency funding

This fund does not reimburse for needs or services you’ve already paid for.

Requirements

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 live in the United States.
  • You have financial need that prevents you from affording your care.
  • Your request must be for an upcoming need that is not covered by one of Point of Pride’s other dedicated programs (surgery, HRT, permanent hair removal services, and gender-affirming garments.)
  • Your request is not for transportation, housing, or emergency needs.

If you do not meet these eligibility requirements, we encourage you to please take a moment and complete this feedback survey. As this is a pilot program, it is likely that the application criteria will evolve over the next several cycles, and your feedback will help us expand the program to better serve the community.

Self-assessment

This program is intended to help trans folks who otherwise can not afford gender-affirming care and wellness needs. We ask that you consider your access to healthcare before applying for this grant. Here are some questions to consider:

  • Are you able to pay for your care out of pocket?
  • Are you employed and able to save some money towards the care you need?
  • 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 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.)

Info sessions

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.

Your privacy and security are our top priority. Your personal information will be hidden from other participants; your video and microphone will be disabled. You will not be able to see or interact with other participants; you will only be able to interact with staff via a private chat feature.

The sessions have generated captions with Zoom's built-in, real-time translation available.

Application process

Applications are accepted August 1–August 31.

Applications are only considered during the time you apply, and are not rolled over to our next period. Therefore, you are welcome to submit an application once each application period. All applications must be submitted online.

  1. Carefully read this page, especially our Frequently Asked Questions section.
  2. Review our Instruction Packet, which walks you through each question of the application form.
  3. Submit your application via the form below.

What to expect

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!

  • If you are selected as a finalist, or if our reviewers determine they need additional information, you will be contacted via email 4-12 weeks following the application deadline.
  • If you are selected as a recipient, you will be contacted via email 4-12 weeks following the application deadline. The full details of your award will be explained in your recipient agreement. You will have a window of 12 months to utilize your grant funding.
  • If you are not selected as a finalist or recipient, we will notify you via email, and you are welcome to apply again for our next application cycle. (Your application is not stored and will not roll over. Review our Privacy Policy.)

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.

Notes

  • 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

FAQ

"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 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.

"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 you help me find a provider?"

Unfortunately, no. Our team does not have the expertise or ability to provide referrals or recommendations for providers. Every person's healthcare goals and priorities are unique, so selecting a provider becomes 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?"

It is extremely rare that we pay recipients directly. In the rare instances that we do, we communicate this information with you before acceptance of a grant award.

If payment to you exceeds $600.00 in a tax year, Point of Pride may be required to report the payment(s) to the IRS. If Point of Pride must report payments, you will be notified via email before exceeding the $600.00 threshold and may be required to fill out an IRS form W-9, which will require your social security number. If you choose not to provide the form W-9, Point of Pride will not issue any further payments beyond $599.00 payment. It is your responsibility to report all income to the IRS on required tax forms.

Any payments made in this manner may count as income and may affect income-driven statuses, including, but not limited to, your disability or social security benefits and your income tax bracket. Point of Pride recommends that you consult with a tax or benefits professional familiar with your unique situation and benefits before accepting payments through this program. It is your responsibility to report all income to the IRS on required tax forms.

"Is ____ an eligible healthcare need?"

Yes, so long as it is not for surgery, HRT, permanent hair removal services, free chest binders, and free femme shapewear garments. For those types of care, we require you to please apply through our respective programs. As a reminder, the Thrive Fund prioritizes purchases or services that happen one time or have clearly defined start and end dates, though you may still apply if you are seeking ongoing services.

"Can I apply if I'm not 18 years old?"

Yes. If you’re under 18, you will be required to list your parent or legal guardian as a support person on your application. Depending on the type of care or service you request, we may require additional information and/or consent from your guardian(s.) If that is the case, we will contact you to request signed documentation from your guardian(s.)  

"Can I apply if I live outside the United States?"

Due to our non-profit status, at this time, the Thrive Fund is limited to applicants who live in the United States. We hope to expand some or all coverage to serve people outside of the US in the future.

"When will I receive a response about my application?"

You will receive an email from an "@pointofpride.org" account in 4-12 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 within 4-12 weeks of the application cycle ending. Our non-profit is primarily volunteer-operated, so sometimes it can take longer as we process the high volume of applications. We appreciate your patience!

"Can I submit more than one application per period?"

We recognize so many of us have multiple, concurrent healthcare needs. However, we only accept one application for a single need per funding cycle.

If you are not selected for funding, you are welcome to apply again in the future. 2024 marks the first year of this pilot program, so please stay tuned for dates and any changes to the funding parameters of the program.

If you are selected for funding, you are welcome to apply again in the future but for a different healthcare need.

"I am a provider or retailer. Can I submit an application so I can provide services or goods for free to the community?"

Unfortunately, no. At this time, Point of Pride only awards financial assistance to individuals seeking aid for themselves.

Apply

Applications are currently closed. If you applied to the 2024 cycle, please stay tuned: reviews are underway and we will contact you regarding your application status in the coming weeks.

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