Thrive Fund Applications Open for Trans People Who Need Help Beyond Healthcare

This month, trans people in need of gender-affirming and wellness services are invited to apply to Point of Pride’s Thrive Fund, open from now until August 31st.

The fund, which launched in 2024, can be used for expenses that fall outside of Point of Pride’s existing healthcare focused funds. Such expenses may include legal fees for name and gender marker changes, fertility preservation, medical tattooing and vocal therapy. Applicants may request up to $2,500 at a time.

The Thrive Fund has awarded $116,000+ to 104 recipients since the program began in June 2024.

For many trans people, gender transition encompasses far more than hormone replacement therapy or surgeries. Yet the costs of transition can add up. The Institute for Research on Poverty found that 29.4% of trans people experience poverty, making many of these non-medical transition needs difficult to afford or access at all.

For example, a trans person who is interested in fertility preservation may pay up to $15,000 to freeze eggs or $1,000 to freeze sperm. Medical tattooing, which is often not covered by insurance, can cost anywhere from $300 to $3,000 depending on the size of the area that needs to be covered.

The Thrive Fund is one of the first funds of its kind, available from a national organization, to address these and other needs.

“We heard a real need from people in our community: Even when someone can afford certain aspects of gender-affirming healthcare, there are often other essential expenses that they are struggling to afford,” said Jeff Main, Executive Director of Point of Pride. “The Thrive Fund was designed to help people fill these gaps, bringing them one step closer to feeling comfortable in their bodies and in their communities.”