Jim Collins Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Jim Collins Foundation provides funding to individuals for gender transition surgeries and related hospital care.
IP TAKE: The Jim Collins Foundation is an important source of funding for trans people who seek life-affirming and life-saving gender transition surgery. Given that the need for transition care far outpaces coverage in the U.S., these grants are highly competitive. Successful applicants tend to be those that demonstrate financial need, transition preparedness and the ability to cover post-surgical care costs. This is an accessible funding source for trans people seeking surgical treatment.
PROFILE: Based in New York City, the Jim Collins Foundation was established in 2008 by Tony Ferraiolo and Dru Levasseur in memory of Jim Collins, a beloved social worker, teacher and transgender advocate. Filling a deep need in the gap left in transgender-related surgeries left by health insurance companies, the foundation’s purpose is to “to provide financial assistance to transgender people for gender-affirming surgeries.”
In addition to providing support to individual trans-gender people seeking gender transition treatments, the foundation advocates for “transgender civil rights, healthcare and community support.”
Grants for LGBTQ and Public Health
The Jim Collins Foundation’s grantmaking responds to the dearth of healthcare insurance coverage for life-affirming and life-saving gender transition surgeries and treatments. To this end, the Jim Collins Foundation offers two grant opportunities:
The Founders' Grant covers 100% of the surgical costs associated with a gender-affirming surgery.
The Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund covers 50% of the surgical costs associated with a gender-affirming surgery, the recipient provides the other 50% using their own financial resources.
To secure a grant here, read the foundation’s FAQ page that outlines application and essay requirements. While anyone over the age of 18 may apply for a grant, the foundation awards grants based on “demonstrated financial need and level of preparedness,”noting that emotional and social factors play significant roles in transitional success.
Funding covers “any surgery your doctor has deemed to be medically necessary as part of your gender transition,” but is limited to fees directly related to surgeries and/or treatments “that can be performed on a single surgery date” and related hospital stays.
Note that applicants must be “able to cover the costs associated with travel, lodging, medications, food, and post-surgical care.” Non-U.S. citizens may apply for grants, but all funded surgeries must be performing in the U.S. and its territories.
Important Grant Details:
In a recent year, the Jim Collins Foundation awarded six grants to individuals seeking gender transition surgeries in undisclosed amounts. The number of grants awarded each year depends upon the foundation’s annual fundraising.
Applicants may only apply once per grant cycle, and in their application, must choose to be considered for either the Founders' Grant or the Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund.
For additional information on past funded surgeries, see the foundation’s grant recipients page.
Any resident of the U.S. who is over the age of 18 and in need of gender transition surgery may apply for a grant at the Collins Foundation’s application portal.
The single annual grant cycle begins accepting applications in June with a deadline of August 15. Notification of grants is usually communicated by May 1 of the following year.
Because of the high number of applications it generally receives, the foundation is not able to notify those applicants who are not selected for grants but encourages all to reapply for the next cycle.
For additional information about the foundation and its grantmaking process, see its FAQ page or reach out via its contact page. Note that that 800 word limit for the personal essay is non negotiable.
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