When is the deadline to submit applications?
Our current grant submission deadline is August 15th at 11:59 PM EDT. If you open the application at 11:58 PM EDT and try to submit after the 11:59 PM EDT deadline, the system will not accept it.
How many people receive a grant per cycle?
The number of grants awarded per cycle is dependent upon our success in fundraising. To become involved with our fundraising efforts, you can donate directly or contact us for more information.
How many grant cycles per year?
Currently, Jim Collins Foundation has one grant cycle per year.
Do I have to be a US Citizen to apply for a grant?
No, you do not have to be a US Citizen, but eligibility for JCF grants is limited to United States residents, broadly defined as persons who live in a state, the District of Columbia, an insular area (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands), or any U.S. possession or installation.
How do I know if I am eligible to apply for a grant?
You are eligible to apply for a grant if you fulfill the following criteria:
- You are at least 18 years of age at the end of the grant application cycle, August 15th of each year.
- You are able to have the gender-affirming surgery you are applying for within one calendar year of being awarded a grant.
- You are able to cover the costs associated with travel, lodging, medications, food, and post-surgical care. JCF grants cover the surgical fees associated with a gender-affirming surgery which includes the surgeon, anesthesia and hospital fees.
- You do not have health insurance, or health insurance that covers gender-affirming surgeries.
- You are financially unable to access surgery without the assistance of a grant.
Can I only apply for certain surgeries?
As stated in our Application Process online, transition is not one-size-fits-all. Not every transgender person has a medical need for identical procedures. Clinically appropriate treatments must be determined on an individualized basis with one’s physician. You may apply for a grant for any surgery your doctor has deemed to be medically necessary as part of your gender transition, but you may only apply for one surgery per grant cycle. For surgeries that consist of multiple procedures (e.g., facial feminization surgery), the grant covers only those procedures that can be performed on a single surgery date.
Do I have to have my surgery performed in the U.S.?
Due to our nonprofit status, all surgeries must be performed in the U.S.
Who decides how the grants are awarded?
The Jim Collins Foundation makes selections for grants based on eligibility criteria, and written statements that cover demonstrated financial need and level of preparedness. For more information on the eligibility criteria, please look at the question that covers this topic above.
Will I be notified if I do not receive a grant?
Grant finalists will receive notification from the Jim Collins Foundation. Due to time constraints by our all-volunteer staff, we are not able to notify individuals who have not been selected. If you do not hear from us by the end of May, your grant has not been chosen for the cycle you have applied. However, if you are still in need of financial assistance, we urge you to apply for the next grant cycle which opens on June 1st of each year.
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Do I have to keep the essay to 800 words?
Yes, your essay MUST be 800 words or less. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we MUST limit each essay to this amount.
How do I know if you received my information?
After submitting your application, you will be redirected to a confirmation page.
Do I need to be at least 18 years old when I submit my application?
No. You need to be at least 18 years old by the end of the grant application period, which is August 15th.