For many Canadians, the road to parenthood is filled with hope, but it can also become a long, difficult, and costly story. Assisted reproduction often requires emotional stamina, medical courage, and financial resources most people never expect to need. IVF cycles, donor conception, fertility preservation, and surrogacy can be transformative, yet the out-of-pocket costs can be overwhelming.
Fertility Friends Foundation (FFF) was created to help change this reality.
FFF is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to providing fertility grants and support resources to people who dream of becoming parents but cannot afford the costs of treatment. These grants do not need to be repaid; rather, they are gifts of possibility, stability, and hope. FFF’s mission is anchored in one belief: no one should be denied the chance to build a family because of financial barriers.
As a fertility and family-building lawyer, I am honoured to serve on the Board of Directors for FFF. Every day, I see individuals and couples navigating the complex, emotional, and expensive realities of fertility care. Through FFF, I have the privilege of helping families move closer to the future they’ve imagined, one filled with hope, connection, and joy.
Recently, I shared this mission on CTV’s The Social, discussing how FFF supports Canadians and why equal access to fertility care matters now more than ever.
Watch my appearance: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/i-zbeSXI3lE
Fertility Friends Foundation’s Mandate and Impact
Financial Grants for Assisted Reproduction
FFF provides grants to help cover the costs of:
- IVF and fertility treatment
- egg donation
- sperm donation
- embryo donation
- fertility preservation
- eligible expenses related to altruistic surrogacy
These grants can be used at any licensed fertility clinic in Canada, making them accessible nationwide.
Support for a Diverse and Inclusive Community
The Fertility Friends Foundation proudly serves:
- couples experiencing infertility
- 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and couples
- single parents by choice
- people preserving fertility due to medical conditions
- Intended Parents building families through donation or surrogacy
Every family-building story is unique, and FFF honours that individuality with inclusivity and compassion.
Expanding Specialized Grant Programs
FFF offers several specialized grant streams, including:
The Standard Fertility Grant, available during regular intake periods https://fertilityfriendsfoundation.com/grant-application/
The Not My Tummy Surrogacy Grant, supporting Intended Parents pursuing surrogacy https://fertilityfriendsfoundation.com/not-my-tummy-surrogacy-grant/
The Dr. Shannon Corbett 2SLGBTQ+ Fertility Grant, supporting queer families https://fertilityfriendsfoundation.com/dr-shannon-corbett-2slgbtq-fertility-fund-2/
The Day 1 Grant, funded through FFF’s partnership with Day 1 Fertility https://fertilityfriendsfoundation.com/day-1-grant/
The Lucy of Anishinaabe Fertility Grant, supporting Indigenous applicants seeking fertility care https://fertilityfriendsfoundation.com/the-lucy-of-anishinaabe-grant/
Together, these programs reflect the Foundation’s commitment to equity, representation, and culturally sensitive support for underserved communities.
To date, Fertility Friends Foundation has awarded hundreds of thousands in grants to Canadians growing their families.
Why Fertility Friends Foundation Matters
While fertility care saves and shapes lives, it is not universally funded in Canada. Many provinces offer little to no support, leaving families to shoulder the full financial burden.
FFF addresses this gap by offering:
- practical relief through financial assistance
- emotional support during one of life’s most vulnerable moments
- educational resources via webinars, conference participation, social media and more
- greater access for marginalized and underserved communities, including Indigenous families
- a renewed sense of possibility for those who have already endured so much
A grant from FFF doesn’t erase the challenges, but it can fundamentally change the trajectory of someone’s story. It offers hope where there was uncertainty, and the chance for a long, difficult journey to finally move toward a much-longed-for happy ending.
Michelle Flowerday’s Role on the Fertility Friends Foundation Board
As a fertility lawyer in Canada, I serve on the Board of Directors, ensuring that Fertility Friends Foundation’s work is grounded in fairness, transparency, and compassion.
This includes:
- supporting ethical review of grant applications
- bringing legal insight into fertility treatment, donation, and surrogacy
- guiding policies that support diverse applicants
- contributing to outreach, fundraising, and public education
It is some of the most meaningful work I do. Families place extraordinary trust in organizations like FFF, and I am honoured to support them.
A National Conversation: Expanding Awareness Through The Social
My appearance on CTV’s The Social allowed me to help raise national awareness about:
- the financial realities of fertility care
- the work of Fertility Friends Foundation
- the diversity of families we serve
- the importance of inclusive, equitable access to assisted reproduction
These conversations help people understand that they are not alone and that support truly exists.
Helping Real Families Create Real Happy Endings
At the heart of FFF’s mission is a simple truth: we help people move closer to the family they have dreamed of but have struggled so hard to reach.
Every grant represents:
- a chance to begin treatment
- renewed energy after years of setbacks
- a step forward where none existed
- a story changing direction – in the best possible way
FFF does more than fund treatment. It helps create new beginnings, restore hope, and create more joyful endings for families across Canada.
Help Build Families Across Canada: Donate to Fertility Friends Foundation
Your generosity directly supports people longing to build their families. Every donation helps remove financial barriers and allows FFF to extend its reach, especially to applicants from underserved and marginalized communities.
By donating, you help:
- provide fertility grants
- support inclusive, diverse family-building
- offer hope to Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, and rural communities
- bring more long-awaited “happy endings” to life
Every contribution truly makes a difference.
Donate to Fertility Friends Foundation
Together, we can help build families and futures that are filled with joy.