Most IVF crowdfunding campaigns fail. Not because people aren’t generous—because the campaign is set up wrong. The couples who raise $8,000 or more do specific things differently from the ones who raise $300 and give up.
Here’s what actually works, plus the platform comparison and the tax rules nobody tells you about.
What People Actually Raise
The honest number: most IVF crowdfunding campaigns raise between $3,000 and $8,000, according to data from fertility community forums and platform case studies. A small number of campaigns—those with large social networks, compelling stories, and consistent follow-through—raise $15,000 or more. Many raise under $1,000.
That range matters because it sets realistic expectations. Crowdfunding probably won’t cover your entire $20,000 IVF cycle. But $5,000 toward it is still a meaningful contribution that might be the difference between trying and not trying.
Platform Comparison
| Platform | Platform Fee | Payment Processing | Fertility-Specific | Avg. Raise (IVF campaigns) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoFundMe | 0% | 2.9% + $0.30/transaction | No | $3,000–$6,000 |
| KeepHope | 0% | 2.9% per transaction | Yes | $4,000–$8,000 |
| IVF Lifelines | 5% | 2.9% per transaction | Yes | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Fundly | 0% | 2.9% + $0.30/transaction | No | $2,000–$4,000 |
GoFundMe: The Default Choice
GoFundMe charges no platform fee—the 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction goes to the payment processor (currently Stripe). For a $5,000 campaign, you’d net roughly $4,856 after fees.
GoFundMe has no restrictions on fertility fundraising. IVF campaigns are allowed, and medical campaigns consistently rank among the platform’s top categories. The network effect is real: GoFundMe’s 70 million+ users and built-in social sharing features can help campaigns reach people outside your immediate circle.
The downside: you’re one of millions of campaigns. There’s no fertility-specific discovery tool—your campaign lives and dies by your own sharing.
KeepHope: Fertility-Specific Platform
KeepHope (keephope.com) was built specifically for fertility crowdfunding. The platform provides:
- A fertility-focused community of donors who search for IVF campaigns specifically
- Story templates tailored to fertility journeys
- A “featured campaign” rotation that gives newer campaigns visibility
KeepHope’s community tends to produce slightly higher average raises than general platforms for comparable campaigns, partly because the donor pool actively wants to fund IVF. Someone browsing GoFundMe might pass on an IVF campaign; someone on KeepHope came specifically to find one.
No platform fee, but the 2.9% payment processing applies.
IVF Lifelines
IVF Lifelines is a smaller, newer platform with a 5% platform fee on top of payment processing. They offer some mentorship and coaching for campaign creators, which some patients find valuable—but the combined fee of about 8% is the highest of any platform reviewed here.
For most patients, the lower-fee options are preferable unless the coaching component is specifically valuable.
What Makes IVF Campaigns Raise More
This isn’t speculation—it’s based on patterns from campaigns that consistently outperform. These are the elements that matter:
1. A specific, honest story. Generic fertility pain (“we’ve been trying for years and it’s been so hard”) doesn’t convert. A specific story does: your diagnosis, your previous treatment attempts, why this cycle is your next step, and what it would mean to your family. Specificity creates connection.
2. A clear dollar goal with cost breakdown. Tell donors exactly what the money is for. “$22,000 for IVF cycle including medications, retrieval, and embryo transfer at [clinic name]” is far more compelling than a vague number. Include a breakdown in the campaign description.
3. A photo that shows your real faces. Campaigns with real, recent photos of both partners (or the solo parent) outperform those with stock images or no photos every time.
4. Regular updates. Campaigns that post updates—even brief ones—once per week while active raise more than dormant campaigns. Updates remind your network that the campaign is live and give people a reason to reshare.
5. Direct asks to specific people. Message your 20 closest friends and family personally before sharing publicly. Ask them to donate a specific amount and reshare. This seeding creates early momentum that signals credibility to strangers.
Tax Implications of Crowdfunded IVF Money
Here’s what surprises most people: crowdfunding proceeds for personal expenses—including medical costs—are generally not taxable income to the recipient.
The IRS treats crowdfunding donations as gifts. Under current IRS rules (2025), individuals can give up to $19,000 per year to any single recipient without any tax consequences to either party. Most individual campaign donors give far less than that. If no single donor gives you more than $19,000, neither you nor any donor owes gift tax.
The nuance: If you receive crowdfunding proceeds for a stated purpose (IVF) and don’t use them for that purpose, the IRS could potentially treat them differently. Use the funds for what you said you’d use them for.
For donors: Individual donors to your campaign do not receive a tax deduction. GoFundMe, KeepHope, and IVF Lifelines are not charitable organizations—donations are gifts, not charitable contributions. If a donor asks about this, be upfront about it.
Platform 1099-K reporting: GoFundMe and similar platforms are required to issue a 1099-K form if your total proceeds exceed $600 in a tax year (as of 2024 IRS rules). Receiving a 1099-K doesn’t automatically mean the money is taxable income—it just means the IRS knows about it. You’ll typically report it as non-taxable gifts on your return, but consult a tax professional if you receive one.
Combining Crowdfunding With Other Financing
Most patients who successfully crowdfund don’t use it as their sole source of IVF funding—they use it to close a gap. A common pattern:
- Employer benefits cover $15,000 of a $25,000 cycle
- Personal savings cover $4,000
- Crowdfunding raises $4,000–$6,000 to close the gap
- No loan needed
Or: a patient with no insurance coverage and limited savings uses a fertility loan for $15,000, a grant for $8,000, and a crowdfunding campaign for the remaining $5,000. The pieces add up.
One More Thing: Sharing Publicly Is Genuinely Hard
A lot of patients start an IVF crowdfunding campaign and then never share it because putting your fertility struggles on the internet feels too exposed. That’s a legitimate feeling. Before starting a campaign, be honest with yourself: are you willing to share your story publicly with acquaintances, coworkers, distant family?
If the answer is no, that’s okay—there are other financing paths. But if you’re willing to be open, crowdfunding can be a powerful complement to other funding sources. The patients who raise the most tend to be the ones who share most openly and ask most directly.