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Highest level of Surrogate Medical Pre-Approval
Records reviewed by Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) prior to match
1–3 month
Average surrogate match time
$0 upfront
Before match confirmation
$149,500
Estimated cost
3 installments
Escrow payment schedule
Flexible Surrogacy Program
Standard Surrogacy Program:
Flexible Surrogacy With No Upfront Agency Cost
The Standard Surrogacy Program is a full-service surrogacy program for Intended Parents who already have or will provide embryos and prefer a flexible, pay-as-the-journey-progresses structure. With an estimated starting cost of $149,500, this surrogacy program requires no agency payment before a surrogate match is confirmed, and includes surrogate screening, matching, legal and insurance coordination, escrow management, and dedicated journey support through birth.
Every journey with Giving Tree Surrogacy is rooted in the same five principles: human care, one team from start to finish, rigorous screening, financial clarity, and clear guidance at every step. For Intended Parents who already have embryos — or plan to create them without using Giving Tree’s egg donor services — the Standard Surrogacy Program offers a lower-entry, pay-as-the-journey-progresses alternative to a fixed cost program.
You receive Giving Tree’s full-service screening, matching and journey coordination, while accepting that some expenses may vary depending on your surrogate, location, insurance and medical needs.
Is the Standard Surrogacy Program Right for You?
This program is designed for Intended Parents who need a gestational surrogate and prefer flexibility over a fully fixed cost structure.
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You already have embryos ready for transfer, or plan to create embryos without Giving Tree’s egg donor sourcing services.
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You prefer not to make an agency financial commitment before securing a surrogate match.
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You want Giving Tree’s 1-3 month average match time and full-service journey coordination.
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You are comfortable with a variable final cost because surrogate compensation, insurance, travel and medical expenses may differ by journey.
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You prefer a lower estimated starting cost and staged payments instead of paying for maximum cost certainty upfront.
Want maximum cost certainty?
Family Forward Guarantee™ may be a better fit if fixed pricing, unlimited free rematches and a Baby Guarantee are priorities.
Need an egg donor too?
The 3-Step Family Forward Concierge™ is designed for families who need both egg donation and a gestational surrogate.
Why Choose a Flexible Surrogacy Program?
The Real Value Is Flexibility Before You Commit
The Standard Surrogacy Program is built around a different financial philosophy than Family Forward Guarantee™. Instead of paying for a fixed cost protection package, you enter with no financial commitment before a match is confirmed, and fund the journey as milestones occur.
That structure can be attractive for families who already have funds available for variable expenses, want a lower estimated entry point, or simply prefer to pay as the journey progresses. The tradeoff is equally important to understand: your final cost is not fixed and can change based on the surrogate and the specific needs of the journey.
✔ Match First
No agency payment is due before you have secured a match with your preferred surrogate.
✔ Pay as Milestones Occur
Surrogacy-related escrow payments are broken into three installments rather than paid all at once.
✔ Lower Estimated Starting Cost
The program is currently presented at an estimated starting cost of $149,500.
✔ Full-Service Support
You still receive screening, matching, case management, legal coordination, insurance coordination and delivery support throughout the journey.
Flexibility is the benefit. Understanding the variables is the protection.
What Your Estimated $149,500 Journey Includes?
Surrogate Compensation & Benefits
The estimate includes surrogate fees and benefits, with final compensation varying by experience and individual match terms.
Non-Medical Screening
Giving Tree’s surrogate screening and related non-medical evaluation costs are included in the estimated program structure.
Legal Fees
Legal coordination and fees are included, with separate independent legal counsel for Intended Parents and the surrogate.
Trust / Escrow Costs
Trust and escrow management costs are included as part of the estimated journey structure.
Agency Services
Giving Tree’s agency fee, screening, matching, communication and dedicated journey coordination are included.
Surrogate Maternity Insurance
Surrogate maternity insurance is included in the estimated cost, though options and costs can vary by location.
Important Disclaimer
All marketing materials are for informational purposes and per pregnancy only. Final program terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions, are governed exclusively by your signed agreement with Giving Tree Surrogacy.
Transparency
What Can Increase the Final Cost?
The Standard Program is intentionally not a fixed cost program. The estimated $149,500 is a planning figure, not a guarantee of the final amount. The following variables can change what your journey ultimately costs.
✔ Surrogate Experience: An experienced surrogate generally receives higher base compensation than a first-time surrogate.
✔ Insurance Variability: Maternity insurance options and costs can change by state, carrier and individual circumstances.
✔ Additional Embryo Transfers: Transfers beyond what is initially anticipated may create additional clinic and journey expenses.
✔ Newborn Medical Expenses: Newborn care and related medical expenses are not part of the base journey estimate.
✔ Surrogate Location: Travel, local monitoring and other location-dependent expenses may vary based on where the surrogate lives.
✔ Additional Medical Needs: Extra medical, surrogate-related, or IVF-related services can increase the total cost.
✔ Elective Add-Ons: Optional services such as breast milk shipment and other Intended Parent-requested additions are outside the base estimate.
✔ Other Negotiated Expenses: Additional surrogate expenses negotiated for an individual journey may affect the final total.
Why Match-First Reduces Upfront Financial Commitment
A Surrogacy Program With No Upfront Agency Cost
The strongest financial feature of the Standard Program happens before the journey is funded: Intended Parents do not pay Giving Tree until they have secured a match with their preferred surrogate. That means you can enter the matching process without making an upfront agency commitment before a specific surrogate relationship exists.
Match first. Fund the journey after a surrogate connection is confirmed.
Matching
A Faster Match Still Starts With the Right Fit
Giving Tree reports a 1-3 month average surrogate match time. Speed matters, but matching is not simply about presenting the first available candidate. Giving Tree’s HEART approach considers medical readiness, expectations, communication style and personal alignment so both sides begin with a stronger foundation.
Very Low Risk of Match Delays
Advanced medical pre-approval of surrogates
1–3 month
Average surrogate match time
99%
Match meeting success
90%
Medically cleared after screening
95%
Pre-approved by IVF clinics
Highest Level of Medically Pre-Screened Candidates
Giving Tree takes an extra step and each surrogate is medically evaluated and approved by Maternal Fetal Medicine, the highest OB review available, before a profile is created forIntended Parents.
Independent Medical Clearance
After matching, the surrogate completes formal medical screening through the IVF clinic before legal and transfer milestones proceed.
Structured Compatibility
Matching considers more than availability, including expectations and relationship fit.
Dedicated Match Support
Giving Tree coordinates profiles, meetings, communication and next steps so Intended Parents do not manage the process alone.
Comprehensive Care
Full-Service Support From Match Through Birth
The Standard Program retains Giving Tree’s full-service infrastructure: surrogate screening, IVF-clinic communication, legal coordination, insurance guidance, escrow coordination, journey management and delivery support. The difference is the financial structure — not the level of service from the agency.
Legal & Family Structure
Independent Legal Protection for Both Sides
Giving Tree works with a national network of independent attorneys experienced in Assisted Reproductive Technology law. Intended Parents have separate legal counsel from their surrogate, helping preserve independence while the agency coordinates the legal milestones of the journey.
Gestational Surrogacy Agreement
Independent attorneys negotiate and finalize the agreement governing compensation, responsibilities, medical expectations and journey terms.
Parentage Proceedings
Legal teams coordinate the parentage process appropriate to the state and family structure so parental rights are properly established.
Surrogacy-Friendly Jurisdictions
Giving Tree helps coordinate journeys in U.S. jurisdictions with established surrogacy frameworks and parentage procedures.
International Families
For Intended Parents living abroad, U.S. birth, documentation, travel and home-country recognition can require additional planning.
Why Giving Tree?
A Flexible Program Still Depends on a Strong Team
Choosing the Standard Program means accepting more cost variability, so the quality of screening, coordination and communication matters even more. Giving Tree combines the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go journey with the same agency infrastructure used across its surrogacy programs.
1000+
families supported
98%
Success within 3 transfers
300+
Clinic relationships
4.9★
Google rating
Rigorous Screening
Giving Tree reports that only a small percentage of applicants enter its qualified surrogate pool after screening.
Experienced Coordination
A dedicated team manages communication among the surrogate, clinic, attorneys, insurance professionals and escrow.
HEART Matching
The matching process is designed around alignment and expectations, not only candidate availability.
Multilingual Support
Giving Tree supports families in English, Spanish and Mandarin and works with Intended Parents in the U.S. and internationally.
Financial Planning
Surrogacy Payment Plans:
You Do Not Pay the Full Cost at Once
After matching, Giving Tree sets out a surrogacy payment plan so Intended Parents can fund the journey in stages rather than all at once. Surrogacy-related escrow payments are divided into three installments, and many surrogate expenses are not incurred until pregnancy is confirmed.
Before Match
$0 agency financial commitment before you confirm your preferred surrogate match.
After Match
Funding begins according to the payment schedule and escrow requirements for the specific journey.
Three Escrow Installments
The current program page states that escrow funding is broken into three installments.
Pregnancy-Dependent Expenses
Many surrogate expenses occur later in the journey, after pregnancy confirmation.
Choosing The Right Program
Standard vs. Family Forward Guarantee™
Both programs are for Intended Parents who already have — or will provide — embryos. The difference is primarily how much financial certainty you want before the journey begins.
Standard Surrogacy Program | Family Forward Guarantee™ |
|---|---|
$149,500 estimated starting cost | $180,000 fixed program cost |
$0 before match confirmation | Fixed-cost structure from program entry |
Final cost may vary | Included program costs are defined upfront |
1-3 month average match time | 1-3 month average match time |
No Baby Guarantee | Agency-fee Baby Guarantee* |
Rematch fees/terms may vary | Unlimited free surrogate rematches* |
Best for flexibility and lower entry point | Best for maximum cost predictability |
* Baby Guarantee refers to an agency-fee refund, not a refund of the full program fee.
Choose based on how you want to manage uncertainty — not simply the lowest published price.
Standard Surrogacy Program FAQs
Common Questions
More FAQs
Questions That Help Families Choose
