Pittsburgh Community
Fertility support and grants in Pittsburgh
Find financial assistance, compassionate guidance, peer support, and local resources for every step of your family-building journey.
Serving Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Westmoreland Counties.
How can we help?
Find the support, resources, or opportunities you’re looking for.
- Local support groups and events
- Fertility Buddies®
- One-on-one guidance
- Grants toward IVF & IUI
- Interest-free loans
- Discounts at partner clinics
Your Pittsburgh Program Manager can help you understand your options and figure out the next step.
Donate locally, volunteer, or become a Fertility Buddies®︎ veteran for someone in need.
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Tamar Poupko Smith
Program Director
With over 20 years of experience in Jewish nonprofits, Tamar brings compassion, sensitivity, and a deep commitment to helping individuals feel supported on their family-building journeys.
Tamar will listen to your story and walk you through every option — grants, groups, Fertility Buddies®, and more.
Tamar Poupko Smith
Program Director (Cleveland, Pittsburgh)
Tamar Poupko Smith grew up in Montreal, Canada, and after living in Israel, New York, Baltimore, and Cincinnati, is proud to call Cleveland home. She has a B.A. from Yeshiva University and has spent over twenty years in the Jewish non-profit world, in both professional and lay positions.
Tamar joined JFF after serving on the JFF Cleveland advisory council. She enjoys connecting with and supporting individuals in both Cleveland and Pittsburgh on their family-building journeys with compassion and sensitivity. Tamar’s parents and four siblings have all dedicated themselves, professionally, to the Jewish community, and they continue to inspire her to serve and better our communities and the Jewish people.
Tamar is active in several local non-profits, including Fuchs Mizrachi School, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and the Community Beit Midrash. Tamar enjoys spending time with her husband Elliot, their four children and granddaughter, and their goldendoodle Leo.
Meet Your Pittsburgh Program Manager
Not sure where to begin? Your Program Manager can help you understand your options and find the right next step.
Contact Program Manager
Emotional & Community Support
Infertility can feel isolating, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
Support Groups
Therapist-facilitated groups for primary and secondary infertility, with in-person options and virtual sessions on Zoom. Registration required at least 24 hours in advance.
Fertility Buddies®
One-on-one, relationship-based support. Get matched with a trained fertility veteran who’s been where you are — or become a buddy and support someone else.
Local Therapists
Looking for more individualized support? Explore local therapists who work with infertility, fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, and other family-building challenges.
Support, resources, and updates—delivered to your inbox
Pittsburgh Support Groups & Events
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Wed, Nov 18 • 7:00–8:15 PM EST
Pittsburgh Infertility Support Group for Women
Free, virtual support for women experiencing infertility or on family-building journeys
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Wed, Dec 16 • 7:00–8:15 PM EST
Pittsburgh Infertility Support Group for Women
Free, virtual support for women experiencing infertility or on family-building journeys
National Support Groups & Events
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Mon, Nov 16 • 8:00–9:15 PM EST
Pregnancy After Infertility Support Group
Free, virtual support for anyone currently pregnant after facing infertility
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Tue, Nov 17 • 7:00–8:15 PM PST
Pacific Time Infertility Support Group for Women
Free support for women facing infertility or family-building. Scheduled on West Coast time, but all are welcome.
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Wed, Nov 18 • 8:00–9:15 PM EST
Secondary Infertility Support Group for Women
Free, virtual support for women experiencing secondary infertility
Financial assistance
Real financial help for Pittsburgh families
If you live in our service area and receive treatment at a partner clinic, you may be eligible for:
- IVF & IUI grants — direct funding toward in-vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination
- Most clinics offer discounts or matching grants from 10 to to 25%
- Interest-free loans
- Medication & testing discounts
Talk to your Program Manager (Recommended)
Your Program Manager can help you understand your options, make sure you’re taking the right steps, and point you toward the resources that fit your situation.
Apply before treatment begins
Applications must be submitted before treatment starts or is paid for. Grant decisions generally take 4–6 weeks — reach out early!
Quick eligibility check
- You live in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, or Westmoreland County.
- You’re receiving (or planning) treatment at a JFF partner clinic.
- You haven’t started or paid for this treatment cycle yet.
Local Partner Clinics
To apply for a JFF grant, you must be working with one of our participating clinics.
Many participating clinics also offer JFF grantees a discount or matching funds of 10–25%. These benefits vary by clinic and are typically available to self-pay patients. They usually can’t be combined with insurance or other discounts. Ask your clinic directly about eligibility and details.
Local Therapists
JFF shares this list as a resource only. Inclusion does not imply endorsement or guarantee of care — please research and choose the therapist who feels right for you. JFF is not responsible for services or experiences with providers listed.
Meet the Team
The people behind JFF Pittsburgh
A dedicated local team — many of whom walked this path themselves.
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Sharon Cooper
Sharon Cooper
Sharon Cooper is originally from the Washington, DC area and moved to Pittsburgh with her family in 2011. She and her husband struggled with secondary infertility issues and are so grateful to have two IVF babies in their family of 5 today – including three boys, her husband Jason and herself. Sharon works for the International Ocean Discovery Program and is a children’s book author.
WHY JFF?
Sharon understands (at least some) of the emotional and physical challenges of infertility and is eager to help support others on their journeys and feel less alone. -
Erika Schmitt
Erika Schmitt
Erika Schmitt, MSW, LSW, is Director of Adoption & Permanency Services at The Children’s Home & Lemieux Family Center. As such, Erika oversees programs for domestic infant adoption, adoption from foster care, SWAN (Pennsylvania’s Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network), and Counseling services, including counseling for couples and individuals experiencing infertility, and using assisted reproductive technology, third party reproduction and surrogacy. Erika received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in social work, both from the University of Pittsburgh. She is passionate about helping individuals and couples grow their families and become parents, through whatever means is best for them. Erika was born and raised in a suburb of Pittsburgh and has never left the area! Erika is also a single mom by choice and parenting a daughter.
Why JFF?
Erika has both personal and professional experience in the infertility realm. From both perspectives, Erika has witnessed the financial and emotional challenges that accompany the infertility journey. Support during this process is crucial and when Erika learned of JFF’s ability to help in both of these areas, as well as raise awareness and give a voice to a topic not often discussed, she immediately knew she wanted to see the Pittsburgh community be able to benefit from these services. After heading the initial exploratory committee, Erika is beyond excited to see JFF in Pittsburgh and to continue to serve the organization as the Pittsburgh Advisory Committee chair. -
Tamar Poupko Smith
Tamar Poupko Smith
Program Director (Cleveland, Pittsburgh)
Tamar Poupko Smith grew up in Montreal, Canada, and after living in Israel, New York, Baltimore, and Cincinnati, is proud to call Cleveland home. She has a B.A. from Yeshiva University and has spent over twenty years in the Jewish non-profit world, in both professional and lay positions.
Tamar joined JFF after serving on the JFF Cleveland advisory council. She enjoys connecting with and supporting individuals in both Cleveland and Pittsburgh on their family-building journeys with compassion and sensitivity. Tamar’s parents and four siblings have all dedicated themselves, professionally, to the Jewish community, and they continue to inspire her to serve and better our communities and the Jewish people.
Tamar is active in several local non-profits, including Fuchs Mizrachi School, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and the Community Beit Midrash. Tamar enjoys spending time with her husband Elliot, their four children and granddaughter, and their goldendoodle Leo.
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