Becoming a surrogate is a chance to be part of something extraordinary — helping to bring someone’s child into the world while making a difference in your own family’s life. As a surrogate, you’ll be compensated during the whole journey in a way that can have a real financial impact, whether you're saving for your child's future, buying a house, or want to create breathing room in your day-to-day life.
At Promise Surrogacy, we have more than 30 years of experience supporting surrogates, and our team includes women who've been there themselves. As a full-service surrogacy agency, we understand what this journey asks of you, and we're with you every step of the way.
Apply NowA surrogate — also called a gestational carrier or gestational surrogate — is a woman who carries a baby for people (the intended parents) who are unable to have a baby on their own. Most surrogates are gestational surrogates, meaning the surrogate does not use her own eggs and doesn’t share any genetics with the baby.
Promise Surrogacy only works with gestational carriers — women who do not share biology with the baby they are carrying.
Surrogates receive a base pay and benefits for carrying someone’s baby, and they bring happiness and hope to those who want to become parents! They're also protected by a legal contract, which they sign along with the intended parents.
Surrogates are women who have children of their own and have had relatively easy pregnancies and births (they like being pregnant!). Many have finished building their families and want to help others have their own families.
Apply NowThere is so much information out there about becoming a gestational surrogate, but our highly specialized, collaborative team is the most qualified to offer authentic, accurate information for a successful and rewarding surrogacy journey.
Gestational surrogates have no biological connection to the baby they carry. Their DNA (eggs) is NOT used to create the embryos.
Surrogates are paid throughout the entirety of their journey (not at the end), and compensation starts even before they become pregnant.
Surrogates have a choice who they match with. All matches are mutual.
Surrogates DO need to give themselves injections as part of the IVF process. Most surrogates say these needles are no big deal!
Surrogates do not feel "attached" to the babies they carry and look forward to the moment when the intended parents get to hold their baby for the first time.
There’s no better place to embark on this journey than at Promise, where we have successfully helped surrogates expand families for over three decades. If you think being a surrogate is the right fit for you, fill out our surrogacy application to get started.
Throughout our years of experience helping families grow and providing comprehensive support to surrogates, we have seen women become surrogates for a variety of reasons, including:
Surrogates help intended parents who are unable to grow their families on their own. Our surrogates help intended parents from all ethnicities, locations, and sexual orientations. Some intended parents are single, others are coupled or married.
Surrogates may be matched with intended parents who live in the United States or internationally. As a surrogate, you have the opportunity to share with us your preferences for the types of intended parents you imagine helping.
The types of intended parents that surrogates help are:
Regardless of the parents’ situation, your willingness to help them bring a child into this world means everything to them.
Everyone’s goal in a surrogacy journey is a healthy baby, happy intended parents, and a proud surrogate! That's why women must meet a set of health, lifestyle, and legal requirements to become a gestational surrogate. All applicants must also complete a screening with a licensed mental health professional.
Our requirements for becoming a surrogate are based on guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and fertility clinic guidelines. In general, surrogates should:
This is a popular question among women who are considering being a surrogate. And rightly so! Gestational surrogacy is an emotional and physical journey, and you deserve to be compensated for it.
In general, average surrogate compensation can be up to $75,000+. This compensation includes a surrogate’s base pay — which is typically $45,000 — as well as the additional benefits she receives throughout the journey, like a life insurance plan and legal protection. A surrogate's base pay varies depending on a few factors, like the state she lives in and whether she’s an experienced gestational carrier.
Visit our surrogate pay and benefits pages to learn more.
Do you want to be a surrogate? Becoming a gestational surrogate is made up of many mini-milestones that all lead to the big moment: delivery day! It begins with a simple application, which upon approval leads to our screening process. At Promise, the screening process includes completing some paperwork in our surrogate portal, participating in a video interview with a licensed mental health professional, and completing a psychological assessment.
Once these steps are complete and you feel ready to move forward, you'll be ready to get matched with intended parents. We use our proprietary MatchMade™ process that takes your preferences into account so you feel confident and comfortable with the intended parents you're matched with.
The entire process, from completing the application through postpartum recovery, usually takes 14 to 20+ months, but factors like how quickly you’re matched with intended parents, how well your body responds to IVF medications, and the time needed to create and transfer the embryo can affect how long your journey will last. Regardless of the timeline of your surrogacy journey, we’ll be supporting you every step of the way.
Interested in learning more? Read this page for a full breakdown of the surrogacy process for surrogates.
Your journey as a surrogate is greatly shaped by the agency you choose. Surrogates trust us because 99.1% of our parents go home with a baby, and our team consists of passionate experts — many of whom have been where you are. We created our program with surrogates in mind: competitive compensation, guaranteed security, and unbeatable support.
Below are some common questions about becoming a surrogate. You can read our full list of FAQs about the general surrogacy process from intended parents here.
You may also complete an additional psychological evaluation as part of screening.
If surrogacy feels like the right path for you, we'd love to be part of your journey. As a surrogate with Promise, you don't just get to help someone else become a parent — you also get to build a stronger future for your own family. You'll be compensated throughout the process, supported by a team who truly understands the experience, and surrounded by a community of women who've been in your shoes.
Fill out our application to get started!
Apply Now
“After my cousin recovered from a serious illness, becoming a surrogate felt like a meaningful way to give back. Carrying twins challenged me in ways I did not expect, and supporting an international couple became one of the most rewarding chapters of my life. I am grateful every day that they became part of mine.”
Megan Foster
“I have watched many people navigate fertility challenges and felt called to help families reach parenthood. My surrogacy journeys have been among the most meaningful experiences of my life, and I am grateful to call my intended parents extended family.”
Olivia Grant
Promise Program Manager
“The matching process exceeded every expectation. My intended parents and I connected immediately, and seeing their joy when they met their daughter made the entire journey unforgettable. The Promise team supported us at every step.”
Jordan
“As a first-time surrogate, I could not have asked for a smoother experience. Promise matched me with parents whose values mirror my own, and we have stayed close long after delivery.”
Natalie
“From application through delivery, I always felt supported. Promise treated me like family, not a number. The matching process was thoughtful, and we welcomed a healthy baby girl together. I would recommend them without hesitation.”
Camille
“Promise Surrogacy supported me at every stage. I never felt alone in the process and always knew help was a phone call away.”
Brooke
“The matching team made this process feel organized and calm from the very beginning. Even before we met in person, I felt supported and informed. Meeting my intended parents and their son confirmed what a thoughtful match this was, and I am excited for the journey ahead.”
Claire
“This agency has been professional, responsive, and genuinely caring. Before, during, and after my journey I always knew answers and support were available when I needed them.”
Avery
