Lifeline Fund Guidelines

Downloadable application form at bottom of page.
Please read these Guidelines before downloading form.

General Overview

As the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation’s flagship program, The Lifeline Fund provides financial support to individuals who meet our eligibility guidelines. This funding helps to cover the myriad costs associated with transplants, such as donor searches, compatibility testing, bone marrow harvesting, medications, home and child care services, medical equipment, transportation, cord blood banking, and housing.
In order to be considered for this program, patients must be affiliated with a certified transplant center and must be on track to have a bone marrow, stem cell, or cord blood transplant or still be receiving post-transplant care. The original application should be submitted via postal mail only to the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation.

Lifeline Fund Guidelines

All sections of the application, including the nurse coordinator’s or social worker’s signature, must be completed before being considered for evaluation. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Social Worker/Nurse Coordinator

In order to understand the nature of the patient’s need and properly evaluate the application, please be as specific as possible when completing the application and consider all members of the household when completing the financial information. If necessary, feel free to attach an additional page for this information. It is not necessary to submit receipts or financial records.
The Psychosocial Summary section should describe additional factors beyond the financial information to be considered during the evaluation process (e.g. length of time unemployed, health concerns of another family member, other significant expenses, etc.). The Service Request section should explain the assistance requested, with specified amounts for each if possible (ex. $150 for gas, $325 for insurance premium, etc.).

Types of Assistance

Lifeline funding may be requested to cover costs associated with:

• donor search, testing and related expenses
• medical treatment
• health insurance premiums and co-pays
• medication and medical supplies
• home and day care
• transportation
• accommodations
• psychosocial support
• sperm banking/fertility
• cord blood banking
• legal fees
• living and housing expenses (ex. rent, utilities, groceries, etc.)
• caregiver expenses related to transplant

For questions about other expenses, contact the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation.

Evaluation and Decisions

All requests are acknowledged via email upon time of receipt to the patient as well as to the social worker or nurse indicated on the form. The social worker and patient will also be contacted once a decision has been reached.
As funding is limited for the Lifeline Fund, priority for grants is given to patients meeting eligibility guidelines and demonstrating the greatest financial need. Patients who are approved will receive a one-time grant.
Patients whose initial request is declined may reapply if there is a change in their socioeconomic status. Patients reapplying must complete a new application.

Disbursement of Funds

Patient funding will be disbursed within 4-6 weeks of receipt of the application. Funds will be disbursed only in the form of a check from the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation and made payable to the individual or entity listed on the application.
The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation reserves the right to deviate from these Guidelines on a case-by-case basis when special circumstances arise.