Directed donation
Known-donor & directed agencies
The other way to donate: instead of a recurring bank wage, intended parents pay a per-cycle fee — $5,000 to about $100,000 — to be matched to you directly. These 11 agencies work nationwide. Every figure is verified from the agency's own pages.
| Agency | Compensation | Pays | Age / Height | Based | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growing Generations | $10,000 | Intended parents pay | 21–38.5 5'10" | Nationwide | |
| My Baby Donor Agency | $10,000–20,000 | Intended parents pay | 18–30 No height min | Pasadena, CA | |
| Elevate Baby | $6,000+ | Intended parents pay | 19–38 5'10" | Nationwide | |
| New Grace Fertility | $6,000–20,000 | Intended parents pay | 19–38 No height min | Nationwide | |
| The Seed Scout | $5,000 | Client pays directly | 24+ No height min | Nationwide | |
| Ivy Surrogacy | $5,000–50,000 | Intended parents pay | 18–39 5'9" | Nationwide | |
| GSHC Surrogacy | $5,000–20,000 | Intended parents pay | 21–35 No height min | Nationwide | |
| Coast to Coast | $5,000–10,000 | Intended parents pay (escrow) | 21–38 No height min | Nationwide | |
| Elite Donor Solutions | $5,000–50,000 | Intended parents pay | 21–38 No height min | Nationwide | |
| Sperm Bank of New York | $5,000–10,000 | Intended parents pay (escrow) | 21–38 5'10" | Nationwide | |
| The Genesis Group | Donor-set | Intended parents pay | 21–35 No height min | Nationwide |
Compensation is per cycle (or per family), not a monthly wage — it isn't directly comparable to bank pay. Looking for a walk-in bank instead? See the sperm-bank directory →
Paid per cycle, by the family
A lump sum set by the arrangement and paid through escrow after FDA clearance — trait-priced by education, height, appearance, and proven-donor status.
Matched to one family
You're selected by specific intended parents, usually for one family or a capped few — not anonymous samples sold to many.
Known or identity-release
A personalized legal contract with independent attorneys. This is also the practical route for gay and MSM donors — Seed Scout and MySpermBank welcome them explicitly.
Frequently asked
What is a known or directed sperm donor?
Instead of donating anonymously to a bank that sells your samples to many families, a directed / known-donor agency matches you to a specific intended parent or couple. The recipients know who you are (identity-release or fully known), a personalized legal contract defines everyone's rights, and you're paid a per-cycle fee by the family rather than a recurring bank wage.
How much do known donors earn?
Compensation is per cycle and set by the arrangement, typically $5,000 to $50,000, and up to about $100,000 across multiple families at the top agencies. It's trait-priced: education (especially Ivy League), height, appearance, ethnicity, and a proven donation record raise the figure. Intended parents pay it, usually through escrow and released after the donation clears FDA testing.
Can gay or bisexual men be known donors?
Yes. The FDA's anonymous-bank deferral for men who have sex with men does not bind directed / known donation, where the recipient knowingly accepts the donor. The Seed Scout and MySpermBank welcome gay and bisexual donors explicitly; several other agencies are silent (worth confirming per agency).
How is this different from a sperm bank?
A bank pays a recurring wage over a 6–12 month commitment, part deferred into escrow, with your samples used by many families. A directed agency pays a larger per-cycle lump sum, usually for one family (or a capped few), on a known / identity-release basis. Neither is universally 'more' — banks are steadier and location-based; directed donation pays more per cycle but depends on being selected by a family.