About the Chicago Coalition for Family Building and Dr. Kevin J. Lederer

Application Update

Due to COVID-19, as of March 30, 2020, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has recommended avoiding new infertility treatments unless it is an emergency and delaying embryo transfers when possible. Out of respect for these guidelines, we will be delaying the April 2020 Family Building Grant. Please check back on June 15, 2020 for an update.


The Chicago Coalition for Family Building, previously the Kevin J. Lederer Life Foundation, was founded in 2013 with the goal of removing the financial barriers facing those in need of fertility treatment.

Dr. Kevin J. Lederer dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in women’s health and reproductive medicine. He understood the overwhelming emotional and financial burdens of fertility treatments. His passion was to assist patients overcome the hurdles of infertility and achieve their dreams of building a family.

After he passed away in 2013, his colleagues took his vision to the next level by founding an organization to support those struggling with infertility, no matter the cause.

At the Chicago Coalition for Family Building, we believe that everyone who wants to start a family deserves to. Our mission is to remove financial barriers that prevent creation of a family. As we work toward this goal, we take action to financially and emotionally support those struggling with infertility:

We provide fully funded IVF cycles generously donated by our Partner Practices

We provide financial grants for surrogacy and adoption

We promote LGBTQ+ family building

We provide pre-implantation genetic testing to prevent the transmission of BRCA, Huntington’s, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell, and more

We are an educational resource for those with questions about infertility and coverage

Our team of professionals provide emotional support for patients and their families.

How to Apply

Those interested in applying for a Magnolia Tree Foundation grant should send an email to grants@coalitionforfamilybuilding.org to request an application. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Coalition for Family Building Medical Advisory Board and Executive Board. All grants are to be used only towards future cost/services and cannot be used retroactively. The number of grants will vary each year and are contingent upon fundraising donations.

About Dr. Kevin J. Lederer

Dr. Lederer joined Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) in 1995 and served as the President and Managing Partner of Fertility Centers of Illinois until he passed away in January 2013 at age 55. 

He completed his residency at New York Medical College and a prestigious fellowship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey.

He published numerous articles and was a scientific reviewer for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine National Meeting.

Dr. Lederer dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in women’s health and reproductive medicine, and he left an indelible impression on the countless lives that he has touched. As President and Managing Partner of FCI, he collaborated with his colleagues to establish a patient-centered standard of quality care.

He intimately understood the overwhelming emotional and financial burdens of fertility treatments. He offered compassionate, individualized care and focused on providing the most cost effective treatments available. His passion was to assist patients overcome the hurdles of infertility and achieve their dreams of building a family.

“There is no amount of money that could repay Dr. Lederer for all he has done for me. I am so grateful to him for my two boys, now ages 6 and 9. Dr. Lederer gave me hope when there was no hope. He also gave the best hugs. I am eternally grateful to him.”