Happy Beginnings, LLC, which operates as Happy Beginnings Egg Donation & Surrogacy, is a for-profit third-party reproduction agency based in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Founded in 2005, it coordinates both gestational surrogacy and egg donation, and it is led by owner and managing director Jamie R. Smith, who is still identified as the agency's founder. It is a small operation, with a team of roughly five people handling matching and case coordination.
The agency describes itself as a full-service program, meaning it takes on the coordination work of a journey from matching through delivery, including the surrogacy and egg donation sides of third-party reproduction. It works with domestic intended parents as well as families based outside the United States, and its program is open to LGBTQ+ intended parents and to single people building families on their own. Surrogates apply through the agency's own screening criteria, which appear in the eligibility table further down this page alongside published program fees and compensation figures.
According to marketing materials on third-party directory profiles, the agency has been involved in the births of more than 3,500 babies over some twenty years of operation. It is affiliated with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, and the agency says it is listed as a provider with Men Having Babies Surrogacy Advisor. It has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2009 and currently holds an A+ rating; those details are summarized below.
Across published feedback, several surrogates and egg donors describe frequent contact with their coordinators and quick replies to questions, and a number of them returned to the agency for more than one journey.
AI summary of 15 reviews · can make mistakes
Reviews of Happy Beginnings are consistently positive, and none of them raise a recurring complaint. Reviewers often describe the staff as kind, caring and supportive, and many mention quick, reliable communication and feeling informed throughout. Several describe the process as smooth and low-stress, including people on the surrogate and egg donor sides.
15 reviews match these filters.
I had a wonderful experience with Happy Beginnings from start to finish. Everyone on the team was incredibly kind, helpful, and reliable throughout the entire process. They were always quick to answer questions, kept me informed every step of the way, and genuinely cared about making the experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. One of the best parts was working with the girls in the office. They are so pleasant, friendly, and easy to talk to. They always made me feel comfortable and supported, and it was obvious that they truly care about the people they work with. I highly recommend this agency to anyone considering surrogacy. Their professionalism, compassion, and dedication really set them apart, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)This company is Absolutely amazing! Everyone is so supportive of my journey. And you can truly see their hearts when it comes to helping someone set up for their surrogacy dreams!!
View on Google (opens in a new tab)The best!
View on Google (opens in a new tab)Wonderful sweet people!!!
View on Google (opens in a new tab)Google reviews are shown as written and link to the original. Forum, Yelp and Trustpilot entries are our short summaries of what was posted, linked to the source. Reviewer type is inferred from what each reviewer wrote.
Base compensation
Up to $75,000
Published by the agency. Benefits and allowances are usually on top of this.
Requirements change — confirm with the agency before applying.
See which agencies fit youHappy Beginnings Egg Donation & Surrogacy accepts gestational surrogates between 21 and 45 years old.
Yes. Happy Beginnings Egg Donation & Surrogacy requires surrogates to have had at least 1 prior pregnancy.
Yes. Happy Beginnings Egg Donation & Surrogacy requires surrogates to be raising at least one child of their own.
