Help With Finances
Congratulations! You have decided to pursue adoption. For many families the cost of adoption might seem as if it will prevent the option. However, there are great resources available to you. The following information is provided to assist you with the financial concerns of the adoption process.
Employer Benefits and Adoption-Friendly Workplaces
Many companies provide adoption benefits to employees. Contact your human resources department to determine whether adoption benefits are available from your employer. If your employer does not provide adoption benefits consider using the free toolkit provided by The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/Free-Adoption-Resources/Adoption-Benefits/) to encourage your employer of adding adoption benefits. This will assist other families in realizing the dream of adoption. In addition, your company will be viewed as a family-friendly company. Your advocacy can make the difference in your adoption and the adoption of other families. Review the list of adoption-friendly workplaces. (http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/what-we-do/adoption-friendly-workplace/2012-best-adoption-friendly-workplaces/)
Fundraisers
Creative opportunities exist for affording your adoption. Consider using your talents and the talents of your friends and family to assist you in funds for your adoption. The following are ideas however with your creativity the possibilities are endless. Enlist the support of family and friends and organize a fundraiser. Generate ideas together that include: a carwash, neighborhood clean-up, window washing, snow shoveling, etc. to raise funds. Encourage donations rather than a specified amount. This will provide the best opportunity of raising funds. Start a blog asking for donations through paypal or another trusted source, organize a 5k race with registration proceeds donated to your adoption, Use social media and networking sites to invite family and friends to a special event. Charge an entrance fee for the event. For example host a carnival, 5K race, or a special chocolate and h’ors doevres party. The event can also include a silent auction with donations from businesses, family, and friends.
Host an adoption yard sale. Encourage family and friends to donate items for the sale. The sale will help in advertising to your neighborhood your desire to adopt, advertise in newspapers fliers, and other websites. Not only does this encourage support of the yard sale but it allows others to know of your desire to adopt. The price tags for the items can include your adoption pass-along cards (http://www.adoptionpassalongcards.com/) to assist in letting others know of your desire to adopt.
Host a bake sale. Invite friends and family to donate baked goods. Encourage bakeries and other businesses to donate items. The sale will help in advertising to your neighborhood your desire to adopt, advertise in newspapers fliers, and other websites. Not only does this encourage support of the yard sale but it allows others to know of your desire to adopt. The price tags for the items can include your adoption pass-along cards (http://www.adoptionpassalongcards.com/) to assist in letting others know of your desire to adopt.
Sell items on Ebay (http://www.therhouse.com/how-to-sell-on-ebay-for-beginners/)
http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/howtosell/emihill.html
Host a party. You may already know someone who is an independent consultant for businesses such as Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, etc. You can also contact service industry businesses such as Pappa Murphy Pizza, for fundraising opportunities.
One Hundred Good Wishes (http://www.onehundredgoodwishes.com/) is an organization that helps families collect donations from family and friends. Families with an approved homestudy may then set up a free One Hundred Good Wishes page to raise financial support for adoption. Those who visit the page can leave a good wish message and make a donation directly to a PayPal account.
Adoption Grants
Several opportunities are available for adoption grants.
Affording Adoption Foundation http://www.affordingadoption.com/
A Child Waits Foundation http://www.achildwaits.org/grantloan-program.html
Gift of Adoption Fund a national charitable organization that inspires adoption by providing grants to qualified parents – giving children who need families a permanent home and a chance to thrive. http://www.giftofadoption.org/
God’s Grace Adoption (http://ggam.org/) is a no-profit organization dedicated to helping place children who are orphans into Christian families. God’s Grace works in cooperation with an adoption agency to assist with the family’s financial needs.
HelpUsAdopt.org is a national non-profit financial assistance grant program providing qualified couples and individuals with grants toward domestic, international, foster, or special needs adoption expenses. Grants are awarded twice a year in June and December for families that demonstrate financial need.
The National Adoption Foundation (http://fundyouradoption.org/adoption-grants/) offers grants that are open to all legal adoptions including public or private agency adoptions, international, special needs or attorney facilitated adoptions. There is no financial need requirement.
Resources4Adoption (http://www.resources4adoption.com/) is a website organized by an adoptive parent who decided to share her research and knowledge of grants, loans, and other adoption information. The goal of this website is to maintain current adoption information.
Show Hope (www.showhope.org) – They award financial grants to qualifies families already in the process of domestic and international adoption. Grant applications must be submitted on-line. P.O. Box 647, Franklin TN 37065, 615-550-5600.
North American Council on Adoptable Children – www.nacac.org , 800-470-6665. They provide adoption financial assistance information by state.
The Orphan Foundation – www.TheOrphanFoundation.org 877-41-orphan. They provide grants of $1,000 for each child adopted, and $1,500 for each “special needs” adoption.
World Association for Children and Parents – www.wacap.org 206-575-4554. They have set up special funds and programs to help parents cover the costs of certain adoption.
African-American Infant Revolving Loan Fund
Promise Child Fund – children may be waiting because of age, medical conditions or part of a sibling group.
All Together Now Grants – For families who adopt a group of three or more siblings from Washington State Foster care.
Brittany’s Hope Foundation – www.brittanyshope.org 1160 N. Market St., Elizabethtown PA 17022, 717-367-9614, Grants for adoption expenses for international waiting or special needs children.
Grant Me a Chance
Oxford Adoption Foundation, Inc. – www.oxfordadoption.com , 4309 Crayton Rd., Naples, FL 34103, 239-430-6240. Low interest loans for families adopting internationally.
Child Welfare Information Gateway – www.childwelfare.gov ,1250 Maryland Ave., SW. Eighth Floor, Washington, DC 20024 800-394-3366.
Site links to adoption financing information.
Caroline’s Promise
info@carolinespromise4u.org, 1950 Beeson Rd., Kernersville NC 27284, 336-993-9046. Provides grants to Christian Couples living in North Carolina.
China Care Foundation – www.chinacare.org or info@chinacare.org, PO Box 607, Westport, CT 06881, 203-227-3655. They provide grants and/or low-interest loans for families who qualify by adopting special needs or older children.
Hadassah’s Hope – customerservice@hadassahshope.org 20472 Crescent Bay, Suite 100, Lake Forest CA 92630. Strive to help families with the financial burdens of adopting internationally.
Hebrew Free Loan – www.hflasf.org or info@hflasf.org, 131 Stewart Street, Suite 425, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-546-9902. Providing interest free loans for adopting families in Northern California.
I CARE Foundation – info@inticare.org , PO Box 19020, Baltimore MD 21284, 800-513-9896. Provides grants for international adoptions.
International Adoption Resources – www.theiar.org , 1080 Boranda Ave., Mountain View CA 94040, 650-969-1819. International adoption grants.
Lifesong for Orphans – www.lifesongfororphans.org or info@lifesongfororphans.org , PO Box 40, 202 North Ford Street, Gridley, IL 61744, 309-747-3556. Christian organization provides matching grants and interest free ‘covenant’ loans to adopting families.
National Council for Adoption – www.adoptioncouncil.org , 888-628-7700. They have established an adoption loan program with Bank of America.
Northwest Airlines Special Delivery – www.nwa.com/features/adopt.shtml , Providing significant fare discounts for international adoptions.
Promise the Children
Government Subsidies
The government provides adoption tax credit to families adopting children. Subsidies vary by state and may not be available in all states. The federal tax credit is also available. Contact your tax adviser.
Adoption Loans and Financial Institutions
Several financial institutions offer low interest loans to assist with the cost of adoption expenses. Contact your bank or credit union to find out options available or speak to a financial adviser to develop a plan.
ABBA Fund http://www.abbafund.org/how-we-help/loans/ provides interest-free loans for Christian couples currently in the adoption process.
A Child Waits Foundation http://www.achildwaits.org/ provides low interest adoption loan for families who have exhausted other financial options and cannot proceed without additional help. For international adoption only.
Deseret First Credit Union provides an Adoption Option Loan with low interest. https://www.dfcu.com/membership/adoption-option.aspx
Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc provides financial assistance to adoptive parents via interst-free loans and grants. The repaid loan is used to assist other families. http://www.heartofadoptionsalliance.com/
Oxford Adoption Foundation http://www.oxfordadoption.com/application.htm provides low interest loans to assist families with international adoption.
*Forever Bound Adoption has no relationship with these organizations. We just provide this list as a resource for families. There are many more adoption financing resources.