When I talk to most people, their number one roadblock to adoption is MONEY, and I am so thankful to be invited to share a second blog post about funding your adoption. You can read the first post with fundraiser ideas HERE.
After becoming more and more involved in the adoption community, I have seen family after family begin their adoption journey without the necessary funds. Then, through grants, fundraisers, extra jobs, and frugality, they have every penny they need to bring their children home. One woman wrote me and said:
“There was only one time we doubted [that we would have enough money] near the beginning. We had a payment due and didn’t have enough. I started to really doubt. The very next day a check for the EXACT AMOUNT we lacked was in our mailbox with a note that said “God prompted me to give you this amount at this time.” They had no way of knowing! Totally God. He funds what He favors!”
We can read story after story in the Bible about how God provided when His people were in need. Why do we believe that He would stand by without blessing us – without helping us – if we follow His command to care for the orphan? When we step out in faith, God provides! Experiencing that first hand has helped me believe it all the more.
When we made the decision to adopt, we cancelled our contract to buy 4 acres of land and build a house that we had designed ourselves. This gave us $25,000 at the start of our adoption process. My husband’s employer reimburses $5,000 of adoption expenses, so we asked people to sponsor puzzle pieces in order to raise $5,000. We would then take the reimbursed money from Ryan’s work and pay it forward to another adoptive family. In 9 days, our friends, family, and coworkers donated $5,425. It still blows my mind! We can’t wait for God to show us where to pay forward that money. We also held a garage sale for 3 days with many of our own items but also dozens and dozens of donations from other families. This sale resulted in just over $1,000.
We knew that bringing Tucker home would cost more than $31,000. Just as I was beginning to wonder how we would find the rest of our funds, I got an email from my friend who said that her husband wanted to raise money for our family during his 100 mile race. I was blown away!! These friends gave us $6,000 of the donations to fully fund the rest of our adoption, and with the remaining $5,000, they gave $1,000 to five different families who were also adopting. God provided for our family through a combination of our own financial decisions and the generosity of so many friends, family members, strangers, and coworkers. When God leads you to it, He will see you through it! To doubt that would make us just like the Israelites doubting God in the wilderness, Sarah and Abraham doubting that God would give them a son, and Gideon doubting that God would use him to defeat the Midianites.
Below you will find four different ways to help acquire the necessary funds to care for orphans through adoption: Adoption Tax Credit, Grants, Interest Free Loans, and Employee Assistance Programs.
1. ADOPTION TAX CREDIT:
For families who completed their adoptions in 2013, they might be eligible for the Adoption Tax Credit of a maximum of $12,970. Eligibility is dependent on your family’s tax liability. Your family might only be eligible for a portion of the Adoption Tax Credit the first year, but the remainder can carry forward through four additional years. For example, if you only are eligible for $7,000 the year following your adoption, the remaining $5,970 can be received in subsequent tax years. For more information, please view my post explaining how this credit works.
2. GRANTS:
Adopt Together – This nonprofit organization allows your family and friends to make tax deductible donations to your family, and then they will match or exceed the amount donated.
Hand in Hand – Tax deductible donations are made to this organization by your family, friends, coworkers, and strangers. Matching grants are then provided to adoptive families.
Lifesong – Matching grants ($1,000-$4,000) are provided to families adopting, and donations made by family, friends, coworkers, and strangers are tax deductible.
JSC Foundation – The amount of money awarded varies and is at the discretion of the foundation. I know one family that was given $10,000 by this incredible organization. Applications are due January 15, March 15, May 15, August 15, and October 15 of each year. Families are notified by the end of the following month.
Show Hope – This organization was founded by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman in honor of their daughter, who they adopted from China, but passed away tragically. The six application due dates are Feb 28th, April 30th, Jun 30th, Aug 31st, Oct 31st, Dec 31st. These grants are $4,000 on average.
Families Outreach – Families must be adopting through a nonprofit agency, have a completed home study, and have endorsement from their pastor.
Global Orphan Foundation – Applications are due June 1st and December 1st. Grants awarded up to $11,000 to aid families with adoption.
NAMB – This organization provides grants to pastors/families in ministry.
Chosen for Life – Their mission is to educate and engage the people of our local churches and communities on ways they can live in obedience to God’s command to visit orphans in their affliction in our neighborhood and around the world. They provide grants to families in the adoption process.
Salvation International – Applications are due April 1st and October 1st. Grants awarded range from $500-$5,000.
Rollstone Foundation – Aids with the adoption of children with special needs (FYI: Tucker is considered special needs). One family reported a grant of $2,000 from this great organization.
ABBA Fund – Your family, friends, coworkers, and strangers can make a tax deductible donation to ABBA fund, and then the money is awarded to your family at the end of your fundraiser.
Affording Adoption Foundation – Many grants are around $1,000.
Brittany’s Hope – Families are asked to raise half of the money granted to them.
A Child Waits – Grants up to $5,000 for people pursuing international adoption through a nonprofit agency.
Gift of Adoption Fund – Grants between $1,000-$7,500 for families who have completed their home study.
God’s Grace Adoption Ministry – Provides matching grants to families who are Christian, are a two parent family, and make less than $60,000 per year. A typical matching grant is $2,500.
Help Us Adopt – Provides up to $15,000 grants to families adopting. Applications are due in April and October.
Katelyn’s Fund – Provides grants for families making less than $100,000 per year.
National Adoption Foundation – Grants range from $500-$2,000.
Parenthood for Me – Grants range from $2,000-$5,000 for families who do NOT have any children.
Sea of Faces – Applications accepted in March, June, September, and December. Their goal is to provide three $1,000-$3,000 grants per quarter.
3. INTEREST FREE LOANS
*Many people will use their Adoption Tax Credit money to pay off these loans immediately.
4. EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE
Check to see if your employer provides a benefit (like my husband’s company) for adoptive families. Holt has published an extensive list here. This is an amazing benefit for employees!
At the end of the day…
Money cannot be the reason that these children stay in orphanages.
Money cannot be the reason children with treatable medical conditions do not survive.
Money cannot be the reason that children do not get to experience the love of a family.
It is my sincere hope that this post gives you hope that resources are available to help families bring these precious children home. Don’t let the fear of money hold you back from experiencing one of the amazing gifts you will ever receive.
Does anyone know if any of these are available to families outside the USA? We are in the UK and, as far as I know there is no assistance available.
We are beginning our journey to bring home our son from China.
I’m trying not to get discouraged about raising the money, but today is a hard day and I’m not feeling at peace.