If you have looked into adoption, you know the costs can add up quickly and can overwhelm almost any family’s budget. There are a lot of factors that contribute to the fees associated with adoption, but the total can be upwards of $50,000. Even families who adopt through the foster care system will have some financial decisions to consider. With private adoption, the agency fees cover everything from social workers, counseling, birth mother’s housing, medical expenses, lawyers, child’s medical needs, home study, federal fingerprinting, required adoption education, CPR Classes, travel out of state or country, etc.
We are in the process of adopting an infant domestically. We chose our agency because they could match our family with a birth mom throughout the US.
I have compiled a list of grants you can consider for your family’s adoption. I’ll also include a few tips that have helped us prepare for the big financial part of growing your family through adoption. Don’t let money scare you from pursuing adoption. There are a lot of options out there! You can fund your adoption without busting your budget or accruing enormous debt.
Adoption Grants
Each grant has different requirements and deadlines. I suggest becoming very familiar with what the grant committee wants to hear. If they mention the family’s income as a factor, be sure to focus on this. If they mention the future of the child, if not adopted as a factor, be sure you share the details of your specific situation. Gather all the needed information, and if possible, do several grant applications at once. They ask a lot of the same questions and for similar information about your family and adoptive situation. Be honest, be clear, share pictures, and don’t miss their deadline. It can be tedious, but you are used to paperwork by now, and IT IS WORTH IT!
- Gift of Adoption Fund
- Katelyn’s Fund
- God’s Grace Adoption Ministry
- Family Formation Charitable Trust
- Help Us Adopt
- Buescher Foundation
- Forever Families Foundation
- MCC Adoption Fund: Muskogee Church of Christ
- Sacred Selections
- Show Hope
- We Care For Orphans Fund
- Journey to Parenthood
- One 17 Foundation
- Orphan Outreach
- God’s Grace Adoption Ministry
Crowdfunding
Adopt Together is an amazing crowdfunding site where your family, friends, and even strangers can contribute to your adoption fund. The amazing thing about this particular site is that those making a donation will receive a tax-deductible receipt. They also provide grants on top of funds raised from time to time.
I know it can be intimidating to share your journey publically and there can be a lot of misunderstandings about the cost of adoption. I have even heard it said, “If they need to raise money to adopt, can they afford to care for a child?” Again, don’t let public opinion keep you from pursuing the gift of adoption. It can take a bit of work to educate your friends and family on the process, but I am sure many people will jump on board and be super supportive of your adoption goals.
Tips for Funding Your Adoption
Adoption affects every part of your life. Your heart. Your thoughts. Your spouse. Your extended family. Your home. Your church. Your community. And, yes, your finances.
In addition to applying for every grant you can, there are a few other things that we tried along the way.
- Painting and upcycling furniture: I got a few solid wood pieces from thrift shops (or on the side of the road!) and gave them a new life. I made around $250 doing this during the warmer months. I am not super creative, but it turns out I enjoyed myself!
- T-shirts: CustomInk is a great way to get your community involved in your adoption. We used them for a fundraiser when our son was sick and in the hospital. You can design the shirt and you receive funds directly to help with your cause.
- Yard Sale: Certainly you can purge your own home and have a sale, but have you considered asking your neighborhood or church to collaborate with you to host a large yard sale where all the funds go to your adoption?
- Restaurant Collaboration: Chipotle (and other restaurants) will donate to your adoption if you gather customers for them. You select a day of your fundraiser and anyone who mentions you at the register will contribute to your adoption. The funds must go directly to your non-profit adoption agency. I have noticed several local restaurants that do this as well. Check out your area to see who you can work with to raise some funds.
- Overtime/second job: It can take a toll on your family when raising all the necessary funds for your adoption, but there might be a season where you can decide together to focus on saving a specific goal. My incredible husband had the opportunity to take extra overtime shifts at work this past fall and he has taken nearly all of them to help us be ready for our adoption. I also started taking on several more freelance writing contracts to move us toward our goal. We’ve been extra busy (and tired!) but it has helped us get closer to the necessary funding.
- Your job: Be sure to ask your employer if there are any matching funds or grants through your company. Some companies give upwards of $5000 toward adoptions. Don’t miss out!
I pray you will be able to come up with the exact funds you need to bring your child home. It is such an emotional process and I hope that money will not be a barrier for your family.
How are you paying for your adoption? Is there something I should add to this article? Another grant you know about? Another helpful tip? Please comment and let me know!
If you enjoyed this article, you may also like to read more about our journey to adoption after the loss of our precious son, Hudson.
Lastly, waiting for THE CALL can be so hard. Here are a few books I am checking out while I wait. Some are specifically about parenting and some are just for my own heart. I hope you can enjoy one of these for yourself. I pray that as you wait for your child, you are living life, cultivating your own heart, and learning from adult adoptees. I
Also, sign up below to follow our adoption journey! And check out my video on funding your adoption!
