Adoption Grants

It is no secret, adoption can be very expensive. However, there are several ways to ease the expense. Here is my list of adoption grants you should apply for. These are in no particular order. I don’t have any personal affiliation to any of them nor does Adopting.org have any personal affiliation to them. I also added some other ideas on how you can afford an adoption.

Before I get too far into my list, I also want to advise you that there are several different types of grants. Two different types that I am familiar with are fundraising grants and direct grants. What is the difference? Fundraising grants are simply that, you raise the money. Direct grants are grants offered by an organization that gifts you the money, free and clear.

Fundraising Grants

Fundraising grants allow people to make a tax-deductible donation toward your adoption. There are several websites that allow this to be accomplished; this is usually called adoption crowdfunding. I highly suggest you do your research and choose the site you feel the most comfortable with.

We started the adoption process back in 2012 and started fundraising through an organization called Ordinary Hero. They have changed the way they do things a little since then but they have a great fundraising tool for adoptions and mission trips. You can check them out at their website. You sign up to be an affiliate and whenever someone purchases products from the market, you receive 30 percent of the sales. This was a really great tool for us and a lot of our family bought things that would then be given to the children in Ethiopia, so it was a double win!

However, there are several crowdfunding sites out there now. One really nice feature of these sites is that it allows people to make a tax-deductible donation and some sites allow a monthly giving option. As you all know, some adoptions can be a very lengthy process. This allows you to raise more money for a longer period of time. This can be a win-win for all involved!

In addition to fundraising grants, there is also the possibility of just fundraising to offset some of your adoption costs. Some of those ideas include, but certainly are not limited to, the following: creating adoption T-shirts and selling them, personal fundraiser letters sent to family and friends, creating adoption bracelets and selling them, having a garage sale, having a bake sale, having a cookout to sell food, silent or online auctions, toy auction, offering gift wrapping around the holidays, creating a run/walk, cookbook fundraiser, ice cream social, chili cook-off, fantasy football/baseball/etc., March Madness, barn dance, casino night, murder mystery night, bingo night, car wash, paint party, karaoke party, and many, many more. Get creative and know that nothing is really off-limits if you feel comfortable doing it and it will bring people to your event!

Direct Grants

Before you begin, I highly suggest you be prepared. Most adoption grants require you to fill out extensive paperwork. This can feel burdensome and overwhelming. The more information you are able to obtain beforehand and be prepared to fill out, the easier the process will be. Grants will be awarded in various amounts depending on each organization. These funds can be used to pay adoption-related expenses for domestic, international, foster care and/or embryo adoption costs. You can apply for as many adoption grants as you want, just remember it does take a lot of time to complete each application.

How does the adoption grant process work?

As indicated above each adoption grant has its own set of requirement in order for you to apply for them. They also have their own application and paperwork process. Make sure to read each grant carefully and apply for the one that will best suit your specific situation. Once your application is submitted, the grant organization will review your application and will award grants as they deem appropriate. Be aware that you will not receive every grant you apply for. Each organization usually has a limit of funds they give out at any given time. Do not let this stop you from applying for another grant or continue applying for grants. You never know when you will receive a grant!

Once you are notified that you will be receiving a specific grant, they will then deposit the funds with your adoption agency/organization. These funds then will be applied to any outstanding balances you owe to the agency. This was a great financial relief for us. We only did the fundraising grant and received one small grant from our adoption agency, but even with those, it was a huge saving in our adoption costs. I highly recommend applying for adoption grants!

List of Adoption Grants:

Here is a list of adoption grants that I felt drawn to and I found to be easy to apply for. Please note there are several other adoption grants available. A simple Google search will result in hundreds if not thousands of adoption grants available. Some are specific to your type of adoption or where you live. I highly suggest you do your own research and find ones that pertain to your specific adoption. I will also remind you that I am not affiliated with any of these organizations.

Adoption Hope Foundation

Adoption Hope Foundation is a grant directed at families from the state of Connecticut. They award grants varying from $500–$15,000 to help offset the cost of adoption. Grants are awarded three times a year in February, June, and October. In order to apply, you must have a valid home study and be working with an accredited adoption agency. You must also be a U.S. citizen and reside in the state of Connecticut. Your application must also be submitted prior to the placement of a child. For more information, check them out at their website.

Be The One

Be The One provides $500 grants to families in the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. The board of Be The One meets quarterly to review and disperse grants. In order to apply, you must have a letter from your adoption agency stating that you are in the process of pursuing an adoption. You must also provide a letter from your home church pastor recommending you for the grant. You also need to provide a list of the adoption expenses as provided by your adoption agency, including what has been paid, if anything. Lastly, you need to print and sign a copy of Be The One’s Statement of Faith. For more information, you can check them out at their website.

Dream4Adoption

Dream4Adoption is a non-profit organization that awards adoption grants in the amount of $1,500 directly to your adoption agency. They also provide an additional $500 once you complete the post-adoption process. Dream4Adoption offers grants twice a year, May through September and November through March. In order to apply for their adoption grant, you must complete their application, complete and sign their consent form, submit three 500-word reference letters, submit a family photo, submit two recent paystubs, a 2,500-word essay, and a check for $35. This adoption grant does require you to pay the $35 fee. Some adoption grants have a cost associated to them and some don’t. This offsets some of their costs of providing the grants. Make sure you know if there is a fee associated with the grant you are applying for. For more information, check them out at their website.

Forever Families Foundation 

Forever Families Foundation is a non-profit Christian ministry that was started in 2013 to help provide financial assistance to Christian families who are adopting domestically or internationally. In order to apply for this grant you need to be completing a special needs adoption or an older child, ages 5 and older. You must also have a completed home study and be working with an agency that is a non-profit. Lastly, your household income must not exceed $100,000. Awards for this grant are given out on a case-by-case basis. Application deadlines are April 30, 2019, and December 31, 2019. For more information, check them out at their website.

Gift of Adoption Fund

Gift of Adoption Fund awards grants of up to $10,000 monthly to qualified applicants. There is not an application deadline. However, you must have completed your home study and not have completed finalization. Gift of Adoption Fund provides grants to families who are pursuing both domestic and international adoptions. You must be a U.S. citizen and must show a need for financial need. For more information, check them out at their website.

Helpusadopt.org

Helpusadopt.org awards a grant four times a year. The deadlines for postmarking are as follows: December 7, March 23, June 8, and September 7. In order to receive their grants at least one applicant has to be a U.S. citizen, must have a completed home study, must not be pregnant, must demonstrate a financial need, must be working with a licensed adoption agency or attorney, and the adoption must not yet be finalized. For more information, check them out at their website.

Kids of Kyla

Kids of Kyla awards grants to families who are pursuing adoption or are under the care of a licensed infertility specialist. Priority is given to families who live in the state of Colorado, however, it is open to other states. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, must demonstrate a need for financial assistance, must show they are committed to raising additional needed funds, and must complete their application process. Their application process includes an application, checklist, monthly budget, net worth, signed authorizations, completed essay questions, two years of tax returns and a letter on clinic letterhead (if pursuing infertility treatments/grants). For more information, check them out at their website.

The Never Alone Foundation

The Never Alone Foundation offers grants twice a year. The next deadline is June 15, 2019. NAF only offers grants to families who are adopting internationally. You must have a completed home study and you must not yet have completed the adoption process. Grant money is not allowed to be used for travel purposes. Grant awards vary in amounts and are sent directly to the adoption agency. Grants also must be utilized within 12 months of the award date. If the money has not been used, it must be returned to the foundation. All grant recipients will be required to submit a follow-up report at six months and 12 months following the grant award; it must include statements from the adoption agency, therapist(s), and/or medical service providers to allow the foundation to see how the grant award is being utilized.

Make sure you also check with your adoption agency to see if they offer any grants. Our agency offered a small $500 grant, but remember every dollar and every penny counts!

Adoptions are expensive. I don’t want someone to be discouraged by that statement. It is true, they are expensive, but there are so many ways to offset those costs. Affording an adoption is possible. I urge you to apply for as many adoption grants as you are able to in order to offset some of the costs associated with adoptions and/or infertility treatments. As mentioned above, I do not have any personal affiliation with the above-mentioned grants but I found them to cover a lot of areas and needs. I encourage you to do your own research and see what grants you find. Maybe some will be the same, maybe some will be different. There are hundreds if not thousands of agencies, organizations, and people out there who have spent a lot of time, energy, and money to be able to provide financial assistance to those pursuing adoption. Good luck to you in the future, and I hope you receive a grant to help offset the costs.