This is a wonderful overview article by One Mission Fund, which offers a plethora of resources for adopting parents!
The dream of adopting a child can be a long, trying and extremely financially stressful process for parents. The expense can be overwhelming and even prohibitive. The good news is financial assistance is readily available for adoptive parents.
There are a number of national and state agencies that can assist parents with the adoption process, along with the long-term care – both medical and financial – adopted children need. From tax credits to tax deductions to grants and loans to military family reimbursement, numerous options are available to help adoptive parents provide for their children. And don’t forget the impact that fundraising can make.
Let’s start with fundraising because that’s something you can begin right away. We agree, sometimes it can be really hard to ask your friends and family for money, but fundraising for your adoption can be such a great way to ease the financial burden and give those who love you a chance to contribute and help you. One Mission Fundraising (www.onemissionfundraising.com) is a great place to start. It’s so easy to start a fundraiser and one of the only companies that combines both product fundraising and crowdfunding options. And in contrast with companies such as GoFundMe, Crowdrise or Indiegogo, who all charge a minimum of 5%-8% of YOUR money raised, the crowdfunding platform fees at One Mission are a big, fat ZERO. Check out our fee page here: https://onemissionfundraising.com/fees/. So, basically, you keep more of what you raise.
In addition, the One Mission products are good, high quality stuff that people really will want and use. (Cool messaged-based comfy tees, inspirational art and cards, organic castile soaps, and even custom canvases of photos YOU send us.) We’ve had many One Mission fundraisers who have collected cash donations from friends, and THEN, those same friends come back to the site, sometimes several times, to purchase gifts for a birthday, or Christmas – or even for themselves – because the products are THAT cool, and they really do make pretty stellar gifts. Check out our #GiftForward cards (yes, just a good ‘ole gift card), but ONE, it allows the person you are gifting to, to purchase products they want, and TWO, it’s just a really great way to spread the word about your fundraiser. Perhaps they’ll want to #GiftForward to someone else, helping your cause all along the way. It’s a great way to purchase with a purpose – because, did ya know? – 40 PERCENT of every product or #GiftForward card purchased goes right back to the fundraiser. Buy once, give twice. It’s a great thing.
And now, financial assistance options for adoptive parents:
Adoption Assistance Programs: Many waiting parents are entitled to state and/or federal adoption assistance payments (subsidies). Subsidies are based on the child’s needs or eligibility (including medical or physical disabilities) and not the family’s income. Children are free to receive monthly payments until he or she is 18 years of age. The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) and National Adoption Assistance Training Resource (NAATRIN: 1-800-470-6665) top resource for information on subsidiaries.
Federal Adoption Tax Credits: Congress made the adoption tax credit permanent in 2013, giving adoptive parents a great option for financial aid. This tax credit is the amount that can be subtracted from the taxes parents owe for expenses incurred in the adoption of a child. The FATC makes adoption a viable option for families with limited budgets. Up to $12,650 is available per child.
A list of frequently asked questions about tax credits is available at http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/faqs/.
For detailed information regarding credits, we recommend contacting a tax advisor.
Additional resources and information is available at the IRS’ website: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html.
Grants and Loans: A loan can help families cover immediate and large expenses related to adoption. There are a number of organizations and foundations, including helpusadopt.org and the National Adoption Foundation (www.nafadopt.org), that provide grants for families who are in need of financial assistance to meet some adoption expenses.
Employee Benefits: Adoption benefits plans are company-sponsored programs that financially help or reimburse employees for expenses related to the adoption of a child and/or provides for paid or unpaid leave for the adoptive parent employee. Many employers help employees adopt children by offering benefits from referral help and ash payments that range from $1,000 to $10,000 or paid leave. For more information, contact your employer or view the National Adoption Center’s list of employers offering adoption benefits at http://www.adopt.org. For ideas of how to approach your employer for adoption expense assistance, visit http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/printable/employment.benefits.html
Here is an extensive list of web information of a number of foundations dedicated to providing financial assistance to adoptive parents:
Help Us Adopt offers adoption grants up to $5,000. They provide grants to LGBT and heterosexual families.
Adopt America Network offers subsidies to families adopting from foster care.
A Child Waits Foundation offers loans to adoptive parents adopting internationally.
Affording Adoption Foundation (www.affordingadoption.com)’s mission is to help more children find forever families. Since 2010, the AAF has awarded nearly $30,000 to 22 families.
American Christian Credit Union (www.americaschristiancu.com) offers adoption loans as part of a continuing effort to “reach, serve and teach.”
Both Hands Project (www.bothhandsfoundation.org) provides financial assistance to religious families who are adopting a child.
Gift of Adoption Fund offers grants ranging from $3,500 to $7,500 to adoptive parents.
God’s Grace Adoption Ministry offers adoption grants and no-interest loans to eligible Christian adoptive families.
Jewish Free Loan Association offers interest-free loans.
The Micah Fund (http://micahfund.org) The Minority Infant and Children Adoption Fund (MICAH) was born out of a need to facilitate the adoption of minority children whose birth parents desired to voluntary release them into adoption. MICAH provides matching grants.
National Adoption Foundation offers grants and low interest, unsecured loans to adoptive parents.
Perpetual Change (www.theperpetualchange.me) provides grants to applicants every 4 to 6 months based on the availability of funds.
Waiting Child Revolving Loan Fund offers no interest loans for children adopted with special needs.
CMomA offers up to twenty $5,000 grants annually to families adopting older children or children with special needs.
Brittany’s Hope Foundation (www.brittanyshope.org) helps facilitate adoptions of international special needs children by providing financial grants for adoptive families.
Resources4Adoption (www.resources4adoption.com) is a trusted source for the most up-to-date and accurate listing of adoption grants and loans.
Show Hope (www.showhope.com), founded by renown and multi-platinum Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman, cares for orphans by engaging the church and helping Christian families reduce the financial burden of adoption through special grants and fundraising opportunities.
The Gift of Adoption Fund (www.giftofadoption.org) is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization whose mission is to provide grants to give children a family forever. Gifts are awarded on a monthly basis and average about $3,500.
The Sparrow Fund (www.sparrow-fund.org) is an organization providing grants to families in financial need to enroll in programs specifically designed to provide counsel and comprehensive medical reviews of their referred child.
Here are a list of resources available to adoptive parents for additional adoption expenses:
Travel
Delta Airlines offers significant fare discounts for international adoptions. For complete information, contact Delta/KLM Reservations at 800-241-4141. We made the call to inquire more, and found out these discounts do not apply to the Caribbean locations.
Governmental Programs
Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) can offer financial aid and Medi-Cal to parents of eligible children.
Adoption Tax Credit grants eligible adoptive families an income tax break of $13,170 for adoption-related expenses.
Military — Active-duty military families can receive reimbursement of up to $2,000 for adoption costs. Contact your military branch for more information.
Non-Recurring Adoption Expenses reimburses families for up to $400 of non-recurring adoption expenses for some adoptions.
State Assistance Options
Other places adoptive parents should turn to for information and assistance include:
State Departments of Eduction: Your state’s department of education can provide you with information about school nutrition programs and special intervention programs.
State Departments of Health: An excellent resource to help you find programs dealing with health, nutrition, insurance and other programs for children.
State Adoption Contacts: Each state has a special adoption website and one or more specialists in child adoption who can help you understand your state’s adoption program.
There you have it. Yes, it’s a lot of information to take in at once, but we figured if you’re in this process, or going to be soon, you already have your mind wandering in all different directions. Like we said, it can be overwhelming to say the least. So, we did the research for you.
Leave a comment