Financing Your Adoption
After choosing adoption as the means to expand your family, the next decision for many families is how to finance their child’s adoption.
More resources are available to families’ today– from corporations to foundation grants – which make adopting a child more feasible than before. Some of the common ways that families have underwritten part or much of their adoption expenses are listed below along with other creative ideas that many of our adoptive families have used to successfully cover their adoption expenses
Supplemental Adoption Grants
There are several grant programs that offer funds to help defray adoption expenses.
Some of the programs that we recommend:
Show Hope
Show Hope is a foundation established by Steven Curtis Chapman and Mary Beth Chapman to provide information and assistance to families interested in adopting.
HelpUsAdopt.org
Helpusadopt.org is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) financial assistance grant program providing qualified couples and individuals with grants of up to $15,000 towards their domestic, international, foster, or special needs adoption expenses. Applications are available online along with detailed information concerning deadlines, etc.
Lifesong for Orphans
Lifesong for Orphans offers matching grants (ranging from $1,000-$4,000), which encourage the adopting couple’s church family to financially and prayerfully support the adoption. https://lifesong.org/adoption/
KARIS Fund
The Karis Fund exists to help Christian families in Oklahoma, North Texas, and Louisiana offset the cost of domestic as well as international adoptions. http://www.karisadoptionfund.org/ (Operated through Lifesong for Orphans. Families can apply both places.)
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Katelyn’s Fund
This is a ministry in memory of Katelyn Estrella, the twin sister of Elizabeth, daughter of Kelly and Sheila. We seek to help other children in loving memory of her. The simple definition of Katelyn’s Fund is to bring orphan awareness to others, provide emotional and prayer support to families, and assist Christian families with the high costs of adoptions.
Lifetime Adoption
Lifetime Adoption offers a simple loan program to qualified families with average credit. There are no upfront fees. Families may repay the loan at any time and can finance the loan up to five years. Visit their website or call 530-271-1740 to receive an application via fax or email.
http://www.lifetimeadoption.com/for_adoptive_families/financing.html
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption website offers information on financing adoption. Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, was adopted as a child and has a true heart for adoption. https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/
Relatives
Although it may be uncomfortable to ask family members for money, don't overlook the potential generosity of extended family members who might be waiting for an opportunity to help out with your adoption in order to be a part of making your dream a reality. Remember that they have been on the adoption journey with you.
Adoption Loans
Some adoptive families have utilized a bank loan or a line of credit to assist them with their adoption expenses. While borrowing money for an adoption may not be an adoptive family’s first choice, adoptive families may find a loan helpful in covering the large and immediate adoption expenses, especially if they will be able to repay the loan quickly with a tax credit or an employer’s adoption benefit reimbursement.
Lifestyle Adjustments
- Talk with your health insurance company to see if they offer maternity benefits for an adoption.
- Have a garage sale or use the internet to sell items that you don’t use anymore.
- Visit amotherslovefundraising.com for other fundraising ideas to cover potential adoption expenses.
- Save earnings from a second job to go toward adoption expenses.
- Ask your church about helping with your family’s adoption expenses. Some churches have established family adoption funds.
- Ask God for guidance in meeting adoption expenses.
Employer Benefits
Many companies offer adoption benefits to their employees, which may range from financial assistance for their adoption expenses to paid/unpaid parental leave.