Can anyone tell me where I can find financial assistance for adoptions?

Question

My wife and I recently adopted a new born baby girl after a very short adoption process and we ended up putting some of the expense on credit cards but we don't want to leave it there. Does anyone know of available grant money? It happened too fast for us to save but we'd rather have our baby than a savings account.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I do not know of any actual grants for adoption - aside from the Adoption Tax Credit, which isn't really a grant, but is as close to Federal Money for adopting a newborn as I think you're going to get.  Unfortunately, if your adoption is recent, that means waiting a whole year to be reimbursed, and if you don't have a large tax liability, it doesn't help you very much.  

Have you looked into an adoption loan?  I know chase bank offers one, and I'm sure several other banks will as well.  It's not "free money" but it will at least have lower interest than a credit card.  What about a home equity loan?  

Have both of you asked at work whether there is any adoption assistance?  I know my job has about $5000 worth....  it's not alot compared to the costs of some adoptions, but every little bit helps.  

Congrats on the baby girl!  I'm glad you decided to poor your money into a child rather than becomming science experiments.  It's more fun this way anyhow.  Good luck!  

btw... if you register at www.pampers.com and www.huggies.com you will get free coupons in the mail all the time - it really helps cut down on diaper expense!

Answer 2

Sorry you are getting such nastiness. Congratulations on your baby girl.

Answer 3

There is a $10,000+ tax credit, which should help.  You can check with your medical insurance, and your wife's medical insurance, to see if they cover some of the costs.  Otherwise, I don't know.

If you adopt again, I'd recommend foster/adopt.  It's free, and you'd be giving a home to a child who badly needs one.  Good luck to you!

Answer 4

I am so sorry to see some of the rude things that others have said.  I adopted my daughter almost two years ago.  My adoption fess were only about $500.00, $200.00 of which I got back when it was finalized.  But my adoption was an in-family adoption.  Best wishes to you and your new family!!

Answer 5

Here are a "few" links I have gathered.  I would copy and paste this to your computer though as it may get deleted from this post.  It has happened before, I can only assume that there are people on this forum that like to control what is posted here as they do not support domestic adoptions.  Good luck.  

GRANT PROGRAMS:

The Gift of Adoption Fund

Gene Wika

101 East Pier Street, 1st Floor

Port Washington, WI 53074

Phone# [phone] (for application)

Phone# [phone]

Phone# [phone]

Website: www.giftofadoption.org

The Gift of Adoption Fund is a non-profit foundation funding donations and fundraising events. Gift of Adoption Fund is established to assist poverty stricken adoptive parents by providing cash grants to subsidize a portion of the costs of adoption. Grants are awarded on a monthly basis with sums ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. The grants are available to single parents, families with previous children, and prospective adoptive parents who are adopting internationally, interpedently or through an agency. Applicants may apply up to three times.

Bright Futures

Jill Tate- Executive Director

3209 33rd Street

Columbus, NE 68601

E-mail: [e-mail]

Website: www.homestead.com/brightfutures

Bright Futures Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) (3) foundation that endeavors to help internationally orphaned/abandoned children find forever families. Bright Futures fundraises nationally to reduce the fees necessary to adopt. Bright Futures is constantly working to raise funds to grant to families who are endeavoring to bring home waiting children

National Adoption Foundation

100 Mill Plain Rd.

Danbury, CT 06811

Phone # [phone]

Website: www.nafadopt.org

Families can apply to this foundation for an outright grant. The grant program is open to all legal adoptions including public or private agency adoptions, international, special needs or adoptions facilitated by an attorney. There is no income requirement. There is a simple one-page application and the only requirement to apply is a home study, or one in progress. The Foundation's board meets four times a year, during the last week of each quarter, to award grants in amounts ranging from $500 to $4000.

The National Adoption Center in Philadelphia

1500 Walnut St. Suite 701

Philadelphia, PA 19102

Phone # [phone]

Fax # [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Website: www.adopt.org

This site consists of a list of corporations who give grants for adoption contract. Additionally, the NACIP offers material on how to get employee incentive programs related to the adoption process. For more information on this call, 1-800-TO-ADOPT

The Ibsen Adoption Network

Marilyn Brisbane

2730 French Road. N.W.

Olympia, WA 98502

Phone # [phone]

Fax # [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Website: www.angelfire.com/home/IBSEN

This program is for Washington state residents only. Ibsen Adoption Network is a private non-profit organization. There soul purpose is to create a network and to generate funds that will provide financial assistance, educational and emotional support to families adopting waiting children. The Allocation Committee meets twice a year to consider assistance requests for small grants of $1,000 for waiting children.

Love Knows No Borders

500 B Monroe Turnpike, Box 4

Monroe CT 06468

Phone # [phone]

Website: www.loveknowsnoborders.com

LKNB was founded in 2000 in an effort to assist with the costs of domestic and international adoption. LKNB is an organization that believes that financial concerns need not serve as an obstacle to individuals and couples willing to open their hearts to a child through adoption. To receive an application send a self-addressed send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above stated address.

Our Chinese Daughters Foundation Inc.

Dr. Jane A Liedtke, Founder

P.O. Box 1243

Bloomington, IL 61702-1243

E-mail: [e-mail]

website: www.ocdf.org

The Chinese Daughters Foundation will award two to four mini-grants for a total of $1,000 annually. The purpose of these mini-grants is to support activities and events which provide Chinese Cultural programs to adoptive families or support single persons adopting children from China in the pre- and post-adoption process.

LOAN PROGRAMS:

The National Adoption Foundation Loan Program

100 Mill Plain Rd.

Danburg, CT 06811

Phone # [phone]

Website: www.nafadopt.org/LoanPrograms.htm

The National Adoption Foundation (NAF) through MBNA helps adoptive parents and prospective adoptive families with costs of adopting and raising a child by providing financial support, information and services. One such program is the NAF Gold Option Loan. It's an unsecured loan that gives families an additional source of needed funds, without pledging their homes or other forms of collateral. National Adoption Foundation Gold Option Loan Combines the Best Features of an Installment Loan and a Revolving Line of Credit. Families may borrow the amount needed for now ranging from $1500-$30,000 (with no collateral required). The loan currently has an Annual Percentage Rate as low as 12.99% and your choice of fixed monthly payments.

The Nation Adoption Foundation Credit Card

Phone # [phone] (Mention priority code AF2R)

Website: www.nafadopt.org/NafCreditCard.htm

Through a special arrangement with MBNA America Bank, the National Adoption Foundation receives a contribution to the Foundation, all at no additional cost to you. These much-needed funds help support the work of the foundation and its grant for adopting parents. In fact, the National Adoption Foundation credit card may even save you money. You'll receive an introductory 3.9% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on balance transfers and cash advance checks and No Annual Fee.

The National Adoption Foundation

Loan Program

100 Mill Plain Road

Danburg, CT 06811

Phone # [phone] (use code AAAP)

Home equity loans at 100 % of the value. Fixed rate MBMA. Flexible loans dependant upon credit (even poor credit will be considered), and qualifying factors.

A Child Waits Foundation

Cynthia and Randolph Nelson

1136 Barker Road #12

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Phone# [phone] or 548-794-8890, Fax:  518-794-6243

E-mail: [e-mail]

Website: www.achildwaits.org

A Child Waits Foundation is a non-profit charitable foundation with a simple goal: to reduce the number of international children who are not adopted because prospective parents do not have the savings (finances) to pay for the total cost of the international adoption. This foundation helps parents with costs by making low interests loans which cover a portion of the adoption fees. The foundation can be viewed as providing a down payment towards the adoptive process. Eligibility is based on financial need, with each case being judged individually. The maximum loans given are $10,000 with the interest rate set at 5%.

RELIGIOUS BASED PROGRAMS:

Jacob Free Loan Foundation

Phone # [phone]

Website: www.jfslink.org/freeloan.html

This foundation provides interest free loans of up to $5000 available to Jewish members of the community to assist with adoption expenses.

God's Grace Adoption Ministry

Darin Denlinger

PO BOX 4

Modesto California 95353

Phone # [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Website: ggam.org

God's Grace Adoption Ministry Inc. was established as a non-profit organization to help provide needy children of the world with Christian families by helping adoptive-parents overcome the financial burden of adopting children. It is the belief of this corporation that the placement of children into Christian homes ministers to a child's physical and spiritual well being. As such this corporation prioritizes families that are a two parent home. Christian families are a must, however the income level must below 60,000. Families with previous children are welcome. Application available online.

REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAMS:

Military Adoption Reimbursement Program

Website: www.nmfa.org/adoption.html

Adoption exchange association - Phone# [phone]

Within this program, the military will reimburse active-duty personnel for most one-time adoption costs up to $2000 per child, whether adopting a healthy infant, a waiting child, or a child from abroad. Travel costs, foreign or domestic, are not covered. There is a maximum of $5000 in a given year, even if both parents are in the military. Reimbursement is made only after the adoption is finalized and only if the adoption was done through a state adoption agency or a non-profit private agency. Fees that can be reimbursed include adoption fees; placement fees, including fees for birth parent counseling: legal fees and court costs: including expenses of the biological mother and her newborn infant. Eligible personnel should complete DD form 2673 (Reimbursement for Adoption Expense). Contact your local Personnel Support Unit for more information.

Employer Adoption Benefits

Phone # [phone]

Website: www.adopt.org/datacenter/faces/emplist.h...

Some employers will help with costs by reimbursing expenses with a cash benefit of up to several thousand dollars. A list of employers offering benefits can be found at the website above. If your employer does not have this benefit, call Adoption and the Workplace at the National Adoption Center (1-800-862-3678) for materials to guide you in requesting adoption assistance from your employer. In addition, if you are employed by an organization with more than 50 employees, you should also qualify for parental leave under the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) program.

State Non-Recurring Subsidy

Phone # [phone]

Website: www.nacac.org/subsidyfactsheets/internat...

NACAC's Adopti

Answer 6

other than tax credits or some employers offer assistance then I have never heard of any. That is why alot people cannot adopt as they make it sooo expensive. I commend you on this endever. There are so many children out there that need and want loving families.

Answer 7

Congrats on your new baby girl! Many blessings will be coming your way - each and every day that child is in your life. Adoption is a wonderful thing. There are LOTS of resources. Some will take a little footwork but  you have come this far...keep going.

Check out adoptive-parenting.com

As an adoptee and adoptive mommy I wanted an easy to read website that would help you on your journey.

It frustrates me that people will come down on you because you want to care for a child.

I have pages on fund raising, affording adoption and lists of grants that are available. If you need more just contact me direct.

Answer 8

You bought it--you pay for it.

Just love that long list of sites to help people adopt, wish there were as many resources for keeping mother and baby together.

Answer 9

Yeah, I had to put some hospital bills on my credit card after I gave birth the old fashioned way, too bad there's no free handouts for those of us who go about building our families the way God intended.

Get a job and make payments like everyone else.

Answer 10

We were in a similar situation. We weren't even looking to adopt, but were open to it. We had JUST bought our first house and remodeled. so our savings was a little skimpy.

Al of the expences were to be covered by her military insurance, but because of complications another hospital got involved and it added up to 37K.

What I had to do was take 10K out of savings, paid 5k over a year and then after that, we had 22K or so left and made a deal with the hospital and got a loan. We now have 3K left and our tax return should take care of that.  

Just keep on workin' on it. I even did Ebay to pay for much of it. People will buy anything

Answer 11

I do not have the answer for u but...I'm sorry people on here r such a** wholes -they are probably bitter themselves or in the Everyday life to afraid to speak their mind. Good luck to u and your family

Answer 12

Are you serious?