Financial Assistance For International Adoption
Adoption Grants and Loans
Adoption Grants are an excellent way to finance your adoption. Many organizations provide grants to help cover adoption expenses. Adoption Loans are also available to help cover the adoption costs and are usually low-interest or interest-free.
Family Sponsorship Adoption Grants and Loans
Family Sponsorship is another common way to help finance your adoption. You would usually place your profile on the organization’s website. Family, friends, and other interested people who see the site make donations toward the adoption costs and expenses.
What to Expect When Applying
An approved home study is usually needed when applying. Expect to include financial information, starting with tax returns. If applying to religious or faith-based organizations, you should expect to submit a statement of faith and references from your priest or pastor.
The grant or loan is usually paid directly to the adoption agency, which credits the amount from the final payment. If the assistance exceeds the agency’s balance, the agency sends the remaining funds to the family.
If you are considering using an organization for family sponsorship, be prepared to build a team that will help you solicit donors. The organization will guide you, but this requires active fundraising from the adopting family, ensuring you are fully prepared for the process.
Adoption Tax Credit
The federal government allows a tax credit of $16,810. The credit can be claimed on your federal tax return for the year the adoption becomes final. It is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in tax liability. Families with a modified adjusted gross income below $239,230 may be eligible for the full credit. The credit and income eligibility requirements are modified annually. For more information regarding this law, visit the IRS website or NCFA here.
Employee Benefits
Many companies offer adoption benefits to their employees. Those benefits may be financial reimbursements for fees paid during the adoption or just parental leave for adoption. You should always check with your company’s human resources department to see if they offer these benefits and contact us to add them to the list below.
Military Non-Recurring Program
There is a one-time subsidy for full-time military personnel. Adopting couples or singles can receive up to $2,000 per child or $5,000 for siblings for adoption-related expenses. For more information, visit Defense Finance and Accounting Accounting Services.
New Beginnings Grants
The Morocco Kafala Fund is available to New Beginnings families adopting from our programs in Morocco. The fund awards Adoption Grants, Waiting Child Grants, and Emergency Loans, as well as Project-based Grants to organizations dedicated to supporting and caring for children in Morocco.
The Beyond the Placement Grant Program helps families adopt a waiting child. Many older or special-needs children are available for adoption. By assisting families in reducing the financial barriers, we can help find a waiting child a home.
Adoption Grants and Loans
The following are organizations that provide grants and loans for international adoption.
A Child Waits Foundation (Adoption Grants, Loans)—A Child Waits Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1998. Since then, it has made it its mission to provide low-interest loans and grants to eligible families to offset some of the adoption cost.
Gift of Adoption Fund (Adoption Grants)—The Gift of Adoption Fund provides grants to qualified parents, giving children who need families a permanent home and a chance to thrive. Since its founding, the Fund has awarded over $3.4 million to over 1,200 families. While these grants are awarded based on financial need, they are open to people of all religions and backgrounds.
JSC Foundation (Adoption Grants) – The JSC Foundation is dedicated to providing grants to Christian couples for which the cost of adoption is a hardship.
Cade Foundation (Adoption Grants) – The Cade Foundation provides grants for U.S. citizens with documented infertility.
Show Hope Foundation (Adoption Grants)—Through Show Hope, you can help transform the lives of children holistically, turning them from orphans to beloved sons and daughters. A financial Adoption Aid grant can help families overcome the financial barrier so more children can have homes.
The Abba Fund (Family sponsorship, Matching Grants, Loans) – The Abba Fund offers interest-free loans and family sponsorship programs for adoptive Christian Families.
Morocco Kafala Fund (Adoption Grants) – The Morocco Kafala Fund is sponsored by New Beginnings. It provides Adoption Grants to families to help cover some of the adoption expenses and Emergency Loans to families experiencing unexpected expenses while in Morocco. Available to families adopting through our Moroccan Program.
Beyond the Placement (Adoption Grants) – New Beginnings offers grants through our Beyond the Placement Program to our families adopting a waiting child. Beyond the Placement grants can be combined with other grants or family sponsorships.
America’s Christian Credit Union (Loans, Adoption Grants) – America’s Christian Credit Union is a bank dedicated to serving the Christian community’s needs. They offer loans for adoption fees and a grant fund for needy families, partly paid for by a percentage from their Adoption Grant VISA cards for members.
Both Hands Foundation (Family sponsorship) – The Both Hands Foundation offers family sponsorship to help adoptive families solicit sponsorships to cover the cost of adoption.
Brittany’s Hope (Adoption Grants)—The Brittany’s Hope Foundation offers financial assistance for adoptive families. Their “Seedling Gift” is a grant to help offset adoption costs. To remain sustainable, it is expected to be “paid forward” to another family in need after it is awarded.
Connected Heart Ministry (Family sponsorship) – Connected Heart Ministry offers a family sponsorship program to help Christian families raise funds for adoption fees.
Families Outreach (Adoption Grants) – Families Outreach is a Christian organization devoted to aiding adoptive parents in paying for the cost of adoption. These grants are based on the family and child’s needs and are offered to Christian families.
Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. (Matching Adoption Grants) – Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. is dedicated to helping children become part of “forever” families by partnering with Christian couples to help carry the burden of the cost of adoption through matching grants and the raising of support.
Helpusadopt.org (Adoption Grants)—Helpusadopt.org is a New York-based organization that gives grants to adoptive families in need. While some priority is given to families with no children or not seeking infertility treatments at the same time as adoption, helpusadopt.org accepts applicants of all backgrounds.
Katelyn’s Fund (Adoption Grants): Katelyn’s Fund is a faith-based organization that provides grants to Christian families.
Lifesong for Orphans (Matching Grants, Interest-free Loans) – Lifesong offers matching grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 based on individual needs. These grants are limited to Christian applicants.
National Adoption Foundation (Grants, Loans)—The National Adoption Foundation provides several services for all legal adoptions, including international, special needs, and public or private adoptions. These grants are selective but not necessarily based on faith or income. They also offer loans, help set up free fundraising programs, and have a special Visa card that donates a portion of every purchase made to NAF.
Oxford Adoption Foundation (Adoption Loans) – The Oxford Adoption Foundation helps adoptive families by providing low-interest loans to assist with the expenses associated with the international adoption process.
Pathways for Little Feet (Adoption Loans) – Pathways for Little Feet acts as a “nonprofit bank” for adopting families where a dollar donated into the fund is lent out to a loving family at no cost—no interest. The family’s first responsibility is to repay the loan so that a loving family can adopt another child.
Reece’s Rainbow (Family sponsorship)—Reece’s Rainbow advocates for and finds families for orphans with Down syndrome and other special needs. They offer a family sponsorship program by raising funds for adoption grants and promoting awareness through an online community, media communications, and other events.
United Healthcare Children’s Foundation (Adoption Grants) – UHCCF grants provide financial help/assistance for families with children who have medical needs that are not covered or not fully covered by their commercial health insurance plan.