Financial Aid Information
“We cannot afford to adopt” is a statement
often heard by our adoption counselors. Because of this statement,
made in frustration, many childless families are brokenhearted
and children remain in orphanages.
While we cannot change the fact that adopting internationally
is expensive, we are concerned that the expenses often make adopting
prohibitive for wonderful families desiring to love a child.
However—there is good news! Awareness of adoption,
especially international adoption, has risen dramatically within
the last decade. And because of raised awareness and the efforts
of many wonderful people, legislators, company executives, adoptive
parents and others, more and more funding has become available
to make an adoption work for you. We want to pass that information
along to you.
Employee Benefits
Secondly, due largely to the efforts of the late Dave
Thomas and the Dave Thomas Foundation, hundreds of corporations
now offer adoption expense reimbursements to their qualifying employees.
We have personally seen benefits paid ranging between $1,700 and
$10,000! Check with your Human Resources Dept. of your company,
whoever normally handles your other benefits. If your company does
not offer this benefit, then consider asking them! Adoption benefits
are considered good personnel practice, and qualified adoption
plans receive favorable treatment from the IRS on the companies
tax return. The National
Adoption Center has a wonderful informative packet entitled “Advocating
For Adoption Benefits” you may want to obtain. Study the
issues and then make an appointment with the president or personnel
manager of your company. You might be surprised how willing they
are to support you if you make a good case.
There are adoption benefits available to military families, as
well as many other other federal employees. Many states offer their
employees generous reimbursements—this affects state employees
of all kinds—including school teachers.
Adoption
Friendly Workplace is a program which provides information
about adoption benefits to employers and employees in both the
public and private sectors. Funded by the Dave Thomas Foundation
for Adoption, the project maintains a database of employers with
adoption benefits—financial reimbursement, paid and/or
unpaid leave time, and resource and referral services. This list
is updated regularly and can be found on this site. As a result
of this program, nearly 450 employers have implemented or improved
adoption benefits, impacting over 2 million employees nationwide.
State Subsidies
Many states offer a tax credit or subsidy in addition
to the federal tax credit. There is often an added benefit program
for those who adopt children classified as “special needs” (often
considered correctable). Sometimes these subsidies can apply to
international children. Ask your home study social worker for information
of possible state credits.
Loans
Some financial institutions offer low interest loans
with special terms strictly for adoption expenses. Start with your
bank and then call around. Many people will take out a loan to
fund the adoption and find that upon receiving tax reimbursements
and employee benefits that much of their loan can be paid back
quickly.
Chase New Additions
Chase Home Equity believes that if you want to adopt, finding a way to pay for it should not stand in your way. That's why Chase Home Equity and The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption have joined forces to bring you Chase New Additions, a special program that offers a lower introductory rate on a new home equity line of credit to help families pay for adoption expenses. Visit us online to learn more and apply.
Internet Resources
The
Abba Fund
The Abba Fund exists to glorify God as one of His instruments in
helping the fatherless by helping Christian families grow through
adoption. We provide financial assistance for parents who believe
that God is calling them to grow their families through adoption
and need help with the “cash flow crunch” posed by
adoption expenses.
A
Child Waits Foundation
Provides low interest loans for families who have exhausted other
financial options and could not proceed with their adoption without
this help. Write: 1136 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Tel:
866-999-2445 (866-999-CHILD). Fax: 518-794-6243.
Christian
Advocates For Adoption
CAFA is dedicated to seeing the fatherless children of the world
find their place in loving Christian homes. CAFA exists to promote
adoption within the Christian community through inspiration, education
and provision. CAFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization through
which donated funds are made available to facilitate adoptions.
This will encourage giving due to the tax benefits and allow donors
to remain anonymous. We want to remove the barrier of cost so that
more families will be able to follow their hearts in adoption.
Gift
of Adoption Fund
Give a child a home for a lifetime! It brings new life to parentless
children; new hope to the childless, and joy to families that extends
through generations. The Gift of Adoption Fund turns the dream
of adoption into reality for those who could not otherwise afford
to adopt. The Gift of Adoption Fund provides financial assistance
to moderate and low-income families seeking to adopt.
FamilyBuilder
Fund Grants
Christian World Foundation FamilyBuilder Fund is a response
to the needs of parents who are registered clients with Christian
World Adoption. We understand that there parents with the heart
to adopt, but not always the means. The FamilyBuilder Fund is a
financial grant to help cover adoption expenses for qualified CWA
parents. Grants are made to families on a case by case basis according
to need and funds available.
Shaohannah’s
Hope
Awards financial adoption grants to qualified families already
in the process of adopting. The size of the grant awarded is determined
by several factors, the most important being need. With a commitment
in faith by the family, Shaohannah’s Hope will provide up
to $7000 toward the cost of adopting, thereby reducing the financial
barriers and allowing more families to experience the miracle of
adoption. Don’t let finances keep you from adopting a child.
Call toll free at 1-800-784-5361. Serious inquiries only please!
Our Creator's Hope
Our Creator's Hope sole purpose is to provide a way to fulfill God’s commandment for the church but most importantly to help those who need us the most, the orphans. The founders, Ray and Leigh Stevens, realize adoption fees are a huge barrier to many Godly families seeking to adopt. There are few resources available to help offset these fees. This barrier ultimately results in orphans never finding permanent homes. We believe and advocate that EVERYONE can do their part to help orphans unite with Godly loving parents. We believe parents should not have to incur debt in order to fulfill God's purpose for the church or believers in caring for orphans. We created an organization that would help orphans and their future families come together, unhindered by financial burdens.
LifeSong For Orphans
Adoption is our ultimate goal in caring for orphan children as it enables them to become a part of God's perfect plan…a family. While many Christian couples have the desire and resources
to care for a child, initial costs keep many from following God's call to adopt. LifeSong helps remove this financial roadblock by offering matching grants which encourage the adopting couple's church family to financially and prayerfully support the adoption.
Tomorrow
Is A Gift
A huge site of information on grant organizations, loan organizations,
other resources, employer benefits, fund raisers, adoption airfare
savings and much, much more.
National
Endowment for Financial Education
“How to Make Adoption an Affordable Option” is
for people who would like to consider adoption but are reluctant
because they believe that the process is too expensive. It is also
for families who, caught up in the emotions of adopting, may not
have given serious thought to some of the less obvious financial
aspects of adoption. Here you’ll find out about expenses
common to most adoptions. You’ll also learn about financial
assistance and tax breaks available to adoptive parents. If you’re
thinking seriously of adopting, don’t let the myths about
the costs deter you. By careful financial planning, you can make
adoption an affordable option for your family and provide a nurturing
environment for a child.
The
National Adoption Foundation
A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial support,
information, and services for adoptive and prospective adoptive
families, has recently expanded their programs to include home
equity loans, as well as unsecured loans and grants for adoption
expenses. There is also a limited grant program. For information,
or to request a brochure, write: 100 Mill Plain Road, Danbury,
CT 06811. Tel: 203-791-3811. Fax: 203-791-3801.
China
Care
China Care was conceived of and founded by Matt Dalio in 2000,
when he was 16-years-old. When Matt was 11, he lived the life of
a Chinese boy in Beijing for a school year. He went to an all-Chinese
school with a Chinese couple and learned to speak Mandarin. In
the process, Matt became a bit Chinese. He developed a love and
feeling of indebtedness to the Chinese people. Although modifying
the way that things are done in China was an ambitious goal, Matt
learned that, because of his age, ability to communicate in mandarin,
sincerity, and the help of Chinese friends, people in China wanted
to help him. With the enthusiastic support of people on both sides
China Care has been able to have a tremendous impact and is continuing
to do so.
Adoption
Policy Research Center
A public service provided by Adoption Advocates which provides
direct advocacy for individual adoptive families, systemic advocacy
for adoption organizations and coalitions, disseminated through
the Adoption Policy Resource Center website, which offers access
to a variety of useful information resources on adoption to a wide
audience.
Adoptive
Families Magazine
Additional article of information about where to look for help,
what subsidies are available, and where loans and grants may be
found.
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