Grant Organizations

Grant Organizations

There are many organizations out there that want to help people adopt both domestically and internationally.  You do not have to be a low-income family to apply for a grant, but I think all of these have a maximum income cap.  It should be stated somewhere on their website.  Most do not charge to apply for a grant.  I do believe, however, that these are all Christian grant foundations, and will only grant funds to those who are professors of faith in Christ.  There are probably some grant foundations out there that aren’t Christian based.  Just Google and see what you find.
When we adopted Joshua, we were given a grant by JSC Foundation.  I highly recommend applying with them.  Just look at how they work (as of 3/2011 -- they may have changed their policies, I don't know):

• Families making below an annual income of $80,000. The maximum grant for these families is up to $20,000 unless a family is adopting a special needs child or a sibling group. Any money above $20,000 for a special needs or sibling group adoption will be considered on a case by case approval process.
• Those families making between an annual income of $80,000 and $120,000. The maximum grant for these families is up to $10,000. Again, more may be considered for a special needs or sibling group adoption.
• Travel expenses for two adults on a case by case approval process and only as funds are available. This money must be paid directly to the adoption agency.

Be sure to work with a non-profit agency, as JSC (and possibly other grant foundations) will only grant money to non-profit agencies.

The following is a list of grant foundations that I was given when we started our adoption journey.
National Adoption Foundation

The Abba Fund P.O. Box 78800 Charlotte, NC 28271-704 Phone: 1-888-775-3422 E-mail: kevin@abbafund.org They 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. The ABBA Fund also will help churches establish adoption funds.

Christian Advocates for Adoption, Inc. (CAFA) P.O. Box 364 Hudsonville, MI 49426-0364 Phone: 616-669-0655 E-mail: info@cafadopt.org This organization works with Christian couples. They start with a home study and application that is reviewed by CAFA board members. Then they send funding packets to clients who contact friends, family and acquaintances requesting help with the costs of the pending adoption. As a 501(c) 3 ministry donations to CAFA are tax deductible. Money is then distributed to our clients for use in paying for the adoption.

Federal Adoption Tax Credit Internal Revenue Service Phone: Toll-Free, 1-800-829-1040 Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. your local time Web site: http://www.irs.ustreas.gov The credit may be allowed for the adoption of a child with special needs even if you do not have any qualifying expenses. For more information, see the instructions for Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses. The maximum tax credit (tax year 2008) is now $13,000 (I'm not sure what it will be when filing 2012 taxes). Families with adjusted gross incomes up to $170,820 qualify for the full credit. For families with incomes above this amount and up to $210,820 the credit is reduced. The tax credit will be adjusted annually for inflation.  Please note:  This info could be outdated.  Check with the IRS for the most up-to-date info.

Gift of Adoption Fund, Inc. P.O. Box 567 Techny, Illinois 60082 Phone: 847-205-2784 or toll-free at 877-905-2367 E-mail: grants@giftofadoption.org The Gift of Adoption Fund provides grants to families with financial need who are seeking to adopt.

God’s Grace Adoption Ministry P.O. Box 4 Modesto, CA 95353 Phone: (209) 572-4539 E-mail: info@ggam.org God’s Grace Adoption Ministry is a non-profit organization helping adoptive parents overcome the financial burden of adopting children. It is not an adoption agency, but rather works in cooperation with the agency to assist the family with their financial needs. Depending on the individual family needs, financial assistance is available in the form of grants and interest free loans.

Helpusadopt.org P.O Box 20435 New York, NY 10021 Phone: 1-917-684-5484 E-mail: info@helpusadopt.org Web site: http://www.helpusadopt.org HelpUsAdopt.org is a national non-profit 501 (c) 3 financial assistance grant program that will provide qualified couples and individuals with grants of up to $15,000 towards their adoption expenses. Grants are awarded twice a year in June and December.

His Kids Too! Teresa Fillmon 219 B. Delta Court Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone# 1-850-524-5437 E-mail: director@hiskidstoo.org Web site: http://www.hiskidstoo.org His Kids Too, a 501(c)(3) charity, is a grant program designed so that your friends and family can assist you financially with adoption costs. Donors make tax-deductible donations to His Kids Too, and adoptive families apply for a grant from the funds generated by donors. The benefit of this program is that you are in control of your fundraising efforts and donors will have complete confidence that donations will go directly towards adoption expenses.

Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries 1417 N. Lincoln Spokane, WA 99201 509-465-3520 E-mail: ministry@kingdomkidsadoption.org Web site: http://www.kingdomkidsadoption.org Determination of grant amounts is based on a combination of the needs of the child, cost of the adoption, financial situation of the family and fundraising efforts.

Lifesong for Orphans 202 N. Ford St. Gridley, IL 61744 Phone: 309.747.3556 E-mail: info@lifesongfororphans.org Web site: http://www.lifesongfororphans.org Lifesong for Orphans offers a “matching grants” program as well as interest free loans.

National Council for Adoption (NCFA) 225 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: (703) 299-6633 or toll-free at 1-888-628-7700 Web site: http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/finance.html NCFA desires to financially assist families with adoption. In conjunction with Bank of America, NCFA offers an Adoption Line of Credit.

Our Creator’s Hope, Inc. 939 Cedar Bend Rd S Southside, AL 35907 E-mail: administration@ourcreatorshope.com Web site: http://www.ourcreatorshope.com Our Creator’s Hope believes that going into debt to give a child a home should not be necessary, so based on fund availability, OCH awards financial grants in the amount of $1,000-$10,000 to qualified families for domestic and international adoptions.

Shaohannah’s Hope PO Box 647 Franklin, TN 37065 Phone: 615-550-5600 Web site: http://www.shaohannahshope.org 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.