How to Raise Money for Adoption

Adopting a child can have both tremendous costs and tremendous benefits.

Adopting an infant, child or teenager can be a wonderful chance to become a parent or expand your family. Taking in a needy child who might otherwise face years of foster care can literally turn someone's life around. Unfortunately adoption may come with unexpected costs. Whether you are adopting at home or internationally you may need to raise funds to help defray expenses. Fortunately there are many ways you can tap into sources of funding.

Instructions

1. Decide on the type of adoption you want. Adoption can take several different forms. You may decide that you want to adopt internationally from a specific country or domestically in the United States. You may decide that you prefer to adopt a baby or prefer to have an older child in your home. Each type of adoption has challenges and rewards.

2. Get a rough estimate of costs. According to the website adoption.com, you may face fees for services that include a home study to investigate your background and parenting skills, legal fees to help make sure any adoption follows state laws, expenses for the birth mother and additional fees that may include medical expenses and travel if you are traveling to a foreign country for the adoption. If you are working with an agency or a lawyer specializing in adoption you should be able to get a rough estimate of your actual adoption related costs.

3. Let family and friends know of your plans to adopt. Your mother may be delighted that you are adopting and offer to help you financially. A friend may have adopted and know of ways that you can directly reduce costs related to the adoption. Family and friends may also want to help you raise money to fund the adoption.

4. Find out if your workplace has funding to help with adoption. According to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption hundreds of employers offer help to their employees to adopt. Such benefits include financial reimbursement for certain costs as well as paid leave after an adoption. Expenses related to adoption to adoption may be tax deductible so check with your accountant.

5. Hold a local fundraiser. Write up a report about your adoption efforts so far to the general public. Consider preparing a dinner party or holding a garage sale where you can speak directly to people about your journey so far. Check with an accountant to make sure that any fundraiser you hold is done so legally.

References

• Adoption: Costs of Adopting
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption