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Financial Assistance

Holt believes finances should not stop a child from having a loving family. Although many resources exist to help adoptive families offset the cost of adoption, it's not always clear where to start looking or what opportunities are best suited for your family. To help you consider all your options, Holt provides an outline of financial assistance, as well as a list of resources categorized by type. Click on a heading below to view contents.

Types of Financial Assistance

1. Tax Credits: Federal Adoption Tax Credit: Congress extended The Adoption Tax Credit (ATC) through 2011 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), signed into law on March 22, 2010. The maximum credit increased from $12,150 to $13,170. Families may be eligible for the Adoption Tax Credit in the tax year they finalize an eligible adoption. For more information about the Adoption Tax Credit, click here and consult with a licensed tax preparer. State Tax Credits: Some states provide non-recurring adoption fee reimbursements. Contact a licensed tax preparer to inquire for more information.

2. Employer Assistance: Your employer may offer adoption benefits to their employees. Check our List of Companies Offering Adoption Benefits or ask your Human Resources department. If you are interested in proposing that your company provide adoption benefits, adoptive parent Melissa Sherlock provides an excellent template. (Tip: follow the link, select Save As... from the File menu, then open the document in a word processor.)

3. U.S. Military Reimbursement: Military service members who adopt a child under 18 years of age may be reimbursed for qualified adoption expenses up to $2000 per adoptive child (up to a total of $5000 if more than one child is adopted) per calendar year. For more information on this and other military adoption support visit the National Military Family Association's website.

4. Reduction of Adoption Program Fee: There may be a reduction in the adoption program fee if the child you are adopting has moderate to severe special needs. This is determined on a case-by-case basis. There is no reduction in fees for children with minor special needs.

5. Grants: An adoption grant is a great way to cover some of your family's adoption expenses. Before applying, it is important to check for grant eligibility criteria and application deadlines. Most grant organizations accept applications after the family has an approved home study and will administer funds directly to the family's service provider.

Grant Organizations
Organization Recently Granted to Holt Families Special Needs Adoptions Only State or Country Specific Religious Criteria
Caroline's Promise SC
Christian Advocates for Adoption X
Christian World Foundation – Family Builder Fund X
Feng Li Li Foundation X
God's Grace Adoption Ministry X
Grant Me A Chance X
HANDinHAND Christian Adoption, Inc. X X
HelpUsAdopt.org X
Holt's Special Needs Adoption Fund (SNAF) X X
Ibsen Adoption Network WA
James 1:27 Foundation X IA X
Katelyn's Fund X X
Kinsman Redeemer MO X
Lifesong for Orphans X X
Reece's Rainbow X
Sea of Faces Foundation X
Show Hope X X X
The Abba Fund X X X
The Brittany's Hope Foundation X X
United Healthcare Children's Foundation X
 

Organizations That Have Recently Awarded Grants to Holt Families

  1. The Abba Fund
    Loans provided by ABBA Fund are interest free. Adopting Christian couples may request financial assistance in any amount, based upon their needs. The amount of financial assistance will depend, in part,on the needs of the couple and the resources available to ABBA Fund.

  2. Show Hope
    A non-profit organization that mobilizes individuals and communities to meet the most pressing needs of orphans in distress, by providing 1) homes for waiting children through adoption aid grants, and 2) life-saving medical care for orphans with special needs. Grants and fundraising opportunities offered to Christian adoptive couples.

  3. Lifesong for Orphans
    Lifesong offers matching grants (range from $2,000-$4,000), which encourage the adopting couple's church family to financially and prayerfully support the adoption. Dollar-for-dollar matching grants act as catalysts in raising funds. The Lifesong Legacy Fund offers interest free loans to help families overcome the high cost of adoption.

  4. HelpUsAdopt.org
    HelpUsAdopt.org is dedicated to the countless parents waiting to adopt, and to the thousands of birth parents selfless enough to give their children another chance for a loving family. Adoption grants range from $500 to $15,000 dependent upon need and priority is given to childless couples/individuals. HelpUsAdopt.org accepts applications from couples/individuals regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or marital status.

  5. James 1:27 Foundation
  6. The James 1:27 Foundation is a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to making adoption affordable for families in Iowa.Adoptiongrants are awarded to Christian couples in the state of Iowa. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate the greatest financial need.

  7. Katelyn's Fund
  8. Through donations from various families, churches, and communities, Katelyn's Fund has been given the opportunity to provide grants to several Christian families. Grants ($3,000 each) awarded to Christian adoptive couples based on greatest financial need.

  9. Feng Li Li Foundation
  10. 180 Laurel Avenue
    Forest, IL 60045
    Phone: 847-482-0500
    Grants awarded to Christian adoptive couples. Must request an application by mail or phone. No website.

  11. HANDinHAND Christian Adoption, Inc.
  12. HANDinHAND 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.

Resources for Special Needs Adoptions

  1. Holt's Special Needs Adoption Fund (SNAF): This fund assists families who need additional financial support in order to adopt a waiting child. Holt considers requests for this assistance on a case-by-case basis at the time of assignment. After being matched with a special needs child, families may request assistance from the SNAF from the country program director.

  2. The Brittany's Hope Foundation: The Brittany's Hope Foundation offers Seedlings Gifts directly to agencies. The agencies then grant portions of the gift to families that are matched with a waiting child and are in need of great financial assistance. These grants help pay for a portion of the country program fees and will be reimbursed after the child comes home. Families who accept grants from Brittany's Hope are required to fundraise for donations to Brittany's Hope equal to one-half of the Seedling Gift granted towards the adoption. For more information please visit the Brittany's Hope website and contact Waiting Child Program Staff.

  3. United Healthcare Children's Foundation
    Grants to cover prescribed medical services (not fully covered by insurance) for children in need.

  4. Grant Me A Chance
    Grants for families adopting older children, sibling groups, and children with special needs.

  5. Reece's Rainbow
    Financial assistance for families adopting a child with Down syndrome and other special needs in the form of a "Family Sponsorship Program". No religious criteria.

State or Country Specific Resources

  1. Caroline's Promise
  2. $3,000 grants to adoptive families in North and South Carolina.

  3. Ibsen Adoption Network
    Grants and fundraising assistance to Washington adoptive families.

  4. Kinsman Redeemer
    Grants from $1,000 to $7,000 awarded to Christian adoptive couples living in, or with family ties to, Missouri.

Resources for Christian Families

  1. God's Grace Adoption Ministry
    Grants and interest free loans for eligible Christian adoptive families.

  2. Sea of Faces Foundation
    $1,000 - $5,000 grants awarded to Christian adoptive couples.

  3. Christian World Foundation – Family Builder Fund
    Grants to Christian adoptive couples.

  4. Christian Advocates for Adoption
    Fundraising assistance for Christian adoptive couples.

Other Resources to Consider

  1. A Child Waits Foundation
    Low interest loans and grants for adoption.

  2. Perpetual Change
    Grants every 4-6 months and/or assistance in raising adoption funds. No religious criteria.

  3. Gift of Adoption Fund
  4. Grants are awarded monthly and range from $1,000 to $7,500 (the average grant award is $3,500).

  5. Pathways for Little Feet
    Interest free loans to adoptive families. No religious criteria.

  6. The Sparrow Fund
    Grants awarded for professional adoption support services, such as medical consultations and pre-adoption counsel. (For both non-special needs and special needs adoptions.) Visit their website for a broad list of adoption-related medical/counseling resources.

  7. Affording Adoption Foundation
    Grants awarded at various times throughout the year and based on financial need.

Financial Assistance Databases

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