Adoption Grants

It's fundraising Friday again and I thought today I would offer up some resources on adoption grant and subsidy programs.

I encourage fundraising families to exhaust all grant opportunities and if appropriate consider partnering with a fundraising/grant partner (like Lifesong's Both Hands-there are others).

Many of the grant programs out there are faith based and many of those are Christian, there are a few that have less narrow eligibility requirements.  However all of the programs required families to have an approved home study.

I've listed some of the most well know programs out there but there are others. Many are linked to a particular adoption agency. There are also programs that are state specific and child specific. There are even employer based programs.

Keep in mind the need for adoption financial support far outweighs the available funds and many requests will go unfunded, however for some this is a great option.

Here is a list to get you started...

Affording Adoption Foundation grant program offering financial assistance to families in the process of adopting. Grants vary in amount, depending upon the current number of applicants, as well as the need of those applicants. Deadline for next available grant is March 1, 2012.

 A Child Waits Foundation  grant program designed to help children who are living in international orphanages to become part of a family. They also have a low interest adoption loan program.

Shaohannah's Hope need based based grant program for Christian families.


National Adoption Foundation    broad eligibility requirements make this a very popular program.

Lifesong For Orphans  innovative "Both Hands" program providing matching fundraising grants.  (This is one of my favorites. All fundraising families should check this program out.) They also have an interest free loan program.

Gift of Adoption   Average grant size is $3,500. Grants are available for both International and Domestic adoption.

 Help Us Adopt   provides qualified couples and individuals -regardless of race, ethnicity, marital status, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability- with grants of up to $15,000 towards their domestic, international, foster, or special needs adoption expenses.

The Sparrow Fund  provides grants specifically to cover the expense of a medical review of a waiting child's file.


African American Adoptions Online  A program to help qualified families adopt African American newborns, children, and sibling groups.

Anelise Fund   Jewish Child Care Association offers adoption grants to qualified Jewish families, living in New York or New Jersey and adopting from China.  

Cade Foundatiion  provides up to $10,000 to help with costs of domestic adoption and medical fertility treatment.

Katelyn's Fund  need based grant for Christian families.

JSC Foundation income based grants up to $20,000 (more for sn or sibling adoptions). Must be a Christian family. 

God's Grace Adoption Ministry  Christian based program with grants between $1,000 and $4,000.

The LYDIA Fund  recipients must be married Christian couples adopting children from orphanages.

The ABBA Fund    Christian based financial assistance for adoption related expenses.

The MICAH Fund     assistance for Christian families in Minnesota and the surrounding states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin for domestic adoption of a minority child.

Please share information for any other grant program you know of....also please vote:)