Need help researching how to fund an adoption?
Check out the following links, which I’ve found to be extremely informative. While you’re at it, read my new article, "Financing Adoption," published recently at preconception.com (see details about the article in my previous blog entry for January 15, 2005).
Adoption-Friendly Workplace Program – www.AdoptionFriendlyWorkplace.org,
877-777-4222. Free materials to help people advocate for adoption benefits in
their workplace.
Affording Adoption – www.affordingadoption.com. Links
to grants, loans, employer benefits, and tips for fundraising and saving money
on adoption travel.
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption – www.DaveThomasFoundationForAdoption.org,
800.275.3832. Non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the adoptions of
children in North America’s foster care systems.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) –
www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/.
Requires employers with 50 or more employees to offer eligible employees up to
12 weeks of unpaid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
Federal Adoption Tax Credit (Publication
968) – www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html,
and www.irs.gov/publications/p968/index.html.
Explains the details of the maximum $10,160 credit available to eligible
families.
The
Foundation Directory, 2004
Edition (located in the reference section of public libraries).
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
(NAIC) – http://naic.acf.hhs.gov,
888.251.0075. Facts and resources about adoption, including a section on
funding and financial assistance.
National Adoption Subsidy Resource Center – www.nacac.org/adoptionsubsidy.html,
800.470.6665. Profiles state and
Canadian province adoption subsidy programs, available for children with
special needs.
National Endowment for Financial Education
– www.nefe.org/adoption/,
303.741.6333. Helpful information about how to make adoption an affordable
option.
National Military Family Association – www.nmfa.org/factsheets/dod_adoption_reimbursement_fact_sheet-2pages1.pdf
Reimburses active-duty personnel for most one-time adoption costs up to $2,000
per child, with a maximum reimbursement to one servicemember of $5,000 in any calendar
year.
Yahoo Groups – Discussion groups
centered around raising funds for adoption:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fundraisingforadoption
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adoptfund
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adoption-funding
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AdoptionFinancing
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FrugalFundingForAdoption/
For more information about financing adoption, visit my Web site, www.laurachristianson.com.