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September 22, 2015

Creative Ways to Help Fund Your Adoption

We’ve said it before, and it’s not something we pretend isn’t the case: adoption is not cheap. There are very legitimate reasons for those costs, and the fees are necessary when it comes to supporting agency fees, birth mother needs, travel expenses and legal obligations. Although there is a cost associated with adoption, that cost is not insurmountable, and there are things you can do to help fund your adoption.

1. Create a budget. If you were saving for a new car, a new house, or an education, you’d likely create a budget. Those are all expensive, big-ticket life items that probably don’t fall within the general take-home amount of your paycheck. In that way, adoption is no different. Consider meeting with a financial planner to determine how you can better save or where you can cut spending, and allocate those funds directly to your adoption. A solid, well-planned budget is essential for creating the space to save for an adoption. Make a separate account and funnel tax returns, and work bonuses. If you separate any extra money you come into throughout the year and allocate it towards your adoption, you’d be surprised how much you save.

2. Fundraising. Consider some creative fundraising ideas! Creating A Family has a host of unique ideas, ranging from hosting a yard sale and selling baked goods to hosting an athletic event. Some of these may fit exactly within your family’s wheelhouse, others may feel entirely out of your comfort zone. When it comes to fundraising, it’s important to choose a method that jives with what makes you (and what would make members of your family) comfortable. Fundraising can be a tricky thing — you don’t want to pester people or make others feel pressured to donate, but you also want to make sure that you’re accomplishing your goal. Here’s a great etiquette guide that can help alleviate some of that pressure.
3. Employee programs. Have you looked into Employee Assistance programs? Your employer may offer adoption-related benefits. If they don’t, they may be open to it, but have just never had the opportunity to enact such protocol. The Dave Thomas Foundation’s Adoption Friendly Workplace Program has some great employer resources, if your employer is open to exploring options.
4. Grants. There are so many adoption grants set up to help families pursue their dream of adoption. A quick search for “adoption grants” brings up a multitude of organizations who want to help families finance their adoption journey. This is a great way to bring in a good chunk of money towards your adoption.
Most importantly, don’t give up. There are so many ways to finance your adoption. Be open with your agency about what you can reasonably afford, and see what assistance they have put in place to help families finance their adoptions.