Adoption Funding Resources

Crowdfunding

Pure Charity – This is our favorite crowdfunding site for adoption! Pure Charity is an adoption crowdfunding platform that allows you to raise 100% of the expenses for domestic, international, and embryo adoptions. All donations are tax-deductible and updated in real-time. Pure Charity is easy to use and allows you to manage all of your adoption fundraisers completely online. You even get your very own personal fundraising coach! Start a fundraising profile now!

AdoptTogether – AdoptTogether was created to help families share their story and pay for adoption expenses.  All donations are tax-deductible and the funds are awarded to the families through a grant.

You Caring – Online fundraising platform that has been around since 2011 and is supported by donors around the world. The only expense is credit card processing which is typically 2.9% + $.30 per transaction. However, donations for adoptions are not tax-deductible.

T-Shirt Fundraising

Bonfire – Online fundraising platform that provides a risk-free way to create and sell custom t-shirts. No upfront costs, no inventory, and no shipping. Bonfire will print and deliver the shirts to your supporters. If you’re selling adoption t-shirts, we recommend Bonfire! Sign up using our link and you will receive an extra $1 per shirt sold up to $100!

Teespring – Create and sell custom apparel to raise money for your adoption with ZERO hassle, ZERO upfront costs and ZERO risk. Get started and launch your campaign in minutes! Teespring removes the hassle and lets you promote your fundraiser and sell more t-shirts. Sign up with our link and receive $0.50 per shirt sold up to $2,500!

DIY T-Shirt Fundraising

Funding The Nations – If you want to manage your own t-shirt campaign, Funding The Nations has a nice selection of pre-made adoption designs or they will create one just for you.

Creative Fundraising

Adoption Fundraising Library – Crowdfunding, DIY, Branded Products, Events, Services and Online Tools are a few of the topics covered in this resource loaded with creative fundraising ideas that have helped many families finance their adoptions.

Both Hands Project – Since starting in 2008, Both Hands has completed 442 projects in 40 states, brought 496 orphans closer to home, served 489 widows and enabled over 13,000 volunteers to impact their community. With raising a total of $4.95 million for adoptions and orphan care, Both Hands has been heralded as one of the leading adoption fundraising models.

The Apparent Project – This win-win bracelet fundraiser empowers Haitian artisans, mostly single mothers, to earn a living and provide for their families while helping fund your adoption.

Zazzle – Create an awesome, custom jigsaw puzzle for your puzzle piece fundraiser that will be unique to your family and remain memorable for years to come.

Books

Fund Your Adoption: A Step-By-Step Guide To Adopt Debt-Free – Everything you need to know to adopt debt-free! All of our best information and resources at your fingertips. This book guides you through the uncertainty of the adoption funding process to help you create a simple, effective plan to overcome your fear, set achievable goals, fundraise with confidence, apply for grants and utilize smart social media strategies to fund your adoption without going into debt. Get it now only $5.99!

You Can Adopt Without Debt – Author Julie Gumm shares proven strategies from her own experience as well as from others that include applying for grants, budgeting, and creative fundraising that prospective adoptive parents can use to prepare for and avoid those high costs associated with adoption. We highly recommend it. Buy It Now!

Online Raffles & Auctions

Rafflecopter – In the past year, Rafflecopter has hosted more than 300,000 giveaways. Now it’s crazy-simple to launch and manage online adoption giveaways and raffles for any family, on any website, as much as you want, with no IT support required. Get started and create your raffle in minutes!

32Auctions – Simplify your online auction adoption fundraiser. 32Auctions is a full-featured online silent auction service available for everyone including adoptive families. They make managing your silent auction fun & easy! FREE up to 20 items.

Interest-Free Adoption Loans

ABBA Fund offers interest-free covenant loans for Christian families to help eliminate the cash crunch of an expensive adoption. These loans average between $6,000 and $8,000 and are typically no larger than 1/3 of the overall cost of the adoption. Each loan is expected to be paid back within 3 years. Approval takes approximately 6-8 weeks and you will be contacted via email. While you’re visiting the Abba Fund website, consider applying for their Christian Family Adoption Grant as well.

Hebrew Free Loan Association offers interest-free loans up to $15,000 to adoptive families of Jewish faith through local chapters across the US. The funds can be used for domestic or international adoptions. Once you apply for a loan, the Board of Directors will review your application. If you’re approved, repayment typically begins 30 days after the payment is disbursed.

International Association of Jewish Free Loans is a nonprofit, non-sectarian agency whose mission is to help people with temporary financial needs to become or remain self-supporting, self-respecting members of their community by the aid of interest-free loans. The International Association of Jewish Free Loans provides interest-free loans to people in need including adoption assistance loans and for families with children with special needs. Loan applications are offered by local chapters and can be processed in as few as 7-10 days.

Lifesong For Orphans offers interest-free loans ranging from $3,000 to $12,000 to help Christian families overcome the high cost of adoption, especially the initial cash flow crunch. Couples enter into a covenant agreement to repay the loan through manageable monthly or annual payments. Repayments can even be made to coincide with adoption tax credits. Expect 8-10 weeks for your application to process. Be sure to check out Lifesong’s adoption grant and other funding resources.

Oxford Adoption Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation that helps families adopting internationally by providing low interest loans up to $5,000 to help with adoption expenses. The loan is not funded until the completion of the adoption. In addition, it is a 9-year loan that includes a 3-phase repayment plan with different rates of interest and is prepayable at any time. If you repay the loan in full within years 1-3, it’s an interest-free loan.

• 0% interest for years 1-3
• 3% interest for years 4-6
• 6% interest for years 7-9

Pathways For Little Feet is a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) that provides interest-free adoption loans to families for any amount up to $7,500. The goal is to assist families with the final steps of their adoptions. You must be within 3-6 months of completing your adoption before submitting an application. Funding priority is given to families demonstrating the greatest financial need and that have sought other funding sources including loans, adoption grants, employee assistance and fundraising. The loan will be repaid monthly and the funds will be used to help other families with their adoptions. The average loan repayment is $100 per month.

Low Interest Adoption Loans

SoFi – Offers low interest (as low as 4.04%) personal loans ranging from $5,000-$100,000.  There are no fees and loans can be 3, 5, or 7 years. SoFi offers unemployment protection in case you lose your job. Find Your Rate!

Upstart –  A smarter loan! There’s more to you than just your credit score. Your education and job history are considered and allow you to get a lower rate. Upstart offers loans from $3,000-$35,000 with rates as low as 4.7%. With fixed rates, no hidden fees or prepayment penalties, you can save money and build credit with a better personal loan. Get your loan approved and have your money the next day. Get Started Now!

Lightstream offers adoption loans* with low fixed rates for families with good to excellent credit. Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000 and Lightstream offers flexible terms. There are no origination fees or prepayment penalties. Get Started Now!

America’s Christian Credit Union – Not interest-free, however, ACCU offers several adoption-specific financial products, including loans up to $50,000, to help finance your adoption. ACCU also offers a $500 adoption grant available to members.

A Child Waits Foundation – Offers low interest adoption loans (currently 5%) up to $10,000 to help families cover the cost of adoption. Loans can be paid back as quickly as you choose for up to 5 years, at which point they must be paid off in full.

*All loans are subject to credit approval by LightStream. If approved, your APR will be based on loan purpose, amount, term and your credit profile. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice.

Budgeting For Adoption

Digit – The ultimate smart, automated savings tool that checks your spending habits and transfers small amounts of money out of your checking account and into your FDIC insured savings account. FREE

EveryDollar – Dave Ramsey’s FREE budgeting tool that lets you personalize your budget, track your expenses, and measure progress toward your financial goals. There’s also a premium version called EveryDollar Plus for $99/year.

Level Money – Clean, beautiful app that automatically links to your bank accounts, and gives you a snapshot of how your remaining budget looks on any given day, week, or month. FREE

Mint – Popular online budgeting tool that pulls all your financial accounts into one place. It allows you to set a budget, track your goals and manage your money. FREE

Mvelopes – This is the budgeting and financial management tool we’ve used since 2009 to eliminate debt and track expenses to the penny. We have a lifetime subscription! There’s a FREE version and premier plan for $9.95 per month. We recommend the premier plan because it offers more features and includes a free budgeting bootcamp.

Personal Capital – One of the best FREE personal finance tools available. Imagine all of your expenses, income and investing data all in one place so you can manage your budget and investments at the same time! Personal Capital can link all of your accounts and track your net worth automatically. This is a great tool to help you manage your finances. Join now for free!

Employer Adoption Benefits

Adoption Friendly Benefits Toolkit –  Makes it easy to establish an adoption benefits policy at your workplace. It explains how to approach your human resources department and implement a financial reimbursement and paid leave policy for employees who adopt. FREE

100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces of 2014 – The annual list of top 100 companies recognized by the Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption for providing benefits packages to employees who adopt children.

Employer-Provided Adoption Benefits – Helpful fact sheet for families developed by Child Welfare Information Gateway.