Adoption costs can climb into the tens of thousands of dollars, and sometimes a remaining funding gap can keep a family from completing the process. The Gift of Adoption Fund provides grants to help eligible families cover qualified adoption expenses and move closer to finalization.
What the Grant Offers
Gift of Adoption’s current FAQ says grants range from $1,000 to $15,000, with an average grant of $6,400.
These grants aren’t designed to cover the entire cost of an adoption. Gift of Adoption considers factors including financial need, perseverance and how close the adoption is to completion when reviewing applications.
Grant funds may be used for qualified adoption expenses, but Gift of Adoption does not fund:
- Embryo adoptions
- Medical expenses
- Home improvements
The organization also does not reimburse adoption expenses you’ve already paid.
Who Qualifies
Gift of Adoption supports qualified U.S. families pursuing domestic or international adoption.
Applicants generally need:
- At least one adoptive parent who is a U.S. citizen
- Demonstrated financial need
- A genuine commitment to completing the adoption
- An adoption that meets Gift of Adoption’s requirements
Most applicants also need an approved and current home study prepared by an appropriately licensed or accredited adoption professional.
However, Gift of Adoption now provides exceptions for certain adoption situations. Some kinship or relative adoptions may qualify without a home study, and certain families adopting a former foster child or completing a subsequent adoption may be able to apply before a new home study is finished.
Gift of Adoption does not restrict applicants based on religion, race, age, marital status, sexual orientation or the number of biological or adopted children already in the family.
There is no firm published income cutoff. Instead, the organization evaluates financial need based on factors such as household income, expenses, assets and debts.
Adoption Provider Requirements
The requirements depend on the type of adoption you’re pursuing.
For international adoptions, Gift of Adoption requires applicants to work with an appropriately accredited adoption provider. Its current FAQ references IAAME or CEAS accreditation for international adoption providers.
Domestic adoptions have separate requirements depending on whether you’re working through an adoption agency, attorney or another qualified adoption professional.
Because these requirements can vary by adoption type, it’s important to review the current Gift of Adoption FAQ before applying.
When to Apply
Gift of Adoption does not have one annual application deadline, so families can apply throughout the year.
Generally, applications should be submitted before the adoption is finalized. Gift of Adoption typically waits to review an application until a child has been matched or referred to the family and the adoption is expected to be finalized within approximately six months.
You should not apply if your adoption has already been finalized or is already fully funded.
How to Apply
Start through the Gift of Adoption application page.
There is a $50 nonrefundable, one-time application fee.
That one-time fee allows an eligible adoption case to be submitted for grant review up to three times, as long as the case continues to meet the organization’s requirements.
You’ll need to provide information about your adoption, financial circumstances and remaining funding needs, along with the required adoption documentation.
If you have questions about the grant process, you can contact grants@giftofadoption.org.
Relief Recap
Gift of Adoption provides grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000, with a current average award of approximately $6,400, to help qualified families complete an adoption.
The program considers financial need and how close the adoption is to completion, and there is no single annual application deadline.
Most applicants need a current approved home study, although Gift of Adoption now provides exceptions for certain kinship, former foster child and subsequent adoption situations.
If fertility treatment is also part of your family-building journey, our post on the Hope for Fertility National Grant covers another grant program worth checking out.
