We know that adoption costs can feel overwhelming! AGCI never wants finances to stand in the way of a child uniting with their forever family—that's why we're grateful that AGCI families have been awarded more than $550,000 in adoption grants in the past two years alone! To date, AGCI families have been awarded more than $6.3 million in adoption grants!
FUNDING YOUR ADOPTION
Adoption Grants
Tax Credits
Financial Expert
Loans
Employee Benefits
The cost of adoption can be intimidating, so we want to help!We created a free informational video on funding your adoption, so you can learn some of the creative ways AGCI families have helped fund their adoptions.Watch now. You can download a digital “Funding Your Adoption” packet here.
ADOPTION GRANTS
It’s important to remember that you are not alone—we have seen God provide financially for families countless times!To date, AGCI families have been awarded more than $6.3 million in adoption grants.
AGCI ADOPTION GRANT FUND
Established in 1997, the AGCI Adoption Grant Fund provides financial assistance to AGCI home study approved families adopting waiting children with special needs, adopting older children, or adopting sibling groups.Begin the process.
“It’s such an encouragement when you’re praying that God will move people’s hearts to give even without being asked, which is how we were praying, and that really did get answered so many times in so many ways… God gives us what we need and a little bit more… That has been our story. One of asking for big things from God and then watching him show up, and being reminded that God wants to do big things all the time and sometimes we just miss out because we don’t ask.”
—AGCI grant recipients, the Hartzler family
BRITTANY’S HOPE GRANT
Brittany’s Hope Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to aiding the adoption of children with special needs, sibling groups, or older waiting children by providing adoption grants to qualifying, home study approved families. Since 2007, 150+ AGCI families have received grants from $3,000 to $20,000 totaling more than $1.1 million. Families must have a referral in order to receive this grant. Begin the process.
ADDITIONAL GRANT RESOURCES
We’ve compiled a list of the adoption grants that AGCI families have had the most success with and added them to our financial resources packet. Please reach out to us to learn more!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We know you have many questions about funding your adoption through grants. Below are answers to a few of the questions we hear most frequently:
When am I eligible to start applying for grants?
In most cases, not until you have an approved home study.
When can I expect to receive grant money?
Most organizations will send the awarded amount once you have a referral or travel approval.
How much grant money can I expect to receive?
There is a wide range depending on factors such as family income, the needs of the child, and the country program.
Is there an income requirement to receive grants?
Many are needs-based and begin to phase out when a family's income is over $100,000.
“The financial burdens in adoption are very heavy, but even greater is the responsibility and commitment to raise and love the child that is found and put in a family. It is such a joy and relief when that financial burden is lifted, so that the focus of our family can be put on the child’s needs.”
—AGCI grant recipients, the Murrey family
Adoption Grants
Financial Expert
Tax Credits
Employee Benefits
TAX CREDITS
TAX GRANTS
Did you know tax credits can cut the cost of adoption by up to $15,000? While these credits are only available after your adoption process is completed, they can make a substantial difference in the affordability of adoption!
To learn more, check out Publication 968 – Tax Benefits for Adoption or contact your state’s Division of Family Services and State Tax Office to ask about your state’s tax credits for adoption, or to find out if you qualify for any special state subsidy programs.
Additionally, adoptive parents may take the same dependency exemption on their income taxes for their adopted children as they would for their biological children. This exemption reduces a family’s taxable income. It’s important to remember that families must provide more than half of their children’s support to list them as exemptions.
A reimbursem*nt for non-recurring adoption expenses (agency fees, legal costs, and transportation) is available through many states for families who adopt children with special needs. Half of the expenses are paid through state funds, and the other half through federal funds, up to $2,000.
“Our adoption process for our second child has gone very quickly. We feel absolutely called by the Lord to add this precious boy to our family, but the costs and the fast pace have been scary. Getting word that we, once again, have been chosen to be grant recipients at a crucial point in our adoption process is a tremendous blessing and a great encouragement.”— David and Kallie Locklair, AGCI Adoptive Parents
FINANCIAL EXPERT
OUR FINANCIAL EXPERT
We never want finances to prevent a child from uniting with their forever family! Remember, you’re not alone—95% of families use a combination of strategies to finance their adoption journey. AGCI’s Financial Expert is here to help navigate the often stressful aspects of financing your adoption.Our FinancialExpert can help:
- Walk through the financial piece of your adoption journey.
- Offer ideas and resources for adoption funding.
- Provide counseling regarding common ways to finance adoptions.
- Discuss financial arrangements and payment schedules.
Talk with your Adoption Advisor to schedule a call with our Financial Consultant.
LOANS
ADOPTION LOANS
If you own your own home, you may be eligible for a home equity loan, or you may be able to refinance your mortgage. Often the interest is tax-deductible. Also, many banks offer home equity lines of credit. Rates on these loans are often low and the interest is also tax-deductible. Your bank may have a special loan program for adoptive parents.
Some financial institutions offer low-interest loans with special terms strictly for adoption expenses. The National Adoption Foundation (NAF), American Christian Credit Union, Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), Funds4Families, MBNA, and First Union Bank of Maryland, offer loans for adoptive parents. Lastly, many life insurance companies have a provision in their whole life insurance policies that will permit you to borrow a percentage of the cash value at a low-interest rate.
LOAN RESOURCES
We’ve compiled a list of the adoption loans that AGCI families have had the most success with and added them to our financial resources packet. Please reach out to us to learn more
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Many U.S. corporations, including Wendy’s, Capital One, Home Depot, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, and Hewlett-Packard, offer adoption assistance to their employees. Benefits range from extended paid leave or unpaid leave, to cash payments or adoption reimbursem*nts of $1,000 to $15,000. Currently, there are more than 500 corporations that assist families with adoption costs.
If your company does not currently offer this benefit, consider asking them to! Adoption benefits are considered good personnel practice, and qualified adoption plans receive favorable treatment from the IRS on a company’s tax return. Download The National Adoption Center informative packet to learn more about employee benefits.
Download our financial resources packet to find other ways to fund your adoption.
“Words cannot express how grateful we are for this added security as we navigate through an ongoing path of medical appointments, therapies, and other procedures for our sweet girl. Ayla truly is thriving being home with us and experiencing the love of a mom and dad, and caring brothers, too.”
— Ben and Bethany Cirota, AGCI Adoptive Parents
