Financing an Adoption

Overcoming the the Money Issue

Finances are almost always the biggest deterrent for families when considering international adoption. AGCI is always conscious of how we spend our adoption resources. You can be assured that each and every dollar you spend is truly used to bring your child home, pay our staff a fair wage, and better the lives of the children. Although the expenses can seem overwhelming, we have seen God provide financially countless times for families who faithfully seek to provide a loving home for one of His orphaned children. We have tried to list below all of the avenues we know that can help make financing your adoption a reality. We believe that it is important for you to walk into the adoption experience with your eyes wide open to the actual cost of adoption. Please feel free to phone the office and speak with someone about any questions or concerns you may have on funding your adoption.

Below are links to resources on financing adoption:

- Financing your adoption

- Employers that help with adoption

- Fund raising ideas

The following is a list of ways to receive tax-deductions and credits, reimbursements as well as financing opportunities:

Tax-deductions and Credits

Tax-deduction:

AGCI is a licensed 501-3c organization. Therefore, we are able to issue a letter for a tax deduction on your behalf for the relief fees paid to AGCI.

Tax-credit:

The Hope For Children Act allows families to receive a credit per adopted child. Your income determines the amount of credit you will receive. Please consult a tax accountant to see how this benefit will work for you.

Reimbursements

State Refund:

Some states participate in a federally funded "reimbursement of non-reoccurring adoption expenses" up to $2,000. We suggest you contact your state senator’s office to determine if your state participates in this program. It is our understanding that this state refund must be obtained prior to the finalization of your adoption in the foreign country.

Employer Contribution:

Many employers now offer adoption benefits. Check with your Human Resource Department to determine what your company offers. Some families have received up to $5,000 from their employers toward their adoption. You should also qualify for parental leave.

Grant Opportunities

Brittany's Hope:

Brittany's Hope facilitates adoption of special needs, older and sibling children by providing financial grants to qualifying families; actively seeks out healthy and happy families who can offer love and support to special needs children; raises public awareness of the need for healthy homes for special needs, older, and sibling children and raises public awareness of the unique joys of parenting a special child. www.brittanyshope.org

A Child Waits Foundation:

This is a non-profit charitable foundation whose goal is to reduce the number of children who are not adopted because prospective parents do not have the savings to pay for the total cost of the adoption. They help parents by providing low interest loans that cover a portion of the adoption fees. In this sense, the foundation can be viewed as providing a family down payment. For more information check out www.achildwaits.org.

Finance Opportunities

Home Equity Loans:

This seems to be the number one way that families finance their adoption. Using the equity in your home can be a smart way to borrow money. Home equity loans usually offer a much lower percentage interest rate than a consumer loan. Most homes have enough appreciation to be able to take out some of the acquired equity. This type of loan combines the interest deductibility with lower rates to give you unbeatable savings over most other types of consumer credit. If you are interested in taking out a home equity loan, you should contact your bank or a local mortgage broker to better understand your options.

Life International

Life International encourages Christian couples to adopt a child by relieving some of the financial burden of international and domestic adoption. They provide Adoption Matching Grants from $1000–$4000 per child, and they also offer Interest-Free Loans. You can visit their Web site at www.lifeintl.org, or email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , or phone 309-747-3556.

Prayer and Creativity

God’s heart is to provide a home and family for the orphan. We have seen Him work very creatively for families who take their needs before the Lord in prayer, and are willing to step out in faith. Many families have seen the Lord provide through anonymous donors, church family, friends, and family members. Other families have received an unexpected raise at work, or had someone offer to pay for their airfare, or received an unexpected large tax return. We encourage you to take your adoption to the Lord in prayer and watch Him work. Your adoption can be a lesson in faith and a testimony to His provision for the needs and desires of your family.

Moriah Adoption Fund

AGCI set up the "Moriah Fund" in 1997. Moriah means "God will provide". This fund is designed to help facilitate the adoption of high-risk children. The Moriah Adoption Fund gives financial assistance with adoption expenses to allow older, disabled, and sibling children to receive families of their own. Literally, thousands of children remain in orphanages who would be lovingly embraced by a family if funds were available. Willing families often work in frustration to save the necessary resources to begin the process of adoption. Mercy mandates action from those who have resources. When the able join the willing, lives are changed. Many children now have families because of the kind gifts from those who, although unable to adopt themselves, have made adoption possible for others. We welcome those of you who would like to donate money to support adoptions through the Moriah Fund to contact us today and help unite a child with a forever family!

After the completion of an approved home study and you have paid the agency fee to AGCI, you may apply to receive financial assistance from our Moriah Fund.

Please fill out the Moriah Fund Application (PDF) and submit to: