[Bcelli]

Seems money is an issue for the majority of us. We all know about the $10,000 federal tax credit - but after the fact doesn't help as much as cash up front. I've read ideas from auctions to raffles to crafts and rummage sales. Anyone want to share some productive or creative ideas they've used or heard about for financing adoptions? Thanks in advance. This is a HUGE issue and if we all band together, surely we can chip away at it some.

Becky

[Anita]

It seems that some people may take out home equity loans for the big expense. I believe the rate is about 4-5%.

Fundraising is pretty tricky I would think...It is a very personal cause.

One aspect I am going to research is the cash advance on my credit card. I REALLY do not want to travel with cold hard cash in my pockets. If my credit card could give me the advance while I'm in Poland, then I wouldn't be so nervous. (I am not advising a long term loan from the credit card...that would be way to expensive)

I also believe some larger companies even offer some help...just a few thousand dollars, but its better than nothing. You might want to contact your HR department.

No doubt money is tight! We are lucky enough to at least have some frequent flier miles to get a couple free flights.

I wish you luck in your fund raising.

[morgan]

There are several sites that offer info on adoption fundraising and financing. E mail me at danesrus@aol.com and I will send the links. I can't figure out how to post the links in this reply
Debbie

[Bcelli]

Fortunately, I work for a company that reimburses up to $2500 in adoption expenses. Again, another wonderful option, but again AFTER THE FACT. We don't qualify for home equity because we don't own a home with a mortgage. We opted for a manufactured home and a Russian son, instead. Not planning on getting started with building a home til we get No. 2 son home next year. Then we'll have no choice; we'll be outta room!

Re: traveling with cash. My husband and I went to Russia with ONLY cash. We thought that would be easier, somehow. It wasn't. It was great for exchanging currency, but when we had to change our tickets because my husband misread the departure time and we missed our scheduled flight home, the ticket folks almost didn't know what to do with cash. They wanted a credit card. Same in Amsterdam when we were forced into a layover. Hotel didn't want to accept U.S. $100 bills because we were in the midst of the transition to the new bills. Everyone was wonderful, however, and we made it home but we could have made life a bit easier for ourselves and the businesses we dealt with had we taken a credit card instead. Lesson learned.

[adoptmom]

I know of a few places that do adoption grants to people who are adopting internationally. I hope this helps. You can also click on keyword, adoption grants and find a few institutions there. : )
if you are an aol user.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions I have adopted a child from Guatemala and I would be happy to help you and tell you about the agency I used.

Jana

[Astri]

This is so true: we are in agreement. Finances are a big issue. Any suggestions or info. to assist in this area will be much appreciated. Ana

[gkasche]

I thought I posted this yesterday...but evidently I did something wrong and it didn't go through...so here it is again:

We are currently working on our third adoption from India. Our newest daughter was born with a heart defect. We knew of her for months as other families turned her down for referal. Finally we asked to take her and they agreed. Our problem...we still didn't have our second daughter adopted!! Now we were faced with no money to put toward another adoption and attorney fees for our second daughter's adoption.

But as the saying goes...where there's a will there's a way!!

I went to the local library and started doing research into grants. I found a book called "Charitable Organizations of Pennsylvania" and started to look at possibly finding a grant to help with the costs.

Many grant agencies are not permitted to give "grants to individuals"...but out of thousands I looked through...I found 33 who did.

I wrote all 33 a letter and sent with it medical information on our new daughter and a photo of her. I was able to work with three of the organizations to secure grants for her fees.

I found a grant for our second daughter's attorney's fees for her adoption...and also enough to cover the entire cost of our new daughter's costs including air fare.

A little bit of work and research really paid off.

Now I do need to say that the charitable organizations all go be a firm set of rules so you will just have to research them one by one and ask a lot of questions. Also...they are binded by the fact that they can only work with families in certain geographical areas etc. But each state has organizations like this and it sure paid off for me to ask.

I found that because Maya was special needs...the ones who could help were more than happy to do so. They were genuinely concerned about her well being and helping us get her home.

Best Wishes and God Bless in you adoption. Karen

[poohtob]

Hi Karen,
Could you please email me privately at POOHTOB@AOL.COM.
I also live in PA and am curious about the agencies you were able to secure grants from for your adoptions. I'm in the beginning stages and my BIG holdup is going to be ready $$.

Thanks, Teri

[jodie]

In reply to financing adoptions... I have recently published my personal story of adopting in Russia.
but, in answer to your question, like I mentioned in the book, we didn't have a dime. We were living pay check to pay check like most. Where there is a will, there is a way. I decided to make some sacrafices. Instead of a car payment, I have an adoption payment. We choose not to buy new cars, just low priced used ones. And, we got a second mortgage. Yes, money is tight, but I knew I would be happier with my new baby, as opposed to buying a new car like some. When people ask me who much did it cost? I like to say not as much as those expensive new cars, AND we will have our baby forever!

[waiting]

We had a golf tournament and we raised about 4,000. It was a great turn out. Hope this helps.

I haven't had an opportunity to try this yet as we are early in the process. However I saw this idea on a website.

Get a credit card that offers frequent flyer miles. Charge your adoption expenses and use the miles toward travel.

Something to consider.

Terry

[karabur]

I am getting a second job over Christmas. We are also paying off our credit cards and loan then taking the payment we would have made and putting it in our savings acct. The money I make goes directly on to debt or the baby fund. I lost my job due to downsizing but I am happy because I found my passion for motherhood. I am temping right now. We can live off dh's pay check. We are also praying the 91 Tracer and the 98 Ecort have a few more good years. We are waiting for our country to open back up so we have so time.


Saving for #1

[Autumndays]

Karen,
I lost your email address.
Debby

[gkasche]

gkasche@usachoice.net

How is it going? Karen

[Autumndays]

Karen, Slow but steady. I have spent the last two weeks in the libary. This week we are driving into Houston to go to the big one. We have exhausted all the books at our branch. The first day the libarian brought me the reference book I just about fell out of my chair. It weighted a ton!! And can they write any smaller!! But we are on our way! I have wrote the letter and we kept a copy to change up for each one we send. They go out this weekend. I read books on the form to use to write the letter but they all have been for programs not individuals. Did you use a certain form or just write a normal letter? We are thinking about putting in a picture of us so we won't be just a name, you know put a face to the name. Maybe it will make it harder to say no I know you said you put a picture of your child in yours. The best we could do in that area would be out dog!! Do you have a copy of the letter you sent? I know it has been awhile for you.
Debby