8 Best Adoption Fundraising Ideas That Work

Start the adoption process with a party or picnic that doubles as a fundraiser. It’s an excellent way for you to share your fundraising efforts with attendees and see if anyone would volunteer to be part of a team to help you reach your fundraising goals.

• Share your heartwarming story with attendees and thank them for coming.
• Attendees can donate to your adoption fund using their own mobile devices or with cash.
• At some point in the festivities, ask if anyone wants to volunteer to be on your fundraising team and help with different roles, such as posting updates to to your crowdfund to writing thank you notes to donors.
• Ask friends, family members, and guests to share the link to your fundraiser on their social media accounts.

Know a musician? Or two or three? Invite them to perform live at your home, local restaurant or any other venue where you have affordable access. You’ll be able to enjoy live music and socialize while you spread the word about your adoption fundraiser. It is also a fun way for your friends, family members and colleagues to be able to donate to your adoption fund.

• Invite friends, family and colleagues, and advertise the event in your neighborhood, community center or in local businesses.
• Charge an entry fee in the form of a donation to your fundraiser. You can take donations in cash, or people can donate to your fundraiser on their phone.
• You could make t-shirts for the event that to sell as a way to raise extra funds, or see if local businesses would consider donating prizes you could use for a raffle or a silent auction on the night.
• Consider creating a hashtag and a Facebook page beforehand so people can stay connected to your fundraiser in ways that will help sustain it.
• If you can’t host a big event, you can always start small with a car wash or a simple t-shirt fundraiser that lets you start raising money for your adoption fund by washing neighbor’s cars or selling specially-designed t-shirts online through stores like Etsy.

Everyone has some skills they can teach to others. Are you a talented cook? Hold a themed culinary class (in people’s homes or a kitchen that works for this purpose). Participants can pay by donating to your fundraiser. Gifted artist? Offer a drawing or painting class. Know a foreign language? Raise money by teaching classes or tutoring privately.

Successful adoption fundraising ideas come from a place of passion. Use your skills to your advantage to help your friends and family understand how passionate you are about becoming an adoptive parent.

Another simple adoption fundraising idea is to host a yard sale! Spring clean your home and set up outside over a few weekends. Plus, you get face time with neighbors, community members, and friends to help promote your adoption fundraiser.

• Gather old clothes, furniture, and anything else that’s gathering dust in your attic and host a garage sale. Ask neighbors, friends and family to donate their own items.
• Consider asking a local faith community, local church or other gathering places if you can leave a box for people to donate items for the sale.
• Advertise your adoption fundraiser yard sale throughout your neighborhood and on your fundraiser.
• On the day of the event, offer lemonade and other goodies like ice cream, or have a bake sale to raise extra funds.
• Promote your fundraising efforts with a sign saying “We’re Adopting a Child” and further information about your online fundraiser.
• Set up a donation station with a laptop for anyone who wants to contribute more to your fundraiser.

Employers may financially help employees who adopt a child as part of their benefits. The type of financial support provided varies by employer. Some offer a one-time payment ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. Others assist with specific adoption expenses, while some reimburse a portion of certain expenses.

Contact your HR department if you plan to adopt and want to know if your employer has adoption benefits. Also, consider asking your coworkers for some good adoption party ideas and organize a fundraiser to cover expenses not included in your employer’s adoption assistance program.

Adoption grants can help families cover adoption expenses, making it more accessible. Grants are available from different sources like non-profit organizations, foundations, and government agencies, and some are specific to certain types of adoption, like foster care. Eligibility criteria usually include completing a home study, working with a licensed adoption agency, and meeting income requirements. For example, children with special needs often have higher adoption costs, but adoption grants can help families afford to adopt these children.

The Gift of Adoption, for instance, is the biggest provider of adoption assistance grants. These grants are awarded without discrimination based on race, religion, age, marital status, or sexual orientation. Monthly grants of up to $15,000 are given to eligible applicants with flexible application deadlines.

Don’t forget about the government’s adoption tax credit as well for tax-deductible expenses. Families in the process of bringing and adopted child into their home in 2024 can claim the adoption tax credit, which allows them to claim up to $16,810 in adoption expenses for each eligible child. The credit can be applied to international, domestic, private and public foster care adoptions.

Instead of traditional gifts for your birthday or wedding, ask for donations toward your GoFundMe adoption fundraiser. Let everyone know that every big or small donation will bring your family one step closer to making your family whole.

A fun adoption party idea that can double as a birthday party is one of the best fundraising ideas—host a summer potluck. Bring a pancake breakfast to a celebratory brunch event and let your friends and family bring the rest. Everyone can help celebrate another year of life and eat some good food!