All adoptive parents know that money, and how to come up with enough of it to pay for an adoption, is often a huge concern when deciding to adopt. International adoptions almost always end up costing over $10,000 (and sometimes double or triple that) between agency fees, homestudy fees, immigration fees and travel or escorting costs.

Fees for domestic adoptions are often in the $10-20,000 range, with exceptions (sometimes) for special needs infant.

When I talk to people who are considering adopting a child but have not started the process yet, money is often one of the biggest reasons I hear.

With that in mind, and being painfully aware of how very many children are waiting for adoptive families, I have spent a lot of time researching fundraising, grant and loan options for adoptive families.

This week I learned about a new grant possibility for adoptive parents. HelpUsAdopt.org is a new national non-profit organization founded by adoptive parents who want to help other parents adopt.

Their website states:

HelpUsAdopt.org is dedicated to the countless parents waiting to adopt and to the thousands of birth parents selfless enough to let us adopt your children. And, of course, to our son Jake and a very special woman whose kind heart will never be forgotten.

They give grants up to $15,000, and one of the things that I love about this organization is that they do not have any qualifications based on religion, race, marital status or sexual preference.

HelpUsAdopt.org will give their first grant in June of 2008, and will give the next grant in December of 2008. The application will be available online on November 1, 2007 and the deadline for the June 2008 grant is April 18, 2008 and the deadline for the Dec. 2008 grant is October 17, 2008. For their requirements for a grant, you can read more here.

I have emailed back and forth with Becky Fawcett, one of the co-founders of HelpUsAdopt.org and she seems like a wonderful person and is very anxious to help other adoptive families. She asked me to spread the word about HelpUsAdopt.org, so that is what I am doing.

While I was disappointed that there won't be a grant available in time to help us get Solomon home, I hope that this is a useful option for many other adoptive families.