We've been in the international adoption process for a few years now. It was five years ago that we started thinking and praying about the possibility. Four years ago we started our training in New Brunswick, where we were living at the time. Two years ago we contacted some agencies in the States to begin the process here. One year ago, our dossier made it to Ethiopia. And here we are, still in the waiting game. But word is that we are #1 on the waiting list with our agency! Yay!
The scariest part of adoption for us was definitely the financial aspect. I'm a stay-at-home mom, so we don't have a second income to rely on. $30,000+ looks insurmountable at first. But the good part is, you only need a chunk of it at a time.
Once we stepped out in faith and put our money where our mouth was (so to speak), God totally blew us away with his provision! We're not done, but we have no doubt that every dollar will be there to finish bringing our little girl home.
My hope is that this list will help another family as they pursue adoption. Here is what worked for us in order from least to greatest.
just love coffee
This fundraiser is as easy as setting up a storefront on their site, and sending your family & friends online to buy coffee! For each bag of coffee purchased through your link, your family will receive $5. This fundraiser is as successful as you are in reminding people on social media to shop via your link. Put the word out there at Christmas, especially, when people are looking for purposeful ways to shop.
giveaways on social media
A friend of my sister volunteered her artistic abilities for a giveaway to benefit our adoption. She offered a custom pencil portrait for the winner. We had a raffle on social media. Each contribution of $5 put your name in the giveaway once. $10 would enter you twice. This giveaway raised over $100. It could easily raise much more if it's shared far & wide.
Do you have a friend who could team up with you for a giveaway? Maybe they own an etsy shop and could donate an item or two. Maybe they would like to contribute a wonderful gift basket to your raffle. Many people would like to help, perhaps they just need to be asked.
look for Extra money in your budget
When we would get "extra" money in our budget, we immediately put it in our adoption fund. For example, my husband is a pastor, and when he would officiate at a wedding or funeral, he usually gets an honorarium. That goes into our adoption fund. I am a pianist, and when I have played at weddings and funerals, I also put my honorarium in our special fund. What about tax returns? Stick it in the fund. Did you save money by using coupons or getting a good deal? Put the difference in your adoption fund. You'll never miss it.
word of mouth - family & friends
Our family, church family, and friends have been very generous to us in this journey. I know some adoptive families write fundraising letters. We never did that. But people gave as they felt led, and it has been a blessing!
sippy cups of change
Our sippy cups of change brought in several hundred dollars. Friends & family who were interested in helping in this way took a sippy cup I had purchased at the dollar store and filled it up with their spare change for weeks or months. A ladies Bible study at a neighboring church even took a dozen to fill up for us. Our boys contributed extra change to ours. It's an easy way people can help.
amazon affiliate
Who doesn't shop online these days? Again, this fundraiser will be as successful as your ability to remind your family & friends to use it! When you sign up to be the amazon associates program, you will earn referral fees every time someone shops from your link. We have designated our adoption account with the program, and the money just gets dropped right in. It's easy to set up. We have received several hundred dollars from this fundraiser in the last year and a half. However, as with the others, it is something you need to continually remind people about on their social media. People would like to help -- it doesn't cost them a dime more to shop through your link -- but you need to make it accessible and remind them regularly, especially during peak shopping seasons.
yard sale
Our yard sale weekend was amazing -- it brought in $2550! That was much more than we had hoped for. We held it at our church on Memorial Day weekend (Friday - Saturday). It might have even done better had the weather cooperated. We had to move it inside because of cold blowing rain! But even with that, it was quite a success. We asked our church family and through Facebook for donations of items to sell. People were generous, even donating high ticket items, like a ride-on lawnmower, bunk beds, guitars, and such. Friends helped us sort the items into sections, like you would have at a thrift store -- housewares, girl clothing, shoes, toys, etc. We sold clothing by the bag ($5/plastic grocery bag) or 50 cents a piece. This helped to clear some of it out quickly. People donated baked goods. We made lemonade to sell, but would have done better with hot chocolate or coffee! Who could have predicted such a cold Memorial Day weekend? Still, it was a success and definitely worth the effort.
grants
Yes, it takes time to do the research, but will be worth it in the end. We have already received $7000 in grants. Once we receive our referral, we have several more that we can apply to, that will hopefully help to cover the cost of travel overseas. Most grant applications will all require the same information -- financial (tax returns), some of your story and what led you to adoption, and references. It's a good idea to have all of that paperwork handy, and then you can apply for half a dozen grants at a time, in assembly-line-fashion. Nothing beats getting that acceptance letter in the mail and realizing God has this adoption covered!
etsy shop {use your hobby and gifts}
What can you do to raise extra funds right now? Even if you have a full-time job, is there something else you could do on the side? Perhaps you could offer in-home childcare. Do you play an instrument? You could give lessons. Maybe you could declutter and sell some of your things on ebay.
For me, I had always loved to craft. I also love thrifting. So, it just made sense to open an etsy shop, where I could sell my up cycled, painted, and sewn handmade goodies. It gives me a good excuse to regularly go thrifting. My boys are even in on the hunt now, as they know what I'm looking for.
God has really blessed my shop. I never could have imagined the benefits that would come. First, financially, this shop has covered many adoption expenses, and continues to as we await our referral. We have had to update our home study, and it was great to have that money available immediately. Additionally, I have been able to network with other like-minded individuals and ministries because of my online presence. I have been able to donate to missions trips, orphanages, and other adoptive families because of the income from my shop. I have been blessed. My shop is called 4onemore, and I hope to keep it open long after our adoption is through, so that we can bless other families who are also Making Room 4 One More.
The bottom line is: don't let the financial aspects of adoption deter you if God has called you to this journey! He can provide, and He will. Many times, He's just waiting for us to step out in faith and be ready to watch Him move.
What fundraiser ideas have worked for you?
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