Adoption Financial Resources

IRS Tax Benefits

The adoption tax credit helps make adoption more affordable for families.

• For adoptions finalized in 2024 (tax returns claimed in 2025), the maximum amount a family can receive as credit is $16,810 per adopted child.
• For adoptions finalized in 2023 (tax returns claimed in 2024), the maximum amount a family can receive as credit is $15,950 per adopted child.
• For adoptions finalized in 2022 (tax returns claimed in 2023), the maximum amount a family can receive as credit is $14,890 per adopted child.
• The adoption tax credit is not refundable.

Find out more about the Adoption Tax Credit by visiting the IRS Adoption Credit website, reading our FAQs article, or checking out Adoption Advocate No. 152, "Understanding the Adoption Tax Credit​".

State Tax Benefits

Many states offer state-level adoption tax credits, some are refundable and some are non-refundable.

Adoption Subsidies

Adoption subsidies are an underutilized and often misunderstood resource for those who qualify for adoption assistance. These benefits are available to most children adopted in the U.S. from foster care and children with special needs adopted privately. In most cases, the benefits are available until the child reaches adulthood. Learn more on our Adoption Assistance and Subsidies Page.

Adoption Loans

America's Christian Credit Union offers loans for prospective adoptive families. Their mission is "To Reach, Serve and Teach," and since 2009, nearly 2,000 children have found their forever family through ACCU's adoption loan program. Click here to visit ACCU's website.

Employee Benefits Program

Many companies and organizations offer benefits such as leave or financial assistance to their employees who are adopting.  Your employee benefits office will be able to tell you if your company participates. You can also search The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List or their list of Adoption Advocates Workplaces which are organizations that offer financial reimbursement, paid leave or both, but did not make the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list.

Adoption Benefits for Military Personnel

Military service members who adopt a child under 18 years of age may be reimbursed qualified adoption expenses up to $2000 per adoptive child (up to a total of $5000 if more than one child is adopted) per calendar year.  Read more about adoption benefits for military personnel on the Military Family Association website.

Adoption Grants and Loans

These are just some of the many organizations that provide adoption grants and loans to families in the U.S.

• State of Ohio Grant
• A Child Waits Foundation
• The Abba Fund
• America's Christian Credit Union
• Be The One (Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio)
• Brittany's Hope
• The Elpis Children's Foundation - grants for Black families seeking to adopt
• Gift of Adoption Fund
• HelpUsAdopt.org
• Katelyn's Fund - Orphan Ministry
• Lifesong for Orphans
• Pathways for Little Feet
• Open Hearts for Orphans
• Show Hope^TM - Adoption Aid Grants and Post-Adoption Medical Care Grants for Adopted Children
• The Ann Children's Fund - provides financial assistance to families who have adopted children with special medical needs. Offers funding for the costs not provided by health insurance and other organizations.
• Tim Tebow Foundation
• WAT! (We Adopt Too) - grants for Black families seeking to adopt

Your Adoption Finance Coach

Your Adoption Finance Coach provides prospective adoptive parents with personalized financial coaching, on-demand video library, downloadable templates for budgets and action plans, and monthly webinars. Ask your agency if they are a YAFC partner.