In your thinking about adoption, here are some great ideas to help you with potential adoption costs. Remember, however, before you begin any fundraising activity, contact your accountant or CPA so that you are sure to follow all the IRS rules pertaining to adoption cost fundraising. You don't want to end up with taxes due or in trouble with the IRS later.
As you think big and maybe make more money than you need for your adoption, you should have a contingency plan to donate excess money to someone else who is adopting via an adoption charity.
The personal letter asking for help. Never underestimate the value of personal contacts when trying to raise adoption costs. Politicians often use the personal letter in raising money for election campaigns and you shouldn't hesitate to do so either. The personal touch is always the best way. You don't have to ask for a lot of money from one individual, let people decide what amount they want or can give. When writing your personal letter, you are not asking for "charity" but for help in your quest to adopt a child. Begin your letter by identifying yourself and your dream, let your reader know that you understand that having children is an expensive proposition, but explain the adoption costs are needed in one lump sum. Let them know that while you are more than willing to meet those expenses, it would be helpful and kind for them to help you whatever way they can, a $5, $10 or more donation. Be sure and thank them for their help and support. Even if they can't give a donation ask for their thoughts and prayers during this adoption process. Make sure you keep track of all those you sent adoption costs donations and be sure and write a thank you to each individual, business, or group. It might be a good idea to send out an announcement with a picture of your child when you get him to each of those who donated.
The adoption concert is another way to help with adoption costs. If you know a popular singer, piano player, or musical artist of any kind, you might see if she'll do an adoption benefit concert for you. Again the personal touch is extremely helpful here. Find someone who knows someone, that's your best bet. If you're doing a Nevada or Utah adoption you will find many prominent and second tier artists who are more than willing to lend their name to a benefit. You might even get lucky with an enormously famous person, if you write your invitation letter the right way. Your artist might be more than willing to do your adoption costs benefit for free if they are close by or for travel costs only if they come from out of town. Remember, however, planning an adoption concert event takes some careful planning before you even get your talent. You will need a date and venue. Sometimes the venue will donate use for a minimal cleaning fee, or at least at a very low cost. You may need to come up with some front money to make everything come together, don't take out a loan, though. Your adoption concert advertising should be low cost: flyers, newspaper articles, postings on Facebook, blogging, special letters to friends, emails. Don't hesitate to let everyone know the date, time and place of your event. Plan the date so it doesn't conflict with other major events such as holidays, sporting events, etc.
The adoption golf tournament or bowling tournament are excellent tools to help you reach your adoption costs goals. For these types of tournaments, you will need to work with a golf course or bowling alley. Perhaps they will be willing to sponsor the event but you will probably need to make part of the suggested donation enough to cover green fees or bowling games. Contact local businesses to invite them to give prizes, many will be more than willing to do so for a little advertising in your program or advertising or a listing as a tournament sponsor. If you know someone who owns a car dealership, see if you can get a new car (think big), if you don't think big, nothing will happen. Remember though you're your advertising of this type of adoption event is crucial to a successful financial outcome. You will need to set a registration deadline at least four or five days in advance, so the golf course can have tee times ready or bowling alley can schedule the lanes. Don't be afraid to set deadlines. Again, advertise on Facebook, emails, blogs, texts, tweets, your company web page, and other company web pages if they'll let you.
The great American adoption yard sale is a sure fire way to have a fun time while you earn that needed adoption money. Yard sales are best planned at least a month in advance so you can get your advertising out to the public. While you'll use the same advertising avenues as a golf tournament or concert, you will want to add an additional posting in the garage sale columns of your local newspapers. Don't hesitate to ask neighbors and friends for new or slightly used items to sell. Keep the quality high and the market a gold mine for those garage sale bargain shoppers. You might ask businesses to donate a new item or two to add interest to your adoption yard sale advertising and to get some higher donations for your treasured items. You might even have some of your items marked in some way so that you can give out door prices to people who come to buy: a certificate for a dozen donuts, a six pack of pop, a coupon for a hamburger, etc. These types of things make the day cheerful and make for a fun gathering and increased buying. It wouldn't hurt to have cold bottled water (donated, of course) on hand for those adoption yard sale shoppers. The best garage sales are for just one day, Saturday. Many adoption garage sale goers are dedicated to beginning shopping early, so plan on a 7 or 8 am schedule and should be done by one or two pm at the latest. You want to get your buyers in and out. Serious shoppers will begin shopping early, but if everyone understands that ALL the money raised will be used for your adoption costs, many will be inclined to buy a little extra or donate more. You can either price everything, or set things on certain tables for certain prices, or just have folks donate what they can to help. Yes, you might get a few "greedy" folks, but on the whole, people are more than willing to shell out a little extra for a good cause, and what better cause than your adoption costs. Leftovers? You might save unsold items for six months and hold a second sale or give the extra goods to a charity
I hope thisadoption advice on home studies proves useful to you and your family. Whether you are considering aninternational adoption agency or a domestic adoption, look for an adoption agency who can help point you in the right direction for securing the financing you need.
