The grant application is only available online. All details concerning Adoption Aid grants are available here.

No. Before applying, you must be working with a licensed, child-placing agency that is a 501(c)(3) organization, and you must have a completed, approved, and/or updated home study. Please note that your placing agency may differ from your home study provider.

Prospective adoptive families must have a completed and approved home study or home study update prior to submitting an application for financial assistance. Applications must be submitted prior to placement.

If you are on the waiting list with multiple agencies or are working with an adoption consultant, do not apply until you are matched through a placing agency to submit your application. You must be working with a licensed, child-placing agency that is a 501(c)(3) organization to be eligible. Please note: Your placing agency may differ from your home study provider.

There are four periods in our application cycle each year. The deadline dates of each period are:

March 31

June 30

September 30

January 5

The full application and supporting documents, including references, must be submitted prior to the deadline to be considered in a period.

Show Hope considers both domestic and international adoptions. For international adoptions, you must be pursuing adoption from a country party to The Hague Adoption Convention. Please click here for additional information on the convention and countries included.

Your application is considered complete and eligible for review when Show Hope has received the online application, required supporting documents, and two references. You will receive a confirmation email once accepted. You may log in to your account to view the status of the reference forms. You should contact references directly as needed.

No. All information must be submitted online.

Previous reference letters cannot be accepted as these reference forms ask specific questions. All applicants must follow the directions in the application to request agency and pastoral references through the portal.

Each applicant will receive a letter via postal mail regarding the outcome of the review process, followed by an email. You may also log in to view the status of your application.

Yes. Applicants are welcomed to apply for an Adoption Aid grant for subsequent adoptions. A new application must be completed. Please note: If you are adopting two or more children at the same time, one application will suffice.

Your placing agency will receive a copy of your award letter and instructions to request disbursement of the funds. The grant check will be mailed directly to your agency on your behalf, up to 20 business days after the request has been made by the agency. For international adoptions, the agency may request funds when you have received I-800 Form approval or booked travel arrangements to bring your child(ren) home. For domestic adoptions, your agency may request the funds at the time of placement of the child.

If you travel to pick up your child(ren) during the period your grant is being considered, it will not affect your consideration for a grant. The agency must still request the grant funds from Show Hope and can apply the award to any outstanding funds or reimburse you for previous payments.

No. After a decision has been made, you cannot reapply or have an application reconsidered for the same adoption, even in light of new information or circumstances.

There is no set limit on income, though financial need is a significant factor in our review process. Many other factors will also be considered.

Yes. Grants have been awarded to single parents. All prospective grant recipients must satisfy the same eligibility criteria.

Show Hope Adoption Aid grants range between $8,000 and $12,000 each. Show Hope encourages families to seek additional sources of adoption funding, including potential support from your church as well as other grant organizations. Please visit HowToAdopt.org and/or the Christian Alliance for Orphans website for information regarding additional funding opportunities.

No. Show Hope is unable to assist with adoptions that are not processed through a licensed, child-placing agency. A home study provider does not fulfill this requirement if you are using a different child-placing agency or provider.

We are not able to award grants to families unless, at least, one parent is a U.S. citizen. Please keep in mind that your agency must be a licensed U.S. adoption agency and have a 501(c)(3) certification.

We have developed HowToAdopt.org as a resource to answer the many questions you might have concerning international, domestic, or adoptions through foster care. It is both a source of information and a guide to help people navigate through the various aspects of adoption.

While Show Hope does not endorse specific agencies, a list of Christian adoption agencies may be found on the Christian Alliance for Orphans website. We also recommend due diligence in selecting an adoption agency.