The Need Continues

Today, there are approximately 15 million children, around the globe, who are in need of the love, security, and permanency of a family. And here, in the U.S., there are some 115,000 children who have had parental rights terminated and are in need of permanent families. In addition, there are families who long to grow their family through adoption, yet the financial barrier is just too overwhelming, with the cost of adoption ranging between $25,000 and $50,000. But since 2003, Show Hope has provided much-needed support through our cornerstone Adoption Aid grants work, where nearly 9,000 children have been impacted.

Still, today, though, the need remains as it did more than 20 years ago, when Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman founded Show Hope. The goal of Show Hope’s Adoption Aid grants is to fund 25 to 35 percent of the total costs associated with adoption. Until recently, our grants have ranged between $6,000 and $10,000 each. To meet rising adoption costs, that range is now between $8,000 and $12,000 each. Additionally, in 2024, Show Hope is also seeing a 30 percent increase in Adoption Aid applications, completed and submitted, when compared to 2023.

The goal of Show Hope’s 20/20 Campaign is to fund our Adoption Aid grants, and this year, we set a strategic goal of $350,000. And to date, more than $420,000 has been raised to further help reduce the financial barrier standing between waiting children and families. This would not be possible without the prayer and support of women and men who are stepping up to answer the God-given call found in James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

While this is so much to celebrate, the need continues. As Co-founder Mary Beth Chapman recently shared, “In a few years, Show Hope will award our 10,000th Adoption Aid grant, and suffice to say, we may reach that milestone sooner than we anticipate, based on current trends. But know this—and I can say it with all confidence—the Show Hope team SEEs the needs and stands ready to meet children and families with hope and help. And I pray, you will continue to stand with us.”

Thank you.