Adoption Is an Option
Adoption Is an Option is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $96K. Net investment income was $1.0M.
Adoption Is an Option at a glance
In short: Adoption Is an Option gave $96K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $95,942
- +283.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,990
- +27.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,221
- Total assets
- $7,218,461
- +10.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (62% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Adoption Is an Option funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Council for Adoption ($34K). Together the top 6 received $96K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 23 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Adoption Is an Option gives
- Giving grew 74% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2024) to $133K (2021). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $96K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Council for Adoption Alexandria, VA | General Support | $34,000 |
| Brave Love Dallas, TX | General Support | $32,500 |
| New Life Adoption Tomball, TX | General Support | $12,080 |
| Houston Texans Foundation Houston, TX | General Support | $10,362 |
| US Pastors Council Houston, TX | General Support | $5,000 |
| Unplanned Good Inc San Jose, CA | General Support | $2,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,218,461 | $1,560,016 | $859,836 | $95,942 | 6 | $568,448 | $1,047,629 |
| 2024 | $6,508,281 | $676,714 | $1,093,072 | $25,000 | 2 | $837,476 | $308,525 |
| 2023 | $6,924,639 | $333,293 | $433,488 | $85,000 | 5 | $262,263 | $325,899 |
| 2022 | $7,024,834 | $108,585 | $725,151 | $55,000 | 3 | $624,939 | $96,957 |
| 2021 | $7,641,400 | $4,009,394 | $513,486 | $132,500 | 7 | $510,127 | — |
| 2020 | $4,965,397 | $8,856,905 | $40,555 | — | — | — | $3,850,933 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Adoption Is an Option is led by Debra M. Tengler, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Debra M. Tengler
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$98K (2023) → $175K (2025)
John Knox Jr.
Director & President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Seligmann
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Knox
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $175K, to Debra M Tengler (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Adoption Is an Option
How much does Adoption Is an Option give each year?
Adoption Is an Option gave $96K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $25K across 2 grants.
What is Adoption Is an Option's typical grant size?
Adoption Is an Option's median grant in 2025 was $11,221, and its average grant was $15,990, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Adoption Is an Option give grants?
Adoption Is an Option gives mostly in Texas: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (35%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (2 grants).
Does Adoption Is an Option give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Adoption Is an Option's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Adoption Is an Option's largest grantees?
Adoption Is an Option's largest 2025 grantees include National Council for Adoption ($34,000), Brave Love ($32,500) and New Life Adoption ($12,080), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Adoption Is an Option?
Adoption Is an Option reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What is Adoption Is an Option?
Adoption Is an Option is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in Houston, TX. It holds $7.2M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Adoption Is an Option's EIN?
Adoption Is an Option's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3356833. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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