Adoption Grant Program

Funder: Brittany's Hope, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Elizabethtown, PA

Mission

Brittany's Hope provides financial adoption assistance to make international adoptions possible for families seeking to adopt children with special needs. The organization believes all children deserve the right to grow up in a nurturing family environment.

Program Statistics

• Total Awarded: $7,133,060
• Children United with Families: 1,381
• Countries Represented: 38

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet ALL three criteria: 1. International Adoption: Adopting a child from a country other than the United States 2. Special Needs: Adopting a child designated as having special needs 3. Affiliate Agency: Placing agency must be an official Brittany's Hope affiliate

Applicants must already be actively engaged with a partner agency.

Definition of Special Needs

• Age: Children older than five years (varies by country)
• At-Risk: Healthy children at risk of developing learning, emotional, or behavioral disabilities; includes babies exposed to drugs, abuse, neglect, and those with genetic predispositions to mental illness and physical disabilities
• Disabilities: Mental, physical, and emotional limitations ranging from mild to severe, including behavioral issues
• Sibling Groups: Multiple siblings being adopted together to prevent separation trauma

Grant Requirements

• Fundraising Match: Grant recipients must fundraise 50% of their total awarded grant amount
• Personal Donations: Grant recipients cannot personally donate toward their awarded grant amount
• Fundraising Tools Provided: Personalized webpage and brochures
• Deadline for Raised Funds: Finalized travel dates
• Payment Recipient: Checks made payable to Brittany's Hope
• Donor Recognition: Donors receive tax-deductible thank you letters
• Grant Distribution: Paid upon completion of all pre-adoption requirements and directly to the adoption agency

Affiliate Agencies

• Children's House International (Lynden, WA)
• Gladney Center for Adoption (Fort Worth, TX)
• Holt International Children's Services (Eugene, OR)

Note: At this time, Brittany's Hope is not accepting applications for new affiliate agencies.

Geographic Scope

International adoptions from any country outside the United States

Organization Details

Address: 1160 North Market St., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Fax: 717.689.4571

How to Apply

The application process differs based on which affiliate agency is placing the child. Families must work through their affiliate agency to submit grant applications.

#### General Process (Agency-Specific)

1. Agency Submission: Your placing agency submits an e-match on your behalf
- Agency must receive written consent from family prior to releasing contact information
- Submit via "Submit E-Match" or "Submit A Special E-Match" portal (agency login required)

2. Review and Award: Brittany's Hope reviews application and notifies family of grant award

3. Complete Grant Agreement
- Sign and return two (2) printed copies of the Grant Recipient Agreement
- Available through agency portals

4. Fundraising
- Family creates personalized fundraising webpage
- Distribute personalized brochures to supporters
- Fundraise to match 50% of awarded grant amount
- Deadline: Must raise funds by finalized travel dates
- Family cannot personally donate toward the grant

5. Notify of Travel Dates
- Submit finalized travel dates to Brittany's Hope
- This acknowledgment confirms guardianship has been granted
- Use "Submit Travel Dates" portal

6. Submit Documentation
- Upload family fee statement on agency letterhead
- Use "Submit Fee Statement" portal
- Agency invoices Brittany's Hope for total awarded grant amount on agency letterhead
- Use "Submit Grant Invoice" portal

7. Grant Distribution
- Grant paid directly to adoption agency upon completion of all pre-adoption requirements

Required Materials

• Written family consent (collected by agency)
• Completed Grant Recipient Agreement (2 copies)
• Family adoption fee statement (on agency letterhead)
• Grant invoice from agency (on agency letterhead)
• Finalized travel dates documentation

Reference Documents Available

• Agency Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) - sample available
• 3-Step Guide - overview of Adoption Grant Program
• Adoption Grant FAQ - frequently asked questions

Important Notes

• Half of Goal Not Met: Family receives only amount raised
• Surpassed Goal: Family receives only total awarded grant amount (not additional funds)
• Donor receives tax-deductible thank you letter for their contributions