Did anyone raise funds for adoption?

[deni3282]

I know this can be a sensitive subject so I just wanted some feedback on it.

My DH and I have been tossing around the idea of doing some fundraisers to finance our adoption. I am more comfortable then he is with this. I actually did a craft fair last year for someone I met that was trying to finance her adoption. It gave me joy to particpate and help her reach her family builidng goal.

We are both currently working and trying to put away every cent - we also have spent most of our saving on infertility treatments. I am thinking about having some fundraiser like a yard sale, comedy night etc that would bring in some extra money. I am not the type who cannot open ask for donations but I would be comfortable with having a party or comedy night where people pay and donate but at the same time enjoy a ngiht out.

Just wondering if anyone has done this and how was the response. My DH is worried that people will judge us or think that we should not be adopting. I choose to believe that most of our family and friends would be suuportive and feel more involved in our family building efforts.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Deni

[bigdipper]

Deni,
We just started a fundraiser about a month ago. It's an ongoing magazine sales fundraiser, so I don't have a conclusion yet on how it helped. I was a little worried too about being judged, but I got over it. We have our IVF and our 3 yr old DS's adoption behind us financially without any help. So whatever if people roll their eyes at us wanting help this time. We just emailed people about the fundraiser, so if they didn't want to participate, they just didn't and there is no need for them to explain.

While setting up our fundraiser, my DH signed with the company as a rep to help other people with their fundraisers. There are many different kinds he can do so if you are interested, email him at rodney@libertyfloors.com and put Adoption Fundraiser in the subject line. He would love to help you out.

[spagirl]

I just raised $600 having a rummage sale, many people donated additional money when they found out why we were having the sale. Seventeen our our friends donated the items. Because of the heat we had a lot of nice warmer clothes left over, which I am taking to a consignment shop. I am also taking the leftover books and videos to a used book store. Its a lot of work, but I had fun hanging out with my mom and sister during the sale. No one seemed to think that we shouldn't be adopting because we couldn't afford it out of pocket, I had a lot of agency information with me for the people who did have questions

[deni3282]

Thanks girls for all the advice.

Spagirl - we actually are planning a yard sale for the fall and have asked friends and family to donate unwanted items. The response has been great and we are excited about this effort. This may only be one way we attempt to support our adoption but I am also looking at it as a way to keep me realy busy during the long adoption process.

Thanks for the feedback.

[BC-lisa in venice]

Didn't do a yard sale but we put most of Sam's adoption on the Mastercard. No really! We had a card with a low interest rate and what we could afford to pay for our of pocekt but all of the larger checks we paid for with MC checks. We paid off the card over the course of two years mostly with the increased monthly income from having a new dependent (after rearranging dh's withholding) and with the tax credit. We even did a little creative stuff by tranfering the cash advance part of the balance to a new card that had no interest for the first year for balance transfers so we ended up not paying hardly any interest. A good portion of Miranda's adoption went on the HELOC and again was paid off with the tax credit and the refunds we got in the first two years.

lisa

lisa

[Kasie936]

Deni
I don't have any fundraising ideas for you, but I think it's a great way to raise money. People love to give to worthy causes and what is better cause than adding a child to your family?
Anyway, just wanted to encourage you to do this. And if anyone judges you, blow it off. It's their issue, not yours. I think the majority of people will give you overwhelming support.

Good luck