The IAC stands in full support of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group, the result of a number of organizations and institutions who have come together to advocate for a permanent adoption tax credit. The tax credit was introduced in 1997 and has helped thousands of families afford the costs associated with adoption. The goal is to have a tax credit that is:

• Inclusive – All types of adoption should receive the credit: domestic, foster, and intercountry
• Permanent – The credit should be a permanent part of the tax code, not subject to expiration
• Refundable – Low-income families should receive the credit regardless of tax liability
• Flat for special needs – Full credit for special needs adoption, in recognition of the post-finalization costs associated with these adoptions

On April 17th the Making Adoption Affordable Act was introduced as the first legislation to accomplish these goals. The bill would set the adoption tax credit at $13,360, and make it refundable and permanent.  Referring to the high costs of housing children in the foster care system, sponsor Rep. Braley of Iowa stated at his press conference, “When a policy puts more kids in loving homes and also saves taxpayers millions of dollars in the process, expanding it should be a bipartisan no-brainer.”

To learn more about the efforts of Save the Adoption Tax Credit visit http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/

In 2007 she created a non-profit, helpusadopt.org, which has awarded more than $360,000 in adoption grants to those seeking to adopt but struggling to obtain proper finances. A couple that are clients of the Independent Adoption Center were able to receive this life-changing gift. Clayton Lord and Seth Miller were able to adopt a baby girl through a grant of $5,000 from Fawcett. You can check out their story, as well as the two other stories in the newest issue of People Magazine.

Some quick facts:

• Grants are awarded twice a year in June and December.
• Grants are $500 – $15,000 depending on individual situations.
• Families can apply once in an annual cycle of the program. You may apply again only if you are still in the adoption process.

To donate: http://helpusadopt.org/get_involved.html

Helpusadopt.org was created by adoptive parents Becky and Kipp Fawcett in 2007. The Fawcetts were so grateful for the fact that they had the financial means to adopt their son Jake in 2005 that they looked to make a donation to an existing organization that would help ease another family’s financial burden. However, what they found were organizations that defined family and adoption. Armed with this knowledge and their belief in family undefined, they decided to create a grant organization that does not define family or adoption — Helpusadopt.org was born.

Helpusadopt.org is a national 501c3 financial grant program that helps couples/individuals (regardless of race, religion, gender, marital status and sexual orientation) with the costs of their adoptions (domestic, international, special needs or foster care) by awarding grants of up to $15,000.

Although Helpusadopt.org has received very few same sex couple applicants in the two years that they have been awarding grants (they actively seek more), in December of 2009 they awarded their first same sex couple grant to Caroline and Elizabeth from North Carolina. In their own words this is what they have to say about Helpusadopt.org:

“When my partner and I began looking at adoption grants, we didn’t think we’d ever get one. Many grant organizations openly favored heterosexual, married, Christian couples. Then I found Helpusadopt.org and I was encouraged to see that FINALLY, same-sex families were welcome to apply and that the average grant size was substantial ($7,500). Helpusadopt.org understands the challenges same-sex couples face when adopting and we are truly grateful that they exist to help families like ours! When so many other doors were closed to us, Helpusadopt.org’s door was open.”

Helpusadopt.org awards $50,000 in grant money twice a year (June and December) and as we approach the deadline for our December 2010 round of grants (October 15th) we are frustrated to see that we do not have a single application from the LGBT community.

“We have the funds to award to LGBT couples seeking to adopt, but without the applications obviously we can’t award the grants.” States Becky Fawcett, executive director of Helpusadopt.org, “The non-discrimination factor is one of the main premises on which we created and built Helpusadopt.org and I can’t for the life of me figure out why more LGBT couples aren’t applying, but I won’t stop trying until we are awarding LGBT grants on a regular basis.” continues Fawcett.

Fawcett, has retired from her PR firm, The Fawcett Group PR, to run Helpusadopt.org on a full time basis and pro-bono. “It’s really quite simple… this is what I was born to do. But I’ll never take a penny from Helpusadopt.org—how could I? I am so grateful that I was able to adopt on my terms and it’s important to me to be able to turn around and help others achieve their dreams of parenthood.”

Spend a few minutes with Becky Fawcett and you’ll see that she’s not only authentic; she’s determined to make a difference in the world of adoption, especially to families who have faced closed doors due to discrimination. She’s even walked away from donors who’ve asked her to adjust Helpusadopt.org’s definition of family.

Helpusadopt.org’s doors are wide open to the LGBT community… they’re just waiting for the applications!

For more information visit: www.helpusadopt.org for our grant application and the guidelines. Or call 917.684.5484 or email becky.fawcett -at- helpusadopt -dot- org