Orphan Outreach

It is possible to adopt without going into debt. Sometimes all it takes is finding the courage to put yourself out there and do some fundraising!

Fundraising for an adoption gives others the opportunity to participate in the mission of giving a child a home and solidifies the community that will welcome them into their fold.

We put together a list of fundraising ideas to help you along your fundraising journey.

Crowdfunding. You’ve heard of GoFundMe or Kickstarter. These are basically websites that can be used to fundraise. People post a link to their fundraising page on Facebook or other social media platform and allow their online community to make a gift.

There are many different fundraising websites out there, but GoFundMe and Kickstarter are some of the most popular. Kickstarter requires that you set a fundraising goal and gives you the opportunity to post a video. If your goal is not met, no one’s credit card is charged, so you make no profit. GoFundMe, on the other hand, does not require that you set a goal. Every donation that is made, goes to your adoption. There are pros and cons to both, it’s just a matter of deciding which works best for you.

Create something and sell it. There are so many things you can sell to raise money for your cause: Christmas ornaments, t-shirts, art or bracelets. Some popular t-shirt design websites include UberPrints and DesignAShirt. Your creativity is the only  limit.

The Allen Family, who adopted twin girls from Burundi in May of 2017, sold handmade Christmas ornaments to their friends and family as part of their fundraising journey.

Between their fundraising efforts and grant applications, they were able to complete the adoption without going into debt. And their willingness to include others in the adoption process allowed friends and family  to begin forming a bond with the children who would one day join the Allen family.

Garage sales/yard sales. Dig through your closet and garage. Surely you have some items that are not being put to good use. This is your chance to clear out the clutter and get rid of that extra microwave that has been collecting dust in the attic.

Big ticket items like furniture or appliances can bring in a lot of money. Get your friends and family involved by asking them to donate unwanted items that you can sell for a profit.

Don’t forget to check with your city to see if a permit is required and have lots of change and cash available for the big day.

If you don’t have enough items to have a big garage sale, you can always sell individual items online. Some popular apps are OfferUP or Facebook Marketplace, but there are many options available.

Dinner fundraiser. Invite friends and family over to your house for a big spaghetti dinner and fundraise by selling each a plate of food. Of course you can do this with any type of food: barbecue, hamburgers or celebrate your child’s culture and cook a meal from their native country. Is your house too small to host a big party? Have a friend host, or, better yet, do it at your church so that more people can attend..

If you ask at the grocery store, you may be able to get a discount on the ingredients you need for your meal.

Another variation of this idea is a potluck fundraiser. Ask guests to bring a dish to share and have everyone pay a fee to partake in the meal.

Bake sale. Set up a bake sale in a high-traffic area. Friends and family can donate the items to be sold. A good place to set up might be after or during a special event at your church or at a sporting event.

Be sure all pastries are packaged to sell and include some beverages, too. Hot chocolate or coffee sell fast at outdoor sporting events in chilly weather. So does lemonade or ice tea in the heat! Small items like muffins, cupcakes or cookies can be sold in bulk or packaged individually.

Grants. Take every opportunity that you can to apply for grants. Joseph’s DreamCoat is a ministry of Orphan Outreach that offers grants to families who are looking to fund their adoption. Each application goes through an advisory committee who work together to determine how to allocate the funds.

Grants range from $2,000 to $5,000 and can be awarded to either domestic or international adoptions. Make a note to keep track of application deadlines! The Moscher family's grant helped finalize their fundraising efforts.

Joseph’s DreamCoat grant applications are due each year on January 31, May 31 and October 31. Learn more about Joseph's DreamCoat here.