Could your employer help pay for your adoption?
Many hopeful adoptive parents spend months researching adoption grants, fundraising ideas, savings plans, and loans but overlook one of the most accessible potential sources of financial assistance: their own employer.
In this episode of Let’s Talk Adoption, Heather and Kim explain how employer adoption reimbursement works, how much assistance some companies provide, and the questions every hopeful adoptive parent should ask Human Resources.
According to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s 2026 Adoption-Friendly Workplace Survey, participating employers offered an average of $16,716 in financial reimbursement per adoption. That does not mean every employer offers this amount or offers adoption assistance at all but it demonstrates why it is so important to ask.
In this episode, you will learn:
- What employer adoption reimbursement is
- How much financial assistance employers may provide
- How to find adoption benefits that may be buried in your employee benefits package
- Which questions to ask Human Resources
- When reimbursement may be paid
- Why you should get the complete policy in writing
- What to do if your company does not currently offer adoption assistance
- How employer benefits may work alongside the federal Adoption Tax Credit
- Which additional benefits, including paid parental leave, are worth exploring
Before assuming you must pay the full cost of adoption yourself, make one call to Human Resources. A five-minute conversation could potentially save your family thousands of dollars.
Helpful Resources
- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: Adoption-Friendly Workplace
Learn about adoption-friendly workplace benefits and view recognized employers. - Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: Employer Toolkit
A free resource families can share with employers that are considering adding adoption reimbursement and leave benefits. - Internal Revenue Service: Adoption Credit and Employer-Provided Adoption Benefits
Official information about the federal Adoption Tax Credit and the income exclusion for qualified employer-provided adoption assistance.
Listen to our episode titled “Adoption Tax Credit – Exciting Changes Ahead!” here.
Employer policies and tax circumstances vary. Speak directly with your employer and consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual situation.