Frequently Asked Questions
For any additional questions or more information, you can contact us by email at cnelson@achildwaits.org or by phone at 866-999-2445 - U.S. or 518-794-8892 - Canada.
For any additional questions or more information, you can contact us by email at cnelson@achildwaits.org or by phone at 866-999-2445 - U.S. or 518-794-8892 - Canada.
When is the best time to apply to a child waits foundation?
Our process is ongoing and applications are accepted at any time during the year. There are no applications deadlines to be met. Please wait to apply until you have a completed home study and you have accepted a referral.
i am adopting from ukraine which has a blind referral system so i don't have information on the child i am adopting, can i still apply for a grant and/or loan?
Yes, you can submit the full application and make a note that you don't have the child's information. Please include information about the type of child you are hoping to adopt. Once you have made the first trip and officially accept the child's referral, you can then send the child's information to be added to your application prior to the Board's review.
who is eligible to apply for adoption funding?
Grant Eligibility: Any US or Canadian Citizen adopting internationally with an income of
$130,00o or less.
Loan Eligibility: Anyone adopting internationally with a combined family income of
$150,000 or less. Loan applicants must be credit worthy, able to
demonstrate the ability to make loan payments and be able to secure
a co-signer with good credit and the financial ability to repay the loan.
$130,00o or less.
Loan Eligibility: Anyone adopting internationally with a combined family income of
$150,000 or less. Loan applicants must be credit worthy, able to
demonstrate the ability to make loan payments and be able to secure
a co-signer with good credit and the financial ability to repay the loan.
can my application be expedited if final travel comes sooner than anticipated?
Yes, please contact the Foundation before you travel if you have submitted an application and have not heard from A Child Waits. Since our process is ongoing and applications are accepted at any time during the year, we have the flexibility to expedite applications for families that will be traveling sooner than originally expected.
do you accept applications after a family has traveled to bring home their child?
No, we do not provide funding to families that have brought their child home. We expect families to keep us informed if their travel date changes since the application will be invalid once the child is in the United States.
may i email or fax my application?
No, we only accept mailed applications. Please follow-up with an email or phone call after mailing your application to ensure the application is complete. We are unable to process incomplete applications and due to the volume of applications we receive, we don't have the ability to follow-up regarding incomplete applications.
if i am approved for a grant, how much will i receive?
Grant amounts will usually not exceed $7,000. Financial assistance is based on the following factors: need of the child, financial ability of the prospective adoptive parents, number of applicants being considered and availability of funds at A Child Waits Foundation.
if i apply for a loan, how much can i borrow from a child waits foundation and what are the terms of the loan?
Loan amounts to prospective parents are based on the following factors: needs of the child, financial ability of the prospective adoptive parents, number of applicants being considered and availability of funds at A Child Waits Foundation. The maximum loan amount is $10,000 and loans are repaid on a monthly payment plan for a period of no more than five years with an interest rate of 3%. Please note: If you are applying for both a grant and a loan with A Child Waits, and approved for both, the maximum total funding is $10,000.
if i am approved for a grant, how and when will i get the funds?
If approved, grant funds will be disbursed for qualified adoption expenses, including in-country and travel costs associated with bringing your child or children home.
The funds will be sent to the family if all adoption agency fees have been paid. If there is a balance with the agency that fee will be paid first and the remaining funds can be sent to the family.
In some circumstances, it may be necessary to release the grant funds once the adoption has been completed and the children are home. These situations may include countries where the timeline for adoption is new or changing, adoptions where the length of stay in-country is unknown or possibly weeks to months and situations where the status of the adoption is uncertain.
The funds will be sent to the family if all adoption agency fees have been paid. If there is a balance with the agency that fee will be paid first and the remaining funds can be sent to the family.
In some circumstances, it may be necessary to release the grant funds once the adoption has been completed and the children are home. These situations may include countries where the timeline for adoption is new or changing, adoptions where the length of stay in-country is unknown or possibly weeks to months and situations where the status of the adoption is uncertain.
if i am approved for a loan, how and when will i get the funds?
Loan funds will be disbursed for qualified adoption expenses, including in-country and travel costs. The funds will be sent to the family at the end of the adoption process just before the family is due to leave to pick up their child. If you are also approved for a grant, the grant funds can be sent directly to your adoption agency if there are any remaining fees due prior to travel.
if my request for adoption funding is approved, how long do i have to use the funds?
Grants: If you have been approved for a grant and your adoption is delayed, the funds
must be used within six months of date of approval. If funds are not used within
six months, the Foundation reserves the right to re-evaluate the application to
determine continued grant eligibility.
Loans: Eligibility will be reassessed on a 6 month basis. After 6 months, supporting
documents may be requested to verify your financial status. These documents can
include recent pay stubs, updated home study, recent 1040 and confirmation of
co-signers ability and desire to remain a co-signer. We reserve the right to re-evaluate
the application to determine continued loan eligibility and revoke the loan
commitment if there is a significant change.
must be used within six months of date of approval. If funds are not used within
six months, the Foundation reserves the right to re-evaluate the application to
determine continued grant eligibility.
Loans: Eligibility will be reassessed on a 6 month basis. After 6 months, supporting
documents may be requested to verify your financial status. These documents can
include recent pay stubs, updated home study, recent 1040 and confirmation of
co-signers ability and desire to remain a co-signer. We reserve the right to re-evaluate
the application to determine continued loan eligibility and revoke the loan
commitment if there is a significant change.
can i apply for both a grant and loan at the same time?
Yes, it is quite common for families to apply for and receive both a grant and a loan. Additionally, since the information and forms are very similar, it is an easier process for both the family and the Foundation to apply for both programs at the same time.
do i need to fill out the paperwork for both the grant and the loan applications?
No, just use the loan application forms and check the appropriate box for the type of funding you are requesting. Additionally, only one $20 application fee is required. See the Grant/Loan Program web page for more information.
what is the difference between applying for a loan or a grant?
For a loan there are additional legal documents and a co-signer is required. The co-signer is someone who is willing to accept the financial risk of the loan in the event the borrower becomes unable to make the loan payments. This is a co-signer, not a co-borrower, such as a spouse.
if my application is denied can i reapply?
No, all decisions by the Board are final.
does a child waits foundation request any follow-up information after the family is home with their child?
Yes, A Child Waits Foundation would like a brief summary of your adoption and pictures after your child is home. If the family gives written consent, we may use your pictures and adoption summary on our web site.
does the foundation fund domestic adoptions?
Yes, in 2019 our Foundation began a domestic grant program for the adoption of children between the ages of 2 and 17, special needs children of all ages and siblings groups.
my credit is not perfect, will that prevent me from receiving a loan?
No, lower credit scores will not always prevent a person from receiving a loan. However, if the applicant has a low credit score we may require additional information from the co-signer.
i have excellent credit, do i still need a co-singer for my loan?
Yes, the co-signer gives us additional security that the loan will be repaid. As the Foundation is not a bank, and funds to help families and children are limited, we make every effort to secure repayment of loans.
what are the co-signer requirements?
The co-signer must have good credit and demonstrate the ability to repay the loan if it becomes necessary. The co-signer must have his or her notarized signature on the promissory note and submit a copy of their most recent tax return. Additionally, the co-signer must sign the consent form authorizing A Child Waits Foundation to run a credit check. Spouses are considered co-applicants, not co-signers. For confidentiality reasons, co-signers may send their documents directly to the Foundation.
