Gift of Adoption Fund

Mission

Our mission is to provide adoption assistance grants to complete the adoptions of children in vulnerable circumstances—giving them permanent families and a chance to thrive.

Meet Noelle

Adoption was always part of our life plan. Growing up, we had both heard about the rising number of children in vulnerable circumstances around the world, especially orphans who are left without the protection of their parents due to war, disease, and other crises. After enduring multiple miscarriages, we knew the time was right for us to move forward with international adoption.

After about a year of working through loads of paperwork, we were waiting for word any day that we were approved in the international adoption system. The next step would be to receive a referral for a child in India. It was finally feeling so real, and the idea that we might see the first photos of our child very soon was so exciting.

Then came the earth-shattering news that my husband Will had cancer. Just three days later, we were told that we had been approved to adopt but would not be able to move forward with referrals as we were still learning the severity of Will’s cancer and the plan for his treatment.

After a summer of chemotherapy, and a positive prognosis for Will, we were thrilled to hear that we could resume our adoption process. A couple of months later, just days before Christmas, we received a referral for our sweet girl and saw her picture for the first time. There was no doubt that she was our daughter. Our Christmas miracle. Our Noelle. 

We adopted Noelle in 2024 from India when she was two. Noelle was diagnosed with severe Spina Bifida which made it so important to be able to adopt her as quickly as possible so she would receive the best care possible.

We had saved up and hoped that we would be able to pay for most or all of our adoption on our own. However, now with a stack of medical bills, we knew we would not be able to do it all on our own. We immediately started looking more into adoption grants and found the Gift of Adoption Fund.

Receiving the Gift of Adoption grant made it possible for us to move forward with the adoption after Will completed the initial phase of his cancer treatment. It gave us the ability to focus on both his healing and the adoption journey without being overwhelmed by financial strain. That support helped us stay grounded in what mattered most—preparing our hearts and home for our new addition. It brought stability and hope during a challenging time.

Life is truly amazing. We are so incredibly blessed in so many ways. Our medical issues have gone from urgent to manageable, and we are deeply bonded as a family. God had a better plan for us, which led us to our daughter. His timing has brought a sense of peace to everything through His timing. We could not be happier!

About Gift of Adoption

Gift of Adoption (GOA) is a national charity that provides grants (up to $15,000 and on average $5,000) to complete the adoptions of children in vulnerable circumstances. Priority is placed on helping children facing what is possibly their only chance at adoption, including children being adopted by relatives, at-risk of separation from siblings, entering foster care, aging-out of an orphanage, or with special needs. 

We are the largest provider of adoption assistance grants on a non-discriminatory basis (without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any characteristic protected by law). Our grants are paid directly to agencies and attorneys working on the child’s behalf. 

Since inception in 1996, Gift of Adoption has awarded $23 Million In Adoption Assistance Grants to give 6,835 children permanent families and a chance to thrive.  As of December 31 2024, Gift of Adoption Minnesota has awarded $578,000 in adoption assistance grants to complete the adoptions of 203 children across the Northern Plains region.