DH and I have started the process of an international adoption. We have been blessed to have a dear friend offer an Avon fundraiser to kick us off, and we are also planning a spaghetti dinner next month, a mall coat check during the holidays, selling truffles, selling cotton candy at local festivals, and possibly having a Superbowl sub sale. Many of our friends and family are very supportive and encouraging and we are so very thankful!

I asked if I could post the information about our Avon fundraiser on here. Some of you may buy Avon products from time to time and if you were planning on getting anything in the current campaign (9/10-9/23), would you consider ordering it through our fundraiser? Our friend will be donating all of her profits from the campaign -- 50% of whatever sales generated! Also, there is a code to get free shipping! If you would like my friend's website & the shipping code, please PM me. Thanks

I've had inquiries on how everything is going, so I'll keep updates on here each week. If anyone has any unique profitable fundraisers, please let me know! Thanks again!!

I wanted to post our adoption blog for those who are interested:
Journey with us as we bring our daughter home.

__________________

You can PM me the info. I can't guarantee I'll order, but I do order from Avon from time to time, so am willing to take a look at the current offers. Good luck!!

__________________

With friends who have adopted internationally and a CPA husband, I just wanted to make sure you're aware of all the tax credits available to you. They can greatly offset your expenses. Here is more information:
The Adoption Tax Credit

It may be worth your time to consult a tax professional to make sure you're claiming all your credits.

__________________
Read my Mommysavers Blog: Forget the Joneses
Check out the Mommysavers Group on Facebook

Download my free eBook full of savings ideas for the holidays Click Here

Have you looked into the legalities of private fundraising to ensure it won't come back and bite you? You may need city permits, state OKs, and even the feds have guidelines. You should check with a lawyer or do some searches to ensure you are OK.

Have you already checked out the tax ramifications to this? The IRS will require you to report ALL funds raised as income, so you will have to pay a tax on it. Otherwise, you'll have to file for nonprofit status, of which there are multiple fees for, background checks often, and tons of red tape and continuous updates on paperwork required. They will make you responsible for checking to see if you're legal before even one cent is raised. And if you drop the endeavor as costs mount, you could be liable for paying back the funds to avoid accusations of fraud. You'll need to keep immaculate and complete records.

Also, as Kim said above, look into allowable tax credits and deductions for adoption costs. Some employers help with costs.

If you open up a bank account for people to donate to, the bank will probably require legal papers to ensure it is a "real" fund. At least we did years ago when I worked in banking.

I'd do some searching online, including checking out a lawyer who can help with advice on fundraising and can help facilitate the adoption. It would be wicked if you expended all that time, energy and hope to get bitten. Maybe a part-time job will be a better idea?

__________________
Make someone's heart smile today.

We adopted, finalized about 16 months ago. We never thought of fundraising and I wouldn't do it. You're not a non-profit charity. I guess I'm not the kind of person who ever expected someone else to pay for my adoption. I confess, using this board for fundraising efforts sort of bugs me.

__________________
"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

We aren't begging people to just give us money for nothing in return. We're doing different projects where people are purchasing something and supporting us bringing our daughter home. I don't see how it's any different than going to a craft show and buying something someone's made. You're paying their electric bill or putting food in their mouth. We're doing the same thing and telling those that purchase the items that what $ they paid will bring a baby home to their family. No, we're not a non-profit charity, but my daughter is overseas in an orphanage and without some SERIOUS charity she may not survive to the age of 1. If absolute strangers are willing to support her by purchasing items that they want/will use, then I'm all for it.

I've often bought candy bars from the kids in front of the grocery store to support them and their "cause" and most of them are raising money for things like new cheerleading uniforms or a band trip somewhere. Those are things that are extras, not the case of life or death for a baby. Before we ever mentioned raising money for the adoption, friends and family offered it. They are willing to invest in our daughter's life, and are happy to buy their Christmas gifts and have dinner out to help make that happen.

__________________