Isaiah 58:10 "...and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." (NIV)
Adoptive Family Financial Assistance Application
The Hopeful Horizons Adoption Assistance Fund is available to families who have been members of Amherst Baptist Church for at least two years prior to this application. Also, only those applicants who have completed their homestudy for adoption will be considered. Applicants should deliver their completed applications to Wendy Beebe or Dan DiFrancesco.
Application (PDF 41Kb)
Hopeful Horizons Adoption Assistance Fund
Frequently Asked Questions and Guidelines
What type of adoptions will Hopeful Horizons Ministry fund
International and domestic adoptions using agencies which are 501(c)(3) agencies (i.e. nonprofit)
Domestic adoptions from state foster care
Private domestic adoptions through attorneys
International and domestic adoptions using agencies which are 501(c)(3) agencies (i.e. nonprofit)Domestic adoptions from state foster carePrivate domestic adoptions through attorneys
Who is eligible for a grant
Each of the following criteria must be met:
Families who have been members of Amherst Baptist Church for at least two years.
Families must have a completed home study which has been approved by their adoption agency or adoption attorney. These agencies or attorneys must confirm to the Fund Committee that the homestudy has been completed and approved.
Each of the following criteria must be met:
Families who have been members of Amherst Baptist Church for at least two years.Families must have a completed home study which has been approved by their adoption agency or adoption attorney. These agencies or attorneys must confirm to the Fund Committee that the homestudy has been completed and approved.
What percentage of the total adoption process will this grant supply
The assistance received by qualified applicants will most likely only cover a portion of the family or individuals total adoption costs. Total adoption costs vary depending on a number of factors, such as agency assisted adoptions versus adoptions utilizing a private attorney, and different countries have various requirements affecting total costs such as the number of trips and length of trip(s) an adoptive parent must make to the sending country. Our goal is to provide grants in the range of $1,000-$3,000 depending on the funds available at the time of application and the number of applicants in need of assistance.
The assistance received by qualified applicants will most likely only cover a portion of the family or individuals total adoption costs. Total adoption costs vary depending on a number of factors, such as agency assisted adoptions versus adoptions utilizing a private attorney, and different countries have various requirements affecting total costs such as the number of trips and length of trip(s) an adoptive parent must make to the sending country. Our goal is to provide grants in the range of $1,000-$3,000 depending on the funds available at the time of application and the number of applicants in need of assistance.
Who at Amherst Baptist Church will make the actual grant decisions
The Hopeful Horizons Adoption Assistance Fund Team will include at least one elder and three other members of Amherst Baptist Church. If, at any time, a member of this committee submits an application for adoption assistance, that committee member will not be involved in any way with the committee's decision regarding their application.
The Hopeful Horizons Adoption Assistance Fund Team will include at least one elder and three other members of Amherst Baptist Church. If, at any time, a member of this committee submits an application for adoption assistance, that committee member will not be involved in any way with the committee's decision regarding their application.
To whom or to what organizations will the fund be disbursed
Grants will be disbursed directly to the acting adoption agency or adoption attorney only after an applicant has been matched to a particular child in need of adoption. Grants may also be used to cover travel expenses by paying airline fares directly. Proof of the adoptive family being matched to a particular child should be received by a fund committee member as soon as possible after the match takes place (assuming the home study has already been completed and approved). Grants will not under any circumstance be disbursed directly to an applicant before or after an adoption takes place.
Grants will be disbursed directly to the acting adoption agency or adoption attorney only after an applicant has been matched to a particular child in need of adoption. Grants may also be used to cover travel expenses by paying airline fares directly. Proof of the adoptive family being matched to a particular child should be received by a fund committee member as soon as possible after the match takes place (assuming the home study has already been completed and approved). Grants will not under any circumstance be disbursed directly to an applicant before or after an adoption takes place.
How will I know if I have received a grant and for how much
Depending on how soon your adoption will be complete and funds available, expect to hear a response from a member of the Hopeful Horizons Adoption Assistance Fund team within 8-10 weeks or sooner by phone or in person.
Depending on how soon your adoption will be complete and funds available, expect to hear a response from a member of the Hopeful Horizons Adoption Assistance Fund team within 8-10 weeks or sooner by phone or in person.
What follow-up is required from grantees
Hopeful Horizons requests that after the adoption is complete, grant recipients openly share the testimony of their adoption experience with Amherst Baptist Church so that the whole church body can rejoice with them over their newly adopted child(ren).
Hopeful Horizons requests that after the adoption is complete, grant recipients openly share the testimony of their adoption experience with Amherst Baptist Church so that the whole church body can rejoice with them over their newly adopted child(ren).