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Having some feedback from the LEGAL standpoint on this matter would be VERY helpful! We want to make sure we are by-the-book!
In a nutshell:
We wish to adopt (probably some level of special needs, possibly domestic, more likely international/Russia, Ukraine, Romania...)
We have a modest income (about $65K in a normal year, but I have been unemployed for several months and will re-start work in January'04, so 2003 will wash-out as low-income year)
To the best of our understanding, costs of adoption, relevant services and fees, travel/lodging/food/etc, and immediate post-adopt needs (incl medical) will run approx ***$30K***
This is a staggering sum. HOW DO WE FUNDRAISE???
Not options: No money from family. No money from employers. Cannot get equity loan on house. Not members of a church community (dh goes regularly but he goes and leaves, is not involved with any activities there). Not members of clubs.
We really feel as though *we* are the orphans in this matter, without a support network to assist us in the business of collecting money for this goal. This is not to say we don't have our little circle of friends, that we don't have family, it's just that they are not sources of income.
So assuming it's "just us," how can we find funds??? I thought of a few things -- your feedback?
(1) Writing to all local churches "we are not members of your congregation but we ARE members of your comunity, and we hope you will help us" -- will this fly???
(2) Putting up flyers at local groceries, directing to website for info, a way to donate.
(3) Making biz-cards/flyers to leave everywhere, with contact/website/donation info
We HAVE identified a nationally-backed nonprofit organization to handle all incoming funds, so that they are handled in a responsible, legal and legitimate manner (so there's no chance of anyone being worried we're scamming). They can only disburse to legally-defined acceptable purposes and then only directly to the service-provider (so actually we could never lay hands on any of the money that we raise for any personal use). If we don't use the funds, they get rolled-over for use by others when we have completed our process. We felt this was very important considering we don't have the "legitimizing" force of a church or other visible group/organization behind us to reassure people.
SO- what do you think of my 3 ideas? Do you have any others? We live just outside a major city (Philadelphia), so maybe that would help somehow?
GREATLY appreciate any ideas! Comments! HELP! We are very serious about this and only the funding is holding us back.
THANK YOU!!! Suzette
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