Our grants
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption uses grantmaking to dramatically increase adoptions of children waiting in U.S. foster care. We invest significant resources in our evidence-based program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. We also provide general grants to organizations with proven or innovative initiatives that further our mission.
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids grants
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is making a difference for thousands of children — one child at a time. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption awards grants to public and private adoption agencies to hire adoption professionals who implement proactive, child-focused recruitment programs targeted exclusively on moving America’s longest-waiting children from foster care into adoptive families. Recently-released research from a five-year evaluation of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids shows that children referred to the program are up to three times more likely to get adopted. Read the full research results.
To be eligible for a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids grant, your agency may be public or private, must qualify under regulations of the United States Internal Revenue Service, and must have access to children in foster care and their case files. Organizations meeting these criteria may submit an agency profile to be considered if and when the Foundation expands in their area.
- Click here learn more about eligibility or apply to be a potential Wendy’s Wonderful Kids grantee.
- Click here to sign up for email alerts about Wendy’s Wonderful Kids expansion and child-focused recruitment curriculum development.
General grants
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is interested in reviewing new and innovative ideas, and proven programs that focus on foster care adoption in the United States. Your program or project must have national impact, or include a plan for national replication. We do not provide funding for building additions or improvements; capital campaigns; financial assistance for individuals adopting; general operating funds; individual child expenses such as camp, therapy, schooling and housing; entertainment projects or programs; start-up funds; step-parent adoption; or vehicle purchase.
Only submissions by U.S. nonprofit organizations will be reviewed, as the Foundation does not award grants directly to individuals.
If your request for funding meets the criteria above, we invite you to submit an online letter of inquiry. The Foundation does not have any submission deadlines. We will notify you within 60 days after receiving your online letter of inquiry whether or not we will seek a full proposal to fund your initiative.
Funding inquiries must be submitted electronically. The form can be saved for later completion, but cannot be edited once it has been submitted.