Executive Director
Looking Forward—With Expectation
Happy New Year! Yes, it’s February as you are reading this, but I am writing this shortly after the New Year—and I can’t help but be eager for what it may hold. This is the time of year that we resolve to make changes. What does that change look like for Adoption Associates? Our focus for 2012 will be GROWTH. The past few years have been more about stabilizing after some difficult financial years. After a strong end to 2011, we feel like we are in a position to move ahead. We are blessed with some of the most passionate and dedicated staff. We are aligned with great like-minded partner agencies. It’s definitely time to grow! We are taught to pray with expectation—and that is just what we are doing.
Here are some areas in which we hope to see great strides forward:
New international programs!
We are always keeping our eyes on new opportunities for prospective adopting families. While we are child-focused as an agency, we also feel it is imperative to have programs in stable and productive regions. We want to ensure that when families sign on to adopt that they can adopt a child within a reasonable amount of time with little to no risk. That is why our program offerings aren’t as numerous as other agencies in the country—we are conservative!
With that said, we are investigating a program in Ghana and plans are being made to travel there in early February. We are also keeping a close watch on Kazakhstan, a country where we are already established. The country closed intercountry adoption several months ago, but changes have been put in place and we hope they will open again soon.
Continue Working to Fulfill Fundraising Goals:
In early 2011 we established four key fundraising initiatives. The money raised from our 2011 Gala went towards the four initiatives. We also requested funding for operating expenses. We were very fortunate to raise a significant amount in this category. Operating funds support our international programs as well as necessary technology upgrades. Additionally, money raised from our annual appeal letter and miscellaneous donations made throughout the year were also counted towards these goals.
Project Goals for all initiatives total $500,000 (not counting funds needed for operational expenses).
Adoption Associates raised $261,672 in 2011 ($100,000 was designated for operational expenses, $42,000 covered fundraising expenses and $25,110 is outstanding from Gala pledges).
Our goal for 2012 is to raise $365,000, most of which we hope to designate to our four key initiatives. We hope to reach 66% of the goal for the four initiatives by the end of 2012. Additional funds will go to operational expenses and cover fundraising costs.
Below are the four key initiatives set in early 2011, along with their respective goals. The plan is to fulfill these goals by the end of 2013:
Birthmother Outreach:
Sadly, less than 2% of women facing an unplanned pregnancy will choose adoption. Many will abort, some will miscarry and the others will choose to be single parents. AAI has a strong history of successfully presenting the idea of adoption as a loving option for birthmothers and their babies when given the opportunity. However more resources and staff are needed to build the case for adoption. Project Goal: $125,000
Humanitarian Aid:
Long ago, AAI made the commitment to support a) international orphanages where precious children are waiting for adoption, and b) children who will be ‘left behind’ in the grim conditions of their villages. Funds are needed to provide for the children’s education, nutritional needs, for clothing, and for their care. Project Goal: $200,000
Grants for Adoptive Families:
AAI has established a fund whereby we offer grants to families who would like to adopt a child with special needs, and who have demonstrated a financial need. We ask for ongoing contributions so more special children can have families. Project Goal: $75,000
Endowment Fund:
AAI has established an endowment fund that, once matured, will be used for the long lasting perpetuity of the agency’s mission. This fund has a slow start and AAI would appreciate contributions that would promise it’s growth and purpose. Project Goal: $100,000
Operational Expenses:
Money raised in this category supports our the hard costs of our international programs that adoption fees do not cover, as well as technology upgrades.
Expand our marketing and fundraising in Lansing and Farmington Hills:
We are happy to announce that we have hired a Director of Fund Development and Outreach in the Lansing area who has deep connections in both the Detroit and Lansing areas. She is an adoptive mother and a former attorney. She has a deep passion for the work we do at Adoption Associates and will be a tremendous asset to us as we continue to seek out new donors, families and supporters of our mission. The more hands we have on deck to reach out to referring agents and partnering businesses, the better off we are. Welcome Nicole Racine!
We hope your new year is off to a great start. We hope you will join us in yet a new chapter, “Stability to GROWTH” in 2012!
Best Wishes,
