Who is the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption?

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity that is committed to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Right now, more than 120,000 children are waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States. We are racing against the clock to find permanent, loving homes for these young people before they age out of foster care.

How does my gift make an impact?

Through our signature Wendy's Wonderful Kids® program, the Foundation supports the hiring of adoption recruiters who are dedicated to finding forever families for children in foster care who are often overlooked. These recruiters work with smaller caseloads to ensure every child receives the support they deserve. A rigorous, five-year national evaluation revealed that a child referred to the program is up to 3x more likely to be adopted.

Your gift is critical in helping the Foundation continue expanding Wendy's Wonderful Kids to serve more youth in foster care who need a forever family — right now. This includes teenagers, children with special needs and siblings, who many unjustly say are "unadoptable." But we have proven that with enough resources, we can find the right family for these young people.

With your support, we can fully expand Wendy's Wonderful Kids in all 50 states. To date:

WHY IS OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IN CRISIS?

Our nation's child welfare system is being stretched far beyond its capacity as families are devastated by the opioid crisis and other issues. More than 420,000 children are in foster care in the U.S., 120,000 of whom have been permanently separated from their family of origin and are waiting for someone to step forward to adopt them — a 20% increase since 2012.

HOW IS THIS CRISIS IMPACTING CHILDREN?

Last year, more than 20,000 teens turned 18 or 21 and aged out of foster care without a permanent home. That's more than 50 young people per day! With nowhere to turn for support, they are at a much higher risk for negative outcomes — like homelessness and unemployment — which can happen to a child without the love and stability of a permanent family.

ARE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE BAD KIDS?

No. Children enter foster care through no fault of their own because of abuse or neglect. The unfortunate reality is that many of these children are not returning to their birth families because it is simply not safe.

IS MY GIFT TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?

Donations to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption are in U.S. dollars and are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by U.S. law. Tax ID: 31-1356151.

Thank you for giving the gift of family. Together, we will make a lifetime of impact for children and teens who need our help the most.

Contact us

1-800-ASK-DTFA
info@davethomasfoundation.org

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
4900 Tuttle Crossing Blvd.
Dublin, OH 43016