Grants

Application Deadline for Fall Programs:  Application and accompanying documents submission deadline is January 31, 2025.  Applicants must register for their desired program prior to applying for Gift of Identity Fund grant. If space is not available in the desired program, The Ties Program will refund their registration fee. 

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

• International adoptees of any age.
• Adoptee must be traveling to their birth country with a Ties Flagship, Ties Lite, Korea First Wave or Next Gen Program.
• Applicants must register for their desired program prior to applying for Gift of Identity Fund grant.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens (required by law).
• Preference will be given to adoptees who are traveling for the first time. They may be traveling with their nuclear family, e.g. adoptees traveling with parents, siblings, or other extended family or they may be traveling solo as an adult. 

Gift of Identity Fund Policies:

• If there are multiple international adoptees in one family, each international adoptee may apply.
• Amount of funding will vary according to the amount in the fund at time of distribution.
• Financial need considerations include median income by state and family size as well as extenuating circumstances.
• Click here for Median Family Income By State and Number in Household.
• If the participant must cancel his/her homeland journey, the recipient will be responsible to reimburse the Gift of Identity Fund, Ltd.
• Should it be determined that the funds are being used in violation of the intended purpose, the recipient will be responsible to reimburse the Gift of Identity Fund, Ltd. and the recipient will no longer be eligible for future funds.
• Board members of the Gift of Identity Fund Ltd. and employees of The Ties Program are not eligible.
• Gift of Identity Fund recipients will receive his/her grant no later than the due date for the final payment of their specific trip.
• In the event that a Ties Program does not operate in the year the award was granted for, the grant will be held for a second year.
• With your application, please mail pictures of the applicant at the time he or she joined your family, as well as a current picture.