Adoption-Friendly Workplace
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Benefits for Employees Becoming Adoptive and Foster Parents
More than 30 years ago, our founder, Dave Thomas, led an initiative advocating for adoption benefits in the workplace, because to him, it was just “the right thing to do.” The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has carried that legacy forward through the Adoption-Friendly Workplace program and adoption benefit resources.
About the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace Survey
The Foundation partners with RTI International — an independent, nonprofit research institute — to conduct the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace survey.
Each year, the Foundation releases the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace survey results and recognizes organizations that strive to make adoption and foster care supported options for every working parent.
Participating companies offer an average of $16,716 in financial reimbursement for adoption costs — up 6% from 2025. The average amount of paid leave is 8.9 weeks for adoptive parents, which is an increase of 1% from 2025.
The amount of paid leave offered to foster parents was an average of 9 weeks, a 2% increase from 2025.
Criteria for the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces
Employer scores are calculated by:
Financial Reimbursement
Paid Leave
Employee Eligibility
NEW Certifications
In addition to the 100 Best and Adoption Advocate lists, organizations participating in the Foundation’s survey have the opportunity to earn certifications, including:
Certified Adoption-Friendly Workplace
Criteria to qualify for this annual certification:
Offer a minimum of $5,000 in reimbursement for adoption costs and 6 weeks of paid leave
Certified Foster-Friendly Workplace
Criteria to qualify for this annual certification:
Offer a minimum of 2 weeks of paid leave for foster parents
Why Take the Survey?
Does your organization offer adoption and foster care benefits? Take our survey! Participating organizations have the opportunity to:
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Be recognized as a Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace, Adoption Advocate and leader in your industry.
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Earn certifications for being Adoption- and Foster-Friendly Workplaces.
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Opt-in to a database of benefits offered by other organizations across the United States. Only organizations that opt in will have access.
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Access benchmark reports via an interactive, online dashboard. Your report will compare the benefits that your organization offers adoption and foster care benefits to all other organizations that completed the survey, including breakdowns by industry and size.
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Display annual certification badge(s) on the organization’s print and digital properties.
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Elevate your organization’s profile through guest blogs on the Foundation’s website and social media, which feature employee stories or leadership quotes. Participate in optional media opportunities to highlight your organization as having best-in-class benefits.
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Celebrate your organization’s support of all working families.
Getting Started: Adoption-Friendly Workplace Toolkit
As part of creating a family-friendly environment and maintaining a competitive benefits package, it’s important that employers provide adoption and foster care benefits to their employees. Adoption benefits typically include a combination of financial assistance, information and referral services, and paid or unpaid leave, while foster care benefits typically include paid or unpaid leave.
The Foundation surveys employers annually to determine best-in-class adoption and foster care benefits and provides a free toolkit to help organizations develop their benefits policies.
100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace Spotlights
Newly Weds Foods
“When a company provides meaningful support for employees building their families through adoption, it speaks volumes about the organization’s culture, values, and commitment to supporting families in all forms.”
Hilton Grand Vacations
“I learned of the adoption benefit assistance through Hilton Grand Vacations and was overjoyed!”
Get Involved
If your organization doesn’t offer adoption and foster care benefits, download our toolkit to start the conversation today. Check out our Get Involved page to find more ways to help.