Adoption-Friendly Workplace

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.

download our benefits toolkit register now for the 2027 survey

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.

view the 2026 survey results

A smiling family of four poses together. The father holds a young child, while the mother stands next to him with one hand on an older daughter, who stands in front, smiling. All are casually dressed.

Criteria for the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

Gold medal badge reading “100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, 2026,” with a heart cutout at the top center and a white ribbon on either side.

Employer scores are calculated by:

45%

Financial Reimbursement

45%

Paid Leave

10%

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

view the 2026 certified adoption-friendly workplaces

Certified Foster-Friendly Workplace

Criteria to qualify for this annual certification:

Offer a minimum of 2 weeks of paid leave for foster parents

view the 2026 certifed foster-friendly workplaces

Why Take the Survey?

Does your organization offer adoption and foster care benefits? Take our survey! Participating organizations have the opportunity to:

Be recognized as a Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace, Adoption Advocate and leader in your industry.
Earn certifications for being Adoption- and Foster-Friendly Workplaces.
Opt-in to a database of benefits offered by other organizations across the United States. Only organizations that opt in will have access.
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.
Display annual certification badge(s) on the organization’s print and digital properties.
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.
Celebrate your organization’s support of all working families.

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.

Get Involved