Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Names 2025 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces
Columbus, Ohio — The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is honored to announce the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces of 2025, leading the way in providing adoption and foster care benefits and recognizing the need for this life-changing support.
In its 19th year, the list includes a diverse group of organizations representing 22 industries. Survey participants offer an average of $15,709 in financial reimbursement for adoption costs.
The average amount of paid leave is 8.8 weeks. The amount of paid leave offered to foster parents is also 8.8 weeks as most companies include foster parents in their paid leave policies.
Organizations on this year’s list that offer the most robust adoption benefits include: Ferring Pharmaceuticals, NVIDIA, MongoDB Inc., National Basketball Association (NBA) and KPMG LLP.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals and NVIDIA tied for the top spot. Both organizations have been at the top of the list in past years, and both offer unlimited financial reimbursement for adoption costs and 20 weeks of paid leave to adoptive parents.
The Foundation partnered with RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute, to survey employers across the United States and score participants based on three criteria: financial reimbursement, paid leave and the percentage of employees eligible for those benefits. In addition to the 100 Best and Adoption Advocates lists, the Foundation ranks employers by size, industry, paid leave, foster care benefits and impact.
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., a long-time supporter of the Foundation, participated in the survey for the first time in 2025, reaching 51 on the 100 Best list. “We are honored to be included on this year’s 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list and are appreciative of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s ongoing work to positively impact the journey for adoptive children and families,” said Mary Beth DeNooyer, Chief Human Resources Officer at Keurig Dr Pepper. “At KDP, we’re committed to fueling the well-being of our team members and supporting them and their families.”
Another company new to the 100 Best list is Henkel — a leading manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands, such as all® free clear laundry detergent, Dial® soap and Bonderite® adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. “It is an honor to be listed among the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Family matters to us at Henkel,” said Valeria Gladsztein, Regional Head, Human Resources North America. “Our values are rooted in a legacy of care for our employees, which is why we offer benefit programs to support different family planning needs and be inclusive of all parents who welcome a child into their home. Having time for parent and child bonding promotes the health and wellbeing of all family members and improves life for generations to come in our society.”
President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Rita Soronen, shared her appreciation for all organizations offering these life-changing benefits. “We know that these benefits can play a role in a family’s decision to grow through foster care or adoption,” said Soronen. “The organizations recognized this year demonstrate that these supports are not optional perks — they are essential elements of a workplace that values and strengthens families.”
Qualtrics, the leader and creator of the experience management (XM) category based in Provo, Utah, made the 100 Best for the third time this year. Matt Inama, a Principal Technical Success Manager at Qualtrics, shared the impact of employee benefits and offered advice to other prospective adoptive parents: “We knew the cost of a private adoption could be more than $45,000. The financial reimbursement offered to us by my employer was a significant help in our adoption journey,” he said. “Adoption is a long process. Give yourself time and grace and also find experts in your area. Laws and guidelines change state to state and having someone who can help you navigate the system is very helpful.”
The Wendy’sCompany is designated with Forever Family emeritus status after holding the top spot in the survey for many years. The company continues to provide strong adoption benefits to employees.
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption does not participate in the survey but offers its employees substantial adoption and foster care benefits.
View the complete 2025 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list and resources for employers at davethomasfoundation.org/AFW.
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About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national, nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding permanent homes for the more than 140,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking.
More than 30 years ago, Dave Thomas led an initiative advocating for better adoption benefits in the workplace. The Foundation has carried that legacy forward through the Adoption-Friendly Workplace program. The Foundation recognizes organizations that offer best-in-class adoption and foster care benefits, offers a toolkit to help employers develop their policies and shares stories of impact. Learn more at davethomasfoundation.org/AFW.