Ask if the resource is federally tax-exempt

Why is this important?

Federally tax-exempt organizations (those with a 501(c)3 status) are subject to a lot of regulatory scrutiny. They must prove to the government that they are not conducting adoptions for the purpose of making a profit.

Don’t be fooled by an agency that says it is “non-profit” but isn’t a 501(c)3. “Non-profit” status is meaningless unless the organization is federally tax-exempt. If your agency claims to be non-profit but is not tax-exempt, they may be trying to fool you into thinking that they exist for charitable purposes.

Ask to see their audited financial statements. All clients have the right to see these. If they refuse to send these to you, you need to ask yourself what the agency is hiding.

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