National Adoption Day is celebrated on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, uniting communities and courts to finalize adoptions for children in foster care. Join the movement to raise awareness, support adoptive families, and help more children find loving, permanent homes.
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Expected National Adoption Day Deals
On National Adoption Day, the focus shifts from commercial deals to supporting the cause of adoption. Organizations like the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and AdoptUSKids lead efforts to raise funds and awareness for children in foster care. Many corporate partners, such as Build-A-Bear Workshop, often run campaigns where a portion of sales supports adoption initiatives or provides gifts for newly adopted children. Local businesses may host events or donation drives benefiting adoption agencies. Financial institutions like Cigna often highlight employee adoption benefits, while retailers like Amazon facilitate wish lists for foster families. We will update this page with confirmed live events and fundraising opportunities as November approaches.
Platform Guide for National Adoption Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalAdoptionDay. Share heartwarming stories of adoption, photos of families, or resources for those interested in fostering or adopting.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalAdoptionDay. Post about local events, share success stories, and connect with adoption advocacy groups in your community.
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Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalAdoptionDay. Share statistics about children in foster care, advocate for policy changes, or retweet news from adoption organizations.
National Adoption Day Hero
Dave Thomas
History of National Adoption Day
National Adoption Day is an effort to focus attention on the more than 125,000 children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the U.S. A coalition of national partners — the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Alliance for Children’s Rights and Children’s Action Network — founded National Adoption Day.
The coalition, along with the Freddie Mac Foundation, encouraged seven cities in 2000 to open their courts on or around the Saturday before Thanksgiving to finalize and celebrate adoptions from foster care.
Michael Nash, a former presiding judge of Los Angeles County’s Juvenile Court, inspired the first National Adoption Day with his innovative efforts. Nash opened the court on Saturdays, engaged the volunteer efforts of court personnel, and finalized adoptions to reduce the backlog of one of the busiest courts in the nation.
Today policymakers, practitioners and advocates collaborate to plan these annual, one-day events in 400 U.S. cities. To date the dreams of 75,000 children in foster care have come true as part of National Adoption Day events.
Approximately 2 million Americans are adopted — with about 150,000 adoptions happening each year, including about 50,000 through foster-care. U.S. adoptions may be either domestic or international. Domestic adoptions can be arranged either through a state agency, an adoption agency, or independently.
National Adoption Day timeline
​Nearly 70,000 children in the foster system have celebrated their forever families on this day since its inception.
Over 400 cities across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia participate in events to celebrate families that adopt.
A coalition of sponsors partner with state foster care agencies, courts, and law firms to establish this official day with events across the country.
New measures help adoptees search for their birth parents if they desire to do so. More states begin to consider changing laws to give those separated by adoption access to information about themselves and each other.
National Adoption Day FAQs
When is National Adoption Day?
National Adoption Day 2026 falls on Sunday, November 22, a day dedicated to celebrating new families and raising awareness for children awaiting adoption.
How many adoptions are finalized on National Adoption Day?
While numbers vary annually, thousands of adoptions are finalized across the U.S. on National Adoption Day. In 2015 alone, approximately 4,000 adoptions were completed on this single day.
How many children are in foster care in the U.S.?
As of recent data, there are approximately 400,000 children in the U.S. foster care system. A significant portion of these children are awaiting adoption and need permanent, loving families.
What is the purpose of National Adoption Day?
National Adoption Day aims to raise public awareness of the more than 100,000 children in foster care who are waiting to be adopted. It also celebrates the joy of adoption and encourages more families to consider fostering or adopting.
How to Observe National Adoption Day
Volunteer at an event
Help one of the hundreds of organizations that support National Adoption Day, such as the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, The Alliance for Children’s Rights, and Children’s Action Network. Get involved in a rally, volunteer at an adoption exhibit, or donate your time to a local fundraising event.
Use social media
Promote adoption with the hashtag #nationaladoptionday. The more we know, the more we are engaged, and the more children find forever homes.
Take a leap
Looking to grow your family? Consider adoption! It may not be for everyone, but if you have considered adoption, join the thousands who have given a precious child a forever home.
​3 Foster Care Facts
​Thousands of children need placement
​More than 117,000 children are currently awaiting forever families in the U.S. foster care system.
​The average wait is 3 years
​On average, children in the foster care system wait three years to be adopted.
​Many children age out
​Over 20,000 children age out of the foster care system annually, without a family or permanent home.
Why National Adoption Day is Important
We get to celebrate family
National Adoption Day is a time when thousands of children who have spent days, months, or even years in foster care are finally given a forever home with their forever parents.
We get to witness raw and simple love
Adoption is a celebration of selfless, simple love. It’s the choice to foster and permanently adopt someone else’s child. It’s choosing your family and giving kids without a family a home filled with love.
We get to volunteer
Hundreds of organizations work to promote adoption. We get to volunteer our time to help them spread the word and land a permanent home for thousands of children in the foster care system.
National Adoption Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November 22 | Saturday |
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