The Donaldson Adoption Institute, Inc. | 336 followers on LinkedIn. The Donaldson Adoption Institute’s mission from 1996-2017 was to provide leadership that improved laws, policies and practices – through sound research, education and advocacy – in order to better the lives of everyone touched by adoption. With a clear and strategic focus in four key areas, DAI continually uncovered and amplified opportunities to encourage adoption reform and practically meet the needs of our ever-evolving community and the professionals that serve it. Our work was guided by the following key principles: The Adoption Experience: Focusing on the entire adoption community (first/birth parents, adopted people, adoptive parents and extended families of all), DAI worked to improve the adoption experience and strengthen families by promoting healthy identity in adopted people, safeguarding the rights of parents (expectant, first/birth and adoptive) and educating practitioners, professionals and policy makers.