CCF began as China's Children Fund, Inc. in Kwangtung in 1938. In 1948 it started projects in other countries, and in 1951 it was renamed the Christian Children's Fund.
談到「中華兒童福利基金會」，可追溯至民國廿七年成立的「中國兒童基金會」，而認養制度也有同樣長久的歷史。