Great Wall China Adoption

What Great Wall China Adoption does

Great Wall China Adoption (GWCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit international adoption agency founded in 1996 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with a fully staffed bilingual office in Beijing, China. The organization facilitates the placement of children from China with US adoptive families, offering end-to-end services spanning eligibility consultation, home study (Texas and Florida only), dossier preparation and authentication, child matching (including a Waiting Child program for special needs and older children), travel coordination with in-country guides, and post-adoption reporting. GWCA holds full Hague Convention accreditation via the Council on Accreditation and has been rated #1 by CCCWA among US agencies for placing Special Focus children, with 9,000+ cumulative placements since founding.

The business operates a tiered service model — Preferred, Conventional, and Elite plans — at multi-year contract pricing, supplemented by unit-priced add-on services such as home studies ($1,900-$2,400), medical file reviews ($375), the ACE cultural exchange program ($1,750), and re-adoption/finalization services. Ancillary revenue includes charitable donation programs (Amazon Smile, Gifts of Love at $225 minimum, Haiti cake packages at $99). GWCA's technology stack is modest: a password-protected photo listing system for waiting children, online application processing, digital dossier management, and a Hague training platform — all standard web tools supporting a human-intensive consulting workflow rather than a software platform.

GWCA functions as part of a broader non-profit ecosystem that includes the sister agency Children of All Nations (16+ countries), Student Ambassador Exchange (SAE), Legacy Journey heritage tours, the ACE Program (US-Spain adoptee exchange), and The CONNECT Program for disrupted placements. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization faces a structurally challenging environment: CCCWA suspended adoption processing in April 2021 due to COVID-19, the China adoption pipeline has been in secular decline for years due to Chinese domestic policy, and the organization is diversifying into adjacent verticals to offset core market contraction.

Name

Great Wall China Adoption

Legal name

Great Wall China Adoption

Website

https://gwca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Great Wall China Adoption is a 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption agency founded in 1996 that facilitates China-to-US international adoptions, offering home study, dossier preparation, child matching, travel coordination, and post-adoption services, with a fully staffed Beijing office and Hague Convention accreditation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Adoption Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

Keywords

• International adoption services
• Adoption home studies
• Adoption case management
• Dossier preparation
• Post-adoption support

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Adoption Service Plans: GWCA offers three service plan tiers (Preferred/Conventional/Elite) that provide varying levels of support through the adoption process, including dossier consulting, matching, referral education, travel coordination, and post-adoption services. Pricing varies based on service level and amenities included.
2. Home Study Services: Home study services for Texas and Florida families adopting internationally or domestically. Includes application fees, home study fees, expedited services, and post-adoption reports. Fees range from $250 to $2,400 depending on service type.
3. Medical Referral Program: Medical file review services by adoption medicine experts who screen international medical reports. Provides peace of mind for families reviewing children's files with deadlines. Prestige Level service priced at $375 for China file reviews.
4. ACE Program Fees: Adoptee Cultural Exchange Program fee of $1,750 covering room & board, medical insurance, program facilitation, coordination, and 24/7 support for the 3-week Spain exchange plus hosting period in the US.
5. Re-adoption and Finalization Services: Legal and administrative services for Texas residents to complete adoption finalization, including court filing, document preparation, and coordination with law firm partners. Reasonable and affordable fees for families.
6. Amazon Smile Donations: Through Amazon Smile, 0.5% of purchases are donated to GWCA's orphan care programs. Families can select Great Wall China Adoption as their charity when shopping on Amazon.
7. Cake Package Donations: Connecting Hearts Cake Package program allows donors to send cake packages to orphanages in China and Haiti. Donations brighten children's days for birthdays and special occasions. China package available by contact; Haiti package priced at $99.
8. Gifts of Love Donations: Donation program allowing families to contribute gifts to Chinese orphanages. Minimum $225 donation for appliance or gift donations. GWCA's Beijing office purchases items and delivers them to specified orphanages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Great Wall China Adoption is a 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption agency that facilitates international adoptions from China, guiding US families through the complete adoption lifecycle from initial consultation, eligibility determination, dossier preparation and authentication, child matching (including Special Focus and Waiting Child programs), travel coordination with in-country guides in China, through post-adoption reporting. The organization offers three-tiered Service Plans (Preferred, Conventional, Elite) plus ancillary paid services such as home studies, medical file reviews, re-adoption/finalization, and a cultural exchange program for older adoptees.

Product overview

Great Wall China Adoption operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption agency offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on China international adoption. The core offering consists of the China Adoption Program and Waiting Child Program, supplemented by specialized modules including Home Study Services (Texas/Florida), Medical Referral Program, Dragon Dossier Service, and Re-Adoption/Finalization Services. The agency provides tiered Service Plans (Preferred, Conventional, Elite) offering varying levels of support. Additional programs include The CONNECT Program for children needing new families, Adoptee Cultural Exchange (ACE) Program for cultural heritage exploration, and Student Ambassador Exchange (SAE) for international student hosting. The organization also operates charitable initiatives including Gifts of Love orphanage donations, Cake Packages, and Amazon Smile charitable shopping, along with Hague Training Online education courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dragon Dossier Service: Service to help with preparation of dossier documents including gathering documents for CCCWA, certification by Secretary of State, and authentication by Chinese Consulate or Embassy.
• Legacy Journey
• The CONNECT Program
• Adoptee Cultural Exchange (ACE) Program
• Student Ambassador Exchange (SAE)
• Gifts of Love
• Libraries of Love
• Connecting Hearts Cake Package

Products and services

• China Adoption Program Core international adoption program facilitating the placement of children from China with forever families. Covers the complete adoption lifecycle from initial consultation through post-adoption reporting, with three-tiered Service Plans (Preferred, Conventional, Elite) offering varying levels of case management support, dossier consulting, matching, referral education, travel coordination, and post-adoption services.
• Waiting Child Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9,000 children placed with families since 1996
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Student Ambassador Exchange (SAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAE was founded by an adoptive parent from Children of All Nations to provide student exchange programs. It connects lives, shares experiences, and forges lifelong friendships through cultural exchange. SAE programs grew from the organization's extensive international experiences with children and cultures. The organization believes broader understanding of different cultures can make a better world for children and families.
• Spanish Adoption AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWCA has partnered with one of the biggest adoption agencies in Spain to create the Adoptee Cultural Exchange (ACE) Program. This unique cultural/learning exchange experience matches Chinese adoptees in the US with host families in Spain and vice versa. GWCA is the only US agency currently offering this opportunity.
• Legacy JourneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Journey provides China homeland and heritage tour services, helping families plan reunion tours to China for Chinese adoptees and their families. Operates as legacyjourney.org.
• Children of All NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister agency operated under the same leadership. Children of All Nations provides international adoption services from more than 16 other countries. The organization also offers student exchange, orphan hosting, and charitable programs. Both organizations share a common mission to help children find loving and permanent families through international adoptions and cross-cultural exchange programs.
• Adoption Medicine PhysiciansminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMedical Referral Program connects families with doctors who are experts in adoption medicine, having screened thousands of international medical reports. Many physicians have adopted children themselves. GWCA offers exclusive pricing lower than direct clinic rates for medical file reviews.
• Texas Law Firm (Re-adoption Services)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGWCA has worked with an experienced Texas law firm for obtaining re-adoptions and recognitions of international adoptions. The law firm offers families a discount in legal fees for services including petition preparation, court filing, final adoption decree, and birth certificate processing.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough Amazon Smile program, 0.5% of qualifying purchases are donated to Great Wall China Adoption's orphan care programs. Families can select GWCA as their charity when shopping on smile.amazon.com (EIN: 74-2786077).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Holt International Children's Services: One of the largest US-based international adoption agencies, accredited under the Hague Convention and serving families across multiple countries including historically China. Direct peer given overlap in China adoption programs, home study services, and Hague-accredited service offerings.
• Gladney Center for Adoption: Long-established Hague-accredited adoption agency offering domestic and international adoption, home studies, and post-adoption services. Direct peer given overlapping service model, target families, and accreditation status with GWCA.
• Nightlight Christian Adoptions: Hague-accredited agency offering domestic and international adoption, embryo adoption, and post-adoption services. Direct peer given similar Hague-accredited intercountry adoption offerings and family-centered service model.
• World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP): Hague-accredited international adoption agency placing children from multiple countries including China. Direct peer given comparable intercountry adoption programs, waiting child services, and family support offerings.
• Children of All Nations: Operates under the same leadership as GWCA and offers international adoption from 16+ countries plus student exchange and orphan hosting. Direct peer given shared operations, staff, and mission targeting intercountry adoption from non-China countries.
• Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children: Hague-accredited nonprofit offering international and domestic adoption, home studies, and post-adoption support. Direct peer given nonprofit status, Hague accreditation, and similar full-service adoption lifecycle offerings.
• Adoption Services (Illinois): Hague-accredited nonprofit adoption agency providing home studies, international adoption coordination, and post-adoption support. Direct peer given comparable service mix targeting families pursuing international adoption.

Others

• Legacy Journey (Heritage Tours): Operates as a sub-brand/partner of GWCA providing China heritage and reunion tours for adoptees and families. Adjacent relationship given shared ownership and customer base but separate focus on heritage travel rather than adoption placement.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Home Society & Family Services: Nonprofit offering domestic and international adoption, pregnancy counseling, and family preservation services. Broad incumbent given broader service portfolio alongside adoption offerings comparable to GWCA.
• Catholic Charities USA Adoption Services: Large national nonprofit network offering international and domestic adoption through local diocesan agencies. Broad incumbent given much larger scale and broader social services portfolio while still competing in intercountry adoption.

Market position

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChildrenOfAllNations.GreatWallChinaAdoption
• Xx.com/can_gw

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Wall China Adoption