Frequently Asked Questions

The Nanchang Project (NCPT) is a nonprofit organization founded in February 2018 by two adoptive mothers, Erin Valentino and Faith Winstead. Erin and Faith initially began our charity to help their children from Nanchang, Jiangxi, find their first families. Soon their assistance extended to all of Jiangxi province and later to the rest of China. Today, Nanchang Project is proud to serve international adoptees and birth families from all regions of China. We have assisted in nearly 50 reunions and provided free DNA kits to over 250 birth families.

As of 2024, we are the only search organization focused on reconnecting international Chinese adoptees with their birth families that is also co-led by both adoptees and adoptive parents. We are also on track to become the first of its kind to be entirely adoptee-led. You can view our active team here!

Yes, we are registered in the United States at state and federal levels. The IRS has awarded us with 501(c)(3) status, so your financial contributions are tax-deductible. Our EIN number is 832340778.

No! Nanchang Project is honored to assist adoptees and birth families from all regions in China. While our name may have Nanchang in it, that is just an ode to our early beginnings.

We are continuously striving to make birth family searching more accessible and affordable. While we have lots of exciting plans we hope to implement in the future, these are our current offerings:

• Adoption document translation (free)

• Origins Searches (NCPT-subsidized small group searches at a $400 USD participation fee)

• Toutiao Article Program (TAP) (free)

• Free DNA tests for potential birth relatives in any part of China with a result in 2 weeks

• Support for searching Chinese adoptees and birth families

• Limited trips to China for media coverage, searching outreach, and community networking. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and as finances allowed, we brought a few adult adoptees with us as representatives of Nanchang Project and to provide them the opportunity to search for their own roots in person.

Nanchang Project has assisted in nearly 50 confirmed matches and sponsored over 250 DNA tests for birth relatives in China. All of our matches have and always will be free for adoptees who match one of our families at the parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, grandparent, and first cousin level. We will never require a fee for our matches to obtain contact information.

Because we are community-funded, we ask for and appreciate donations in any amount to help us offset the costs invested into the programming, services, initiatives, and free DNA tests provided to birth families that led to these matches.

We are primarily supported by the generosity and support of our very own Chinese adoption community! We receive direct funds from adoptive parents, adoptees, and other supporters.

Our team is made up of all volunteers, which allows for 100% of your donation to go towards purchasing DNA kits, funding our programs (i.e. Origins Searches), travel expenses for our visits to China, and basic administrative costs related to maintaining the nonprofit (website fees, search flyers, etc.). Every DNA test costs approximately $120 USD, so any amount we receive tremendously helps ours efforts.

We have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in the United States. Our EIN number is 832340778.

We kindly accept donations through the options listed below:

• Zelle - Send to hello@nanchangproject.com (Zelle does not charge us any fees to receive your donation)

• Venmo - Send to @NanchangProject (Venmo charges us the lowest fees after Zelle)

• PayPal - paypal.me/nanchangproject

• Our Facebook page "The Nanchang Project" - Click the “Donate” button when signed in to your account

• Check - Please email us at hello@nanchangproject.com for the mailing address to send a paper check

While it is illegal to abandon a child, China’s statute of limitations for prosecution is interpreted to be 5 years from the abandonment date. We are not aware of any documented cases that involve legal consequences for a birth family who searched for or reunited with a lost child.

However, some families are afraid to “lose face” in their communities. Admitting to child abandonment could result in shame for not just the parents, but also the whole family. This causes some birth families to not proceed with a search for their lost child, or to be more cautious and private. Furthermore, some families will not come forward out of guilt to the child they did not raise. In Chinese society, many domestic adoptees hold strong and negative feelings towards their birth parents.

DNA is a must for confirming any biological relationships and there have been quite a few surprise matches for some Chinese adoptees who have done various DNA tests. First, we recommend you take a 23andMe DNA test (this database has the most Chinese adoptees) and then upload the raw data file it to all other databases you can—priority #1 being GEDmatch, which has nearly 1000 birth families in there. If you can afford it, order an AncestryDNA test since there have been some sibling matches through their database. For more information about DNA testing, read here.

There are many other steps you can take to conduct a birth family search, such as creating a search poster, connecting with others, and hiring a professional searcher. Please refer to our Searching Guide for further details.

Of course! This is a recommended first step because some adoptees have found some “hidden” information (i.e. finder’s name) in the Chinese copies. We have bilingual volunteers who are happy to translate your adoption and finding documents at no cost. Please email your documents to hello@nanchangproject.com and we will forward them to a volunteer to review.

Not at all! This is a common misconception. Many of our tested birth families have told us they or someone else brought their relinquished child directly to welfare homes (orphanages). We have made several matches where the finding spot being a welfare home was accurate. Unless you have convincing information that would indicate otherwise, we suggest targeting your initial search efforts in the county/district you were found and possibly the surrounding areas. Of course, nobody will know for certain where you were truly “found” unless you locate your birth family.

You can take some steps to conceal your identity, but a birth family search will require you to put your information out into the world at some degree. Search flyers typically contain information that could be identifiable to people who knew you in China—info such as your Chinese name, area “found,” area adopted from, approximate birthdate, etc, along with various photos. The same can be said if you participate in any videos, interviews, or social media posts.

As it pertains to DNA testing, we understand some people have concerns about their identities being linked to their DNA. You can register your accounts with an anonymized email address made specifically for search-related activities or for doing DNA tests. You can also use a full alias, initials, or a nickname when adding a name to your DNA accounts. Some adoptees use their Chinese name from before they were adopted. If date of birth is asked, you can use a fake one. Some people prefer to keep their full names in their profiles so that their matches can connect with them outside of the database on social media platforms.

It is up to you to do what you most feel comfortable with. Either way, a DNA test is a must to confirm biological relationships.

There are two types of genetic tests used for finding biological relatives: Autosomal (SNP) test and Paternity (STR) test. In short, autosomal tests can identify relationships as close as parent-child and as distant as cousins, but it is less popular in China. On the other hand, paternity tests are most popular in China but can only accurately confirm parent-child relationships.

Autosomal (SNP) tests include 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, 23mofang, and WeGene.

The two paternity (STR) databases we recommend are Help For Family Reunion (HFFR) and China’s National Police database.

See our DNA Testing page for all the details on DNA tests and databases for Chinese adoptees to use.

23andMe is the commercial DNA database that has the most Chinese adoptees, so we recommend you start with this one. You might find an adopted sibling or close cousin! Once you have your results, download your raw DNA file to other autosomal (SNP) databases—with GEDmatch being your first priority (it has nearly 1,100 Chinese birth families). If finances allow, order an AncestryDNA kit so you can enter their database. Read all about the DNA testing and database options here.

If you have a paternity (STR) lab report (from a lab like LabCorp), you can upload it for free to Help For Family Reunion (HFFR)’s database. If you are ever in China, we suggest considering giving your blood at a police database so you can enter their National database. Further details can be found here.

In early 2022, Nanchang Project successfully tested the accuracy of matching families in GEDmatch.com using 23mofang (for birth relatives) and 23andMe and AncestryDNA (for adoptees). Since then, we have exclusively been testing birth families with 23mofang, an in-China autosomal (SNP) testing company based in Chengdu, Sichuan province. We are able to send a DNA kit to any part of China and have the result in GEDmatch within 2 weeks. It is a super fast process compared to the western testing companies! All adoptees need to do is upload their DNA file from 23andMe/AncestryDNA/MyHeritage to GEDmatch.

Prior to switching over to 23mofang for all new registered families, Nanchang Project had used MyTaproot, a paternity (STR) database. Unfortunately, this database closed in May 2022. We have offered those families to be retested with 23mofang (for upload to GEDmatch) and registered all of the MyTaproot families we have data for with Help For Family Reunion (HFFR)’s database so that adoptees can still match with them. You can see our list of tested families here and read more about DNA testing here.

We do not accept raw data files from adoptees. We encourage all adoptees (or their adoptive parent(s)) to manage their own DNA accounts so they will have full control. Once you have taken a 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, or FamilyTreeDNA test, you should upload the DNA file to GEDmatch.com at the minimum. For a comprehensive list of where else you can upload your results, see our DNA Testing page.

GEDmatch is a free, universal database that accepts raw data uploads from autosomal (SNP) testing companies, such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, 23mofang, and WeGene. You should add your DNA file there because it gives you a greater chance of finding biological relatives! All major Chinese search organizations use GEDmatch and, collectively, there are nearly 1,000 birth families already registered. Additionally, two sisters who were adopted separately from China matched in GEDmatch in May 2023. One had used MyHeritage and the other used 23andMe—without GEDmatch, if their DNA only remained in the one testing database, then they would not have found one another. Nanchang Project’s families are tested with 23mofang (Chinese test) and uploaded to GEDmatch, so you must enter GEDmatch to be compared with our birth relatives. In May 2023, we made two random matches for adoptees in GEDmatch whose birth parents were located during one of our Origins Searches.

You can find directions for downloading your raw data file and our GEDmatch Mini Guide on our Resources page. We are also working on some content to make GEDmatch easier to understand.

DNA testing is a must to confirm a biological relationship. There have been many times where a birth family or private searcher thought an adoptee would be a match, based simply on similar appearances and details, but genetic testing proved otherwise. Adoptees and birth relatives both need to take a compatible DNA test to know for sure.

Absolutely! We highly recommend adoptees pursue as many testing options as possible, to increase their odds for a random match. You just never know what databases you could have close family members waiting. To date, we are aware of random matches occurring for Chinese adoptees in:

• China’s police database (STR) - matches were made only for adoptees who gave their blood in person

• Help For Family Reunion (STR) - it has reunited over 700 families in China and even some international adoptees

• MyTaproot (STR) - no longer available

• 23andMe (SNP)

• AncestryDNA (SNP)

• 23mofang (SNP) - Chinese database

• GEDmatch (SNP) universal platform

Info about these databases can be found here.

No, this is a misconception circulating in the Chinese adoption community. In our experience DNA testing over 250 families—all of whom had their DNA processed by a lab in China—we have not encountered a single birth relative who was worried about using Chinese tests. In fact, potential birth families in China we’ve communicated with were more likely to have concerns about using foreign tests/databases than Chinese ones. Some families, for example, were hesitant to test out of fear the test results would not be accurate if sent abroad or if the official DNA relationship report was in English, but not Chinese.

In China, the most successful database for reuniting children who were trafficked is the National Police Database, which citizens enter by giving their blood for free at police stations. This is a well known database. There is a good chance during your search that an average citizen in China will recommend giving your blood at the police station! There have also been several DNA matches in this database between adoptees who entered it while on a visit in China and their birth families who either came forward with the intention to match the specific adoptee or just by random in hopes of a match someday.

Nanchang Project uses autosomal (SNP) DNA kits from the lab company 23mofang, which is based in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. With the assistance of our in-China helpers, we are able to mail kits to any region in China. Once 23mofang processes the samples at their lab, we upload the DNA file to GEDmatch, a free and universal autosomal (SNP) database used by users all around the world. This entire process is efficiently quick and only takes around 2 weeks.

All of our matches have and always will be free for adoptees who match one of our families at the parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, grandparent, and first cousin level. We will never require a fee for our matches to obtain contact information.

Because we are community-funded, we ask for and appreciate donations in any amount to help us offset the costs invested into the programming, services, initiatives, and free DNA tests provided to birth families that led to these matches.

Nanchang Project uses autosomal (SNP) DNA kits from the lab company 23mofang, which is based in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. With the assistance of our in-China helpers, we are able to mail kits to any region in China. Once 23mofang processes the samples at their lab, we upload the DNA file to GEDmatch, a free and universal autosomal (SNP) database used by users all around the world. This entire process is efficiently quick and only takes around 2 weeks. Adoptees simply need to add their DNA file from their own testing company (i.e. 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage) for free, for a chance to match our registered birth families.

If you would like our help providing a free DNA test to a potential birth family, please email us: hello@nanchangproject.com

Historically, many searchers report about a 10% success rate. This number is also in line with our personal experience when comparing the total number of birth parent samples we have assisted with compared with the number of matches we have made.

On an individual level, it is nearly impossible to estimate an adoptee’s chance of successfully finding their birth family—unless they had their biological parent’s name. Some factors may indicate a greater likelihood of locating birth family. Those could include being found in a rural area that is not much more developed today, having very specific and accurate information, and having support of the local government or welfare home staff to search for birth parents.

That's hard to say. There are many ways in which you could locate your birth family: a random DNA match, having your search publicized via local news stations, sharing the information on Chinese social media, or having someone visit your finding area and following up on your clues with the locals. It is important to understand that most matches do not just randomly happen. When you hire a searcher, they are working for you. Their priority is to follow any clues from your personalized information that may lead them to your birth family. If you decide to a hire a searcher on your own, we really recommend you get all of your questions asked beforehand, ask the searcher to explain their search plan, speak with others who have hired the searcher before to get their experience, and (very important!!!) clarify with the searcher how they anticipate DNA testing any birth families who may come forward from your search. What DNA test will be used? Who will pay for the test and manage the DNA if there is no match to you? It is vital that these topics are all discussed before sending the searcher any money. Regarding DNA, Nanchang Project is available to sponsor DNA kits for any birth families and manage them longterm—please contact us if you would like our assistance.

Because each adoptee has different information and searching can be a game of luck, keep in mind that no two searches will be the exact same.

The cost for hiring a searcher can vary greatly, depending on:

• the searcher’s amount of experience

• duration of the search

• distance to travel from the searcher’s home to the location for search

• public transit, taxis, use of private vehicles

• hotel and meals for searcher

• quality and number of flyers

• daily rate for the searcher’s time

We have seen some of the more well-known searchers charge $390-800+ USD for an individual search on an adoptee’s behalf. Typically, DNA tests are not included for any birth families that they find (though Nanchang Project is always happy to sponsor their DNA tests, just email us if you would like our help).

If you plan to visit China yourself to conduct a bir`th family search in person, hiring a searcher or guide may incur higher fees than the range given above.

On our end, Nanchang Project has a new program called Origins Searches, which involves one of our Search Partners searching a shared area for a minimum of 3 adoptees. The participation fee is $400 USD and is paid directly to our Search Partner for their time and printing flyers. Nanchang Project is paying for all other search-related expenses and DNA tests for any birth families who are found during the small group search. This is one of our efforts to make searching more affordable and accessible to our community. You can learn more about it here.

Nanchang Project has a new program called Origins Searches, which is available for all adoptees from all regions of China. It involves one of our Search Partners searching a shared area for a minimum of 3 adoptees. The participation fee is $400 USD per person and is paid directly to our Search Partner for their time and printing flyers. Nanchang Project is paying for all other search-related expenses and DNA tests for any birth families who are found during the small group search—this is how we have been able to negotiate a lowered rate for adoptees. The Origins Searches initiative is one of our efforts to make searching more affordable and accessible to our community.

Ultimately, the goal of hiring a private searcher is to learn more about your origins and to locate your birth family. While we cannot guarantee successful results for any search, please know our Search Partners are hardworking and always put forth their best efforts. You can learn more about the program here.

No, only the Search Partner(s) are visiting your finding area to search on your behalf.

Each participant pays a $400 USD fee, which covers printing flyers with your information and the Search Partner’s time dedicated to your search. The payment server, Wise.com, will charge you an additional small fee associated with the currency transfer from your bank/payment card to the Search Partner’s bank.

All other search-related fees, including the Search Partner’s long distance and local travel, lodging, meals, and DNA tests for any found birth families, are paid for by Nanchang Project. We are able to offer discounted rates to adoptees wishing to hire a searcher because our organization is covering these other costs that have traditionally been paid for by the adoptee clients. Donations from our community allow us to continue sponsoring our Origins Searches program; we welcome any funds you are able to gift us.

We have three teams of Search Partners who are able to visit any part of China. Searches are planned by city OR county/district. Priority is given to areas on our list here, though our Search Partners are open to reviewing applications for other areas.

To consider an area for a future Origins Search, there must be at least 3 committed adoptees who were found in a shared area (city, county, or district). These small groups can have up to 4 adoptees (Jiangxi province searches) or 5 adoptees (all other regions in China).

Each group search is a minimum of 5 total days. Depending on the area and number of participants, the search can last up to 9 days.

We currently have three teams of Search Partners. All searchers are bilingual native Chinese with prior experience in guiding adoptive families for adoptions and heritage tours, guiding tourists, and birth family searching. You can read more details about them here.

Our Search Partners will begin by focusing on the information provided in your file (finding spot, police station, finder, etc.) to see if any more clues can be discovered that would be helpful in locating your birth family. They will also be handing out flyers and speaking to local people to see if anyone has more information that may lead to your birth family. Please understand that due to the unique searching circumstances of each search area (i.e. level of support and cooperation from the local government), the actual areas visited during your Origins Search is ultimately up to the discretion of the searcher. Due to present-day political relations between China and the West, we have found that some areas are less open to featuring searching adoptees in Chinese media. Our Search Partners will pursue media coverage if the opportunity presents itself, though it is not guaranteed.

Search Partners will be provided DNA kits by us (DNA results will be added to GEDmatch) to test any interested birth family members. In the event the searcher does not have access to a kit, one will be provided by mail to the interested party as soon as possible. Once the search is complete, the Search Partner will provide a post-search written report that will include information and/or photos of who they spoke with, what information they learned, places they visited, and anything else relevant to your personal search.

One of two ways:

• Form a group with at least 2 other adoptees from your finding area (preferred method)

• Apply as an individual and be added to a waitlist until the minimum 3 commitments have been reached for your finding city/county/district

You can join our private Facebook group dedicated to Origins Searches to find other adoptees interested in your area.

Application details are located on our main Origins Searches page.

NOTE: These applications are brand new as of June 8th, so if you previously completed our original Origins Searches Interest Form (January-June 6), you must submit a new application to be considered.

Please check your adoption documents. Your Certificate of Abandonment in the white booklet received at the time of adoption should list your finding spot and potentially a finder’s name. At the minimum, your document should state the general area you were found (district or county). That district/county or the prefecture-level city would be where to target your search efforts.

If you have additional concerns past this, please email us: origins@nanchangproject.com

We will notify you immediately should any of the details provided to us be a potential match to you. All birth families found during these searches will be offered a free DNA test and their results will be uploaded to GEDmatch.com. All adoptees participating in an Origins Search should upload their DNA file from an autosomal (SNP) test for free to GEDmatch. We have a ton of information about DNA tests and databases here, as well as directions for downloading your raw data file and how to use GEDmatch here.

The Search Partner who conducted your search will create a post-search written report (with images) that goes into detail about the places they visited, the people they spoke with, and any information they uncovered for you about your roots and/or the area. These reports can take some time following the physically-intensive search trip, so please be patient while they put this together. A Nanchang Project volunteer will email it to you as soon as it is ready!

Nanchang Project volunteers will serve as the intermediary for communication between you and the Search Partner to make this as efficient as possible and let our searchers focus on planning and searching. You can direct your questions to our Facebook group or send us an email: origins@nanchangproject.com, and one of us will respond as soon as we can. If the question requires the Search Partner, we will ask them and get back to you.

• Spread the word. We can always use your support to spread the word about our work—both to Chinese adoptees/adoptive families and to people living in China! It is important that adoptees know it is possible to locate their first families and that many of them very much miss their lost children. We are also on a mission to inform the same to birth families in China: children adopted abroad want to know their origins and re-connect with their roots. If you know someone who may be interested in helping us distribute information on Chinese social media platforms, Chinese media (TV, newspaper, etc.), hand out flyers in person, or join our Origins Searches program as a Search Partner, please contact us.

• Tell adoptees about GEDmatch. We need help informing adoptees that there are nearly 1100 Chinese birth families waiting in GEDmatch, a universal free database, and hoping to someday match their lost child(ren). To randomly match these families or a sibling who was also adopted, adoptees simply need to upload their DNA file from an autosomal (SNP) testing company, such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA, or MyHeritage, to GEDmatch.com. You can read more about DNA tests here and how to download your raw data file and upload to GEDmatch here.

• Connect with us on social media. Please support us on social media for our latest news, announcements, and content from adoptees and birth families. Giving our posts a “like,” comment, or share can encourage the platform’s algorithm to share our content with more users. You can find us on Instagram and TikTok under @nanchangproject, and Facebook and LinkedIn as The Nanchang Project. We also have a private Facebook group called Nanchang Project Goes to China where all are welcome to join.

• Facebook birthday fundraisers. An effective way to help us raise funds to continue our work and provide free DNA kits to found birth families has been to create birthday fundraisers on Facebook or Instagram. It is free to make a fundraiser. Just select The Nanchang Project. Some of our supporters have previously done this and raised a few hundred to a few thousand dollars—big or small, every dollar helps us reunite more families and service our community!

• Suggest grants to us. If you have a grant or foundation in mind that you would like to suggest to us, feel free to email us as development@nanchangproject.com or contact us. Our dedicated team of grant writers can review the program and application requirements further.

• Order fundraiser merch. You can purchase Lunar New Year T-shirts and hoodies from our past fundraisers via Bonfire.

• Order customized calligraphy art. 100% of your donation will go towards our search efforts. The digital calligraphy art is made a Chinese adoptee volunteer and your files will be delivered by email.

• Donate. Want to financially give to Nanchang Project? We can accept direct donations through a few ways. Read more on our Donate page.

We are genuinely grateful for any and all forms of support you provide to Nanchang Project! 谢谢!

You can connect with us on:

• Instagram: @nanchangproject

• Facebook: The Nanchang Project

• TikTok: @nanchangproject

• LinkedIn: The Nanchang Project