It was founded in 1994 by Hal, Steve, and Dave Donaldson in Sacramento, California, later moved its headquartered to its current place in Springfield, Missouri, and is associated with the Assemblies of God and its Chi Alpha campus ministries and fellowships.

[3][4] The Donaldsons were spurred to start the charity because of the kindness shown to their family after their father was killed and their mother seriously injured in a 1969 car accident caused by a drunk driver.

[3] In 2005, Convoy of Hope provided $35 million (the equivalent of 700 truckloads) in goods for disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

[7] In 2006, the nonprofit provided access to food, medical assistance, clothing, and other services and resources to just under 4 million people.

The following year, it began collaborating with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to offer meals to 12,000 children in Kenya, Haiti, Nicaragua, and El Salvador on a daily basis.

[6] In 2011, the Jonas Brothers donated $70,000 to Convoy of Hope to help fund the organization's children's feeding programs, which had expanded to Honduras and the Philippines.

[8] In 2012, the organization provided aid to the victims of Hurricane Sandy in the Northeastern United States and Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines.

Most of the goods and services are donated and volunteered by members of local businesses, churches, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations.

[3] The program also provides items like food, backpacks, toys, and other supplies for churches, schools, agencies, and other organizations in rural areas.