Back-to-School Drive
You Make a Difference! Thank you for leading a Family Giving Tree Back-to-School Drive! Thousands of children from low-income families rely on your time and generosity to receive essential school supplies. This packet contains information that will help you to make your drive a success. Please contact us if you have any questions or need additional information. Young students from across the Bay Area thank you for supporting their education! WHO RECEIVES A BACKPACK?
HOW TO RUN A DRIVE
We distribute donated backpacks to students through our partnership with schools in 7 different counties throughout the San Francisco Bay area. If a student is enrolled in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Meal Program and is in Kindergarten through 12th grade, they are eligible to receive a backpack with supplies.
You, the host coordinator, are Family Giving Tree’s main contact and the key to the drive’s success within your organization. We depend on you to register your organization, distribute cards to your associates, and make sure that all of the backpacks are brought to the warehouse in August. Our goal is to make this process as manageable and rewarding for you as possible. Whether you are participating for the first time as a host coordinator or the tenth, we strive to provide the tools to help your drive succeed.
DUE DATE AND WAREHOUSE LOCATION
Backpacks are due to the warehouse on August 3, 2015. The location of our warehouse is to be determined as it changes yearly based on donated space. Please check our website for an updated warehouse address, hours of operations, and directions. It is the responsibility of the host coordinator to ensure that all donations are counted and delivered to the warehouse.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVE & STEM
Online Resources: Visit the Lead a Drive page for • Sample announcements, statistics • Downloadable logos, posters and back pack cards • Media links, banner ads, messaging tips • Book lists and fact sheets
Without the proper tools, it is extremely difficult for a young student to succeed in the classroom. By donating a backpack with the requested supplies inside, you are providing children the tools they need to excel in all subjects. We proudly feature supplies that will improve a child’s access to careers related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To learn more about Family Giving Tree’s commitment to providing STEM supplies to students, please visit our website at: www.familygivingtree.org/STEM
Heather Monty FGT Host Coordinator
[email protected] (408) 946-3111 ext. 226
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. W I LL I AM B UT LER YEAT S
Back-to-School Drive
3 Ways To Help
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Equip a Student
Virtual Giving Trees
Spread the Word
HOW INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE
YOUR COMPANY’S OWN ONLINE GIVING TREE
HELP THE FAMILY GIVING TREE ‘BRANCH OUT’
Provide an alternate way for employees to donate by setting up a custom Virtual Giving Tree. Online donations through our secure Virtual Giving Trees provide a simple, convenient way for employees to participate in the drive. It is a great solution for those who don’t have time due to busy work schedules or who don’t like to shop.
In the seven Bay Area counties, served by Family Giving Tree, more than 354,810 children are enrolled in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Meal Program. We’re only helping about 9% of those eligible. With your help, we can do more. We’re asking you to spread the word:
It is east to make a direct impact on the education of a student. As the host coordinator, we depend on you to promote our three ways of donating. Individuals can equip a student in the following ways: 1. Choose a card to buy a backpack and school supplies, and return items to your organization’s designated drop-off location. 2. Make an online donation to help a local low-income student through our general donation website at: FamilyGivingTree.org/ donate 3. Use the envelope attached to the backpack card to mail in a donation to support the drive.
Learn more about creating your group’s personalized webpage on the special insert included in this packet.
• Share our website with your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues, and encourage them to lead a drive. Tip: Use the Social Media cheat sheet in this packet to promote the drive to your network! • Distribute extra posters (download from website), flyers or backpack tags to local merchants (coffee shops, hair stylists, book stores, etc.) for display on community boards. • Choose a card to buy a backpack and school supplies, and return to your organization’s designated drop-off location.
Back-to-School Drive
Monetary Donations HONORING DONOR INTENT Donation processing is an important piece of what we do as an organization to assure donors’ intentions are honored. Host coordinators serve as a critical link between donors and the Family Giving Tree. Listed below is key information about the handling of monetary donations. If you have any additional questions, contact the Development Office at 408-946-3111 x224. TIP: Label the donation envelopes with your organization name to assure your organization receives credit for our awards program.
HOW DO I TURN IN CHECK DONATIONS? Mail checks directly to: Family Giving Tree Sobrato Center for Nonprofits 606 Valley Way Milpitas, CA 95035 Or place checks in the secure drop-boxes located at the Back-to-School Drive Warehouse or Family Giving Tree’s office.
HOW DO I TURN IN CASH DONATIONS? • Do NOT mail cash. • Cash donations can be dropped off in the secure drop boxes located at the Back-to-School Drive warehouse or the Family Giving Tree office in Milpitas. • Family Giving Tree staff is happy to pick up monetary donations totaling over $250. • Send a courier with your donations to the Family Giving Tree office in Milpitas.
WILL DONORS RECEIVE A TAX RECEIPT FOR THEIR DONATION? • Yes! Each donor giving $10 or more receives a receipt by mail, if the following information is provided when the donation is sent in: - Donor name, complete address, donation amount and gift date (for cash donations, use the tracking form on our website). • Tax receipts for donations of physical gifts can be found online at: http://taxreceipt.familygivingtree.org/inkind
• For tax purposes, donations must be dated by December 31 to provide a tax receipt for that year. • Due to the high volume of donations during the Backto-School Drive, we are unable to provide receipts at the time that the money is delivered to the Family Giving Tree. Receipts will be mailed within 5 business days of Family Giving Tree receiving the donations.
MATCHING GIFT PROGRAMS Does your organization have a matching gift program? Let us know, and we’ll list it on our website. We’ll even link your organization name to the appropriate website or form — just send us the URL. More questions about monetary donations? Contact the Development Department: Online http://www.familygivingtree.org/donate Email
[email protected] Phone (408) 946-3111 ext. 224
Back-to-School Drive
Unique Opportunities Backpacks and school supplies are essential for students to engage in learning. For some, this poses a great financial burden, and we look to our supporters to help us provide these much needed supplies. We’re always searching for easy ways to encourage participation throughout the year and have included a couple for you here. Take advantage of these unique opportunities today!
ONLINE RETAILERS Online retailers are making it easy to support your favorite cause when you shop! Check out these opportunities to give through everyday purchases:
AmazonSmile will donate a portion of your purchase to your favorite charitable organization. http://smile.amazon.com
eBay Giving Works enables sellers to donate a portion of their sales and buyers to shop while supporting their favorite charities. http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/ family-giving-tree/2527/
Back-to-School Drive
Stay Connected FACEBOOK facebook.com/familygivingtree We’ll keep you in the loop! Immediate volunteer opportunities, supply needs & behind the scenes activities are just a couple examples of what we’ll share with our followers. Post to your page and show your friends how you’re making an impact!
TWITTER @FGTTweets #backtoschool #STEMed It’s easy to help us spread the word: “350,000+ Bay Area kids are enrolled in the Federal Meal Program. Help break the cycle of poverty by providing needed school supplies: http://bit.ly/dACIc”
ET TWE ! THIS
INSTAGRAM @familygivingtree “Share a picture of your favorite backpack with your friends. Unless it’s the pretty pretty princess pack. That was #solastyear. We’ll be reposting your favs on our page!”
LINKEDIN www.linkedin.com/company/the-family-giving-tree/ LinkedIn for Good connects the talents and skills of members to make a positive impact on the world. Don’t forget to update the “Volunteer Experience and Causes” section of your profile after volunteering!
FamilyGivingTree.org
Back-to-School Drive
FAQs
WHEN ARE THE BACKPACKS DUE?
Backpacks should be delivered to our warehouse by Monday, August 3, 2015. Host coordinators are encouraged to advertise an earlier due date to allow for latecomers and transportation of the packs to the warehouse. Please visit our website for the warehouse address.
MAY I DONATE ANY COLOR BACKPACK? We ask that you DO NOT donate red or blue backpacks. Many of our recipient schools request that we exclude these colors in our donations due to a serious issue with gang affiliation.
DOES THE FAMILY GIVING TREE PICK UP BACKPACKS FROM HOST COMPANIES? Unfortunately, the Family Giving Tree does not have the resources to pick up from all donating groups.
WHAT IF THE BACKPACKS COME IN LATE? Backpacks can be brought to our warehouse until August 10, 2015. If you have donations after this date, you can bring them to our Milpitas office at 606 Valley Way, Milpitas CA, 95035. Late backpacks are welcome and continue to be distributed after the school year begins.
ARE THERE ITEMS WE SHOULD NOT INCLUDE IN BACKPACKS? Yes, please do not include: money, gift cards, permanent markers, liquid white out, white glue or food/candy.
I RAN OUT OF CARDS. HOW DO I GET MORE? Congratulations on exceeding your own expectations! Contact our office and we will gladly send more cards ASAP: email
[email protected] or call (408) 946-3111 x226.
WHAT DO WE DO WITH LEFTOVER CARDS? We encourage our hosts to leave the poster display up for as long as possible because late donations are always welcome! We are able to accept late backpack donations after the drive at our Milpitas Office. When the drive is complete, leftover cards may be counted and returned to the warehouse or mailed to our Milpitas office as listed below.
HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS? Our online Elf can help! “Ask the Elf” by visiting our website at www.familygivingtree.org and clicking on the window in the right corner of any page.
SHOULD INDIVIDUALS BUY EVERYTHING LISTED ON THE CARD? We ask that you include as many items as possible in each donated backpack. However, our warehouse volunteers quality check each backpack and will try to add any missing items.
Family Giving Tree Sobrato Center for Nonprofits 606 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035 Tel: 408.946.3111 Tax ID: 77-0284-682 www.FamilyGivingTree.org
Design donated by Alexander Atkins Design, Inc. Printing donated by Lockheed Martin.
