How to Organize an Angel Tree 

As your organization or nonprofit looks for holiday fundraising ideas, creating an angel tree could be an excellent option for giving to the families you serve in your community. An angel tree organizes your donors and other community members to provide holiday gifts for kids or families. This donation method is an excellent way for your organization to mobilize and spread the spirit of giving this holiday season.  

Whether your organization is a school, place of worship, association, or nonprofit, an angel tree can help you provide underprivileged or vulnerable kids or adults with gifts for the holidays. This guide will explain how to do an angel tree donation drive and provide tips for fundraising success.  

What You’ll Need for an Angel Tree Campaign 

The first step in organizing an angel tree is to gather a few items and put processes in place for your donation drive. Here are the top things you’ll need to get started:  

• A decorated tree: The central element for an angel tree is an evergreen tree to serve as the focal point of your collection efforts. Your organization will need to place the tree in a visible location where donors and community members can see it, like in a lobby or by the front door.  

• Paper tags: Your organization will also need paper tags to hang on your tree’s branches. These tags represent the recipients of your donations and might include some identifying information, like a wish list for each one. Donors will take home the recipient’s paper tag, which indicates what they will shop for during the gift drive. You might also choose to decorate the tree, though the decorations shouldn’t overshadow the tags. 

You can also offer these tags for a virtual Angel Tree so that people don’t have to visit your physical tree to show their generosity. This also lets you quickly follow up on who picked the tag if you are still waiting for the gift! 

In GiveSmart, you can offer the gift tags for $0. People can easily register and claim the angel to buy a gift(s) for and your nonprofit can match the tag at drop off to the donor and any unwrapped gift(s).  

• Donation collection method: As donors begin buying their angel tree gifts, they should have an accessible way to give them to your organization. Choose a central location for collecting items, like next to the angel tree or at a corporate or school partner. You’ll need several volunteers to wrap the gifts and ensure they’re marked correctly for their intended recipient.  

You can also create a wishlist at a big box or online store to make it EASY for people to donate a gift! 

• Donation distribution method: Lastly, you’ll need to plan how to distribute the donations to each recipient by the holidays. 

Working Out the Angel Tree Details  

With your tree, paper tags, and donation collection and distribution methods planned out, you’ll need to plan the donation logistics. Consider the following: 

• The donation recipients: One of the most crucial elements is determining which constituents your angel tree will sponsor.  

Supporters do like to give actual items. In fact, 21% of people give items annually, and 19% of people give items and money annually. Consider meeting these donors where they are at, and use an angel tree as a way for people to give things to your constituents.  

If you are a corporate partner or association, consider partnering with organizations that serve: 

• Anyone living in a temporary shelter, including adults and teens  
• Children living in the foster care system  
• Pediatric patients who are undergoing treatment during the holiday season  
• Families at your school or in your school district  
• Residents at a local long-term independent housing or medical care facility  
• And more! 

You may facilitate an angel tree for volunteers, associations, or corporate sponsors to run and manage. Everyone deserves a treat and joy, so make sure your recipients don’t just list needs.  

Since an angel tree organizes gift-giving for specific people, your donors also need to know what those people would like to receive. Determine how you’ll gather information about your recipients’ interests and needs.  

• Donation collection and delivery: Your organization will likely need volunteer help to collect, wrap, and deliver gifts before the holidays. Create a sign-up list online and make it easy for people to donate their time! 

• Unpicked tags: Create a plan to buy gifts for recipients whose tags are still left on the tree by the donation deadline. This is an opportunity to engage clubs, associations, schools, and other corporate partners to offer support.  

Creating Angel Tags 

Creating the tags is another step in organizing your angel tree donations. There are many affordable templates on Etsy and Pinterest. Consider the kind of card stock and ribbon you’ll use to hang the tags on your angel tree. Here are a few things you may want to put on the angel tags:  

• The recipient’s first name: Including a name on the angel tag helps make the donation more personal for donors.  

• Identifying information: This should include age, gender, and clothing sizes.  

• Wish list: You’ll also want to include the recipients’ gift wish list. As you gather information from recipients, don’t forget to encourage them to include a mix of items they need and want.  

• Donation deadline: It’s crucial donors know when they must bring in their gifts so your volunteers can wrap and distribute them in time for the holidays.  

Utilize Online Fundraising

Your organization can also use online tools in conjunction with a physical angel tree to gain more engagement from donors. Some people who don’t live nearby may wish to donate money since they cannot select a tag, and offering an online fundraising option can help you pay for gifts for recipients whose tags weren’t picked from the tree.  

Consider utilizing these strategies for incorporating an online element in your angel tree donation effort:  

• Print QR codes or links on tags: Including a QR code or website link on the angel tags can be an excellent way to share recipients’ information and their online wish list. Scanning the code could take the donor straight to a digital storefront where they can buy the item.  

• Create an online donor sign-up sheet: You could have an online form where people can sign up virtually to receive a random recipient.  

• Use an online donation tracker: An online fundraising software could help your organization track donations, create a landing page to better inform and engage donors and volunteers, and use a progress thermometer to track progress to your goal(s). 

Collecting Angel Tree Donations  

Ask donors to leave gifts unwrapped to ensure gifts match the recipients’ list and are in good condition. Designate a drop-off location to make collection smoother for volunteers.  

It can also be helpful to keep track of donations as donors bring them in so you know which gifts have been purchased. Once you collect the gifts, allow time for volunteers to wrap the gifts before delivering them. Consider how you’ll create an organization system for wrapped gifts to keep those going to the same families and households packed together for easier delivery. 

Building a Virtual Angel Tree  

Setting up a virtual angel tree can make your fundraising efforts even more effective, especially if you don’t have space for a physical tree or want to engage donors from other locations. Digitize the process using GiveSmart’s fundraising features, like donation campaign management, embeddable donation forms, a wish list campaign, and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.  

Building a virtual angel tree donation effort can make donation easier for a larger group of donors and corporate supporters, enabling your organization to maximize its impact this holiday season. 

 For example, using a text-to-donate strategy makes it simple for your list of donors to donate right away to provide for an individual or family in need. Mobile donation software enables streamlined donation collection online and boosts your angel tree efforts to bring more joy this holiday season.  

See How GiveSmart Can Help  

An angel tree is a great way to organize a gift drive for your constituents this holiday season. Having the right strategy for how to organize an angel tree goes a long way in ensuring your efforts are a success.  

Online fundraising software can bring people together with your fundraiser this holiday season, enabling even greater reach. The GiveSmart fundraising platform provides tools for expanding your organization’s reach, managing donors, and more. Our seamless fundraising software offers customizable features to support your group’s efforts throughout the year.  

With 24/7 customer support and expert one-on-one consultations, we’re here to help your organization fully utilize our software. Request a demo today to see how our software can expand your fundraising efforts.