ThinkFundraisers: Giving Tree

What is the ThinkFun Giving Tree?

ThinkFun's Giving Tree is a unique way to raise funds to purchase mind challenging games for your school! Schools set up the tree, collect donations, and ThinkFun extends a 40% discount on all products purchased with your proceeds! Students, parents, and teachers will eagerly monitor progress as you "climb" the ladder and get closer and closer to your goal!

Giving Tree Program Details

Contact ThinkFun

Please contact Charlotte Fixler at cfixler@thinkfun.com or (703) 549-4999 x3500 for a customized Order Form and to help you get started!

The Giving Tree: Materials

Display the ThinkFun Giving Tree where the entire community participating in the fundraiser can see it. Download and print a ThinkFun Giving Tree color poster, or create your own as an art project!

The Ladder

1. Write your fundraising goal at the top of the ladder. Excite students and get parents and faculty on board by displaying images of the ThinkFun games you will purchase when you reach your goal.
2. Mark ladder rungs with appropriate benchmarks.
3. Create a marker (this could be an adhesive arrow, apple-picking basket, you choose!) and move it up the ladder to display progress throughout the fundraiser.

The Apples

Giving Tree apples recognize individuals, families, and businesses that make donations. We offer 3 different types of apple templates which you can print and cut out, or engage students in the fundraiser prep by having them create their own!:

• Giving Tree generic apple
• Giving Tree apple with school name
• Giving Tree business card apple

Tip: Try printing black & white apples on colored paper — this looks great and saves ink!

Raising Funds: Selling Apples

1. Giving Tree apples can be sold in a variety of ways. Charge a set amount per apple, offer apples at various price points, sell by the bushel, or let donors fill in an amount. Use a record sheet to keep track of apple sales.
2. Apples can be distributed to students to sell to friends and family, purchased at the school's front desk, sold at community events, Back-to-School nights, intermission at a school play... the possibilities are endless!
3. Encourage parents and faculty to approach local shop owners, realtors, and supermarkets. Businesses like to give to schools in their community, and displaying donor's business cards on apples is free publicity, a win-win!
4. Donations are tax-deductible! Create a generic receipt or letter with the school's tax ID information, donation description, and a place to record donation amount.
5. Instruct students and parents on collecting donations and proper use of the record sheet and tax receipts.

Celebrate your Harvest!

1. Once your Giving Tree fundraiser ends, harvest the apples and calculate your school's total earnings.
2. Decide on the ThinkFun games and programs you will purchase with your 40% discount and place your order!
3. Celebrate your success in newsletters, PA announcements, and school-wide emails and share information about the games that are on their way!
4. Encourage students to write thank you notes to donors. It may be helpful to create a template for teachers to lead this activity.

To maximize your harvest and boost fundraising potential, the ThinkFun Giving Tree can also be incorporated into our Game Night program!

ThinkFundraisers are currently available only to schools and organizations within the United States.