The Back-to-School Drive Virtual Giving Tree
Each year, the Back-to-School Drive Virtual Giving Tree (VGT) hosts dozens of K-2, 3-5, and 6-12 backpacks and school supplies, The VGT allows you to support students in a meaningul way and have a direct impact on their education.
When you give through the VGT, you're doing more than donating a high-quality backpack and grade-appropriate school supplies students need—you're ensuring they’ll have equitable opportunity in the classroom.
Your Gift is More Than Backpack and Supplies—
It’s Hope
Donating through the Virtual Giving Tree creates joyful moments for students. Now they can proudly walk into the first day of school. It also helps ease the financial strain that most of the families we serve face daily.
Your generosity powers every step and grows hope in our community.
VGT FAQs
How does FGT make the donation amount for a filled backpack and supply packs so reasonable?
We leverage our bulk purchasing power. Family Giving Tree purchases backpacks and supplies through our partner wholesalers at very affordable prices. We then incorporate the operational costs associated with preparing and distributing the Back-to-School program donations in the final cost of the item on the VGT.
What are these other costs that my donation via the VGT covers?
Your donation for each backpack and supply pack on the VGT covers the following and more.
Quality Assurance: Every backpack purchased is high quality and designed to last the year. We purchase backpacks with padded straps and backs to ensure they are comfortable for students. We also purchase size-appropriate backpacks based on the grade groups to ensure each student receives the size that best suits their needs.
Logistics and Operational Costs: Backpack and school supply values on the VGT cover the costs of running the Back-to-School Drive. These include identifying the need, sourcing suppliers, purchasing and receiving goods, generating materials such as tags and collection boxes to support donation drive activities, and ensuring sufficient staff and real estate resources are in place for backpack processing and distribution.
Year-Round Organizational Support: A portion of the costs maintains year-round activities and resources required to develop and implement FGT’s year-round strategy to ensure we provide support where it’s needed most. This includes being responsible stewards of the time, talent, and treasures received on behalf of those we serve. As coordinators to hundreds of Drive Leaders, partners to hundreds of agencies and schools, and guides to thousands of volunteers each year, we nimbly manage as a staff of 20 to make the magic happen in workspaces that may change from season to season. All of the required planning and logistics wouldn’t be possible without your funding support.
