Giving Tree SignUps for Schools, Nonprofits, Churches, Anyone

How to Run a Giving Tree or Angel Tree Program with Free Online SignUps

Last Updated July 13, 2026

A Giving Tree (also called an Angel Tree or Adopt-a-Family program) is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways to organize group giving during the holiday season. Round up your crew – workplace colleagues, a classroom of students, a faith group, a book club, a sports team, a nonprofit, you name it – to bring warmth and cheer to others! Free online SignUps make the whole process easy to manage, from collecting wish list items to coordinating drop-off times, no matter the size of your group.

NEW CONCIERGE SERVICE: Have a large wish list for your Giving Tree? Contact SignUp today (support@signup.com) to request information about importing your list to speed your holiday planning.

Giving Tree Sign Up

What Is a Giving Tree?

A Giving Tree is a community giving initiative where participants "adopt" a specific item or family need from a curated wish list. Traditionally, wish list items (written on paper ornaments or tags) are hung on a tree, and participants take one to fulfill. Today, online SignUps have replaced the paper-and-tree setup for most groups, making it easier to manage large lists, track what's been claimed, and send automatic reminders.

Giving Trees go by several names depending on the organization running them:

Giving Tree (common in schools and churches)
Angel Tree (popular in churches and community nonprofits)
Adopt-a-Family (often run by workplaces and service organizations)
Angel List or Wish List Drive (used interchangeably)

Whatever you call it, the goal is the same: connect a group of willing givers with people who genuinely need support.

Who Can Run a Giving Tree?

Almost anyone can organize one. Giving Trees work beautifully for:

Schools and PTAs (supporting staff, students, or local families in need)
Churches and faith communities (serving congregation members or partner nonprofits)
Workplaces and corporate teams (a great team-building activity with real impact)
Sports teams and youth organizations
Book clubs, neighborhood groups, and volunteer organizations
Scout troops and service clubs

You don't need a physical tree, a large budget, or a team of coordinators. You just need a wish list, willing participants, and a clear way to organize who's bringing what.

Choosing Your Beneficiaries

Once your group is excited about launching a Giving Tree, the first step is identifying who you're supporting. Some common choices:

Schools often support their own custodial or support staff
Scout troops, churches, and service organizations often partner with community nonprofits to identify families
Workplaces may connect with a local shelter, food pantry, or family services agency

If you're working with a partner organization, ask them to provide a specific wish list with age-appropriate items, clothing sizes, and any restrictions on what can be donated. The more specific the list, the more useful the gifts will be.

How to Set Up Your Giving Tree SignUp

Free online Giving Tree SignUps solve the biggest logistical challenge: making sure every wish list item gets claimed exactly once. Here's how SignUp makes it easy:

List each item individually so participants can claim specific gifts
Include item descriptions, sizes, and any special instructions
Set a drop-off deadline and location so everyone knows the schedule
Share a single link by email, text, or social media
Let volunteers view and claim items from their phones, anytime
Automatic reminders keep everyone on track without any follow-up emails from you

Need help getting started? Here's a 6-step guide for setting up a Giving Tree SignUp.

How to Promote Your Giving Tree and Drive Participation

A great Giving Tree SignUp is only effective if people know about it. Here are some easy ways to spread the word:

Email the link directly: A personal, direct message gets better response rates than a general announcement
Post in group chats and parent communication apps: Remind, ClassDojo, and similar tools make it easy to reach your whole group at once
Share on social media: A photo of your Giving Tree (even a digital one) with a clear call to action encourages sharing
Hang a flyer: Include the SignUp link or QR code in high-traffic areas like school entrances, break rooms, or bulletin boards
Follow up mid-campaign: Send one reminder when half the items are claimed to encourage stragglers and create a sense of urgency

The goal is to make it as easy as possible for someone to say yes and claim an item in 30 seconds or less.

Virtual Giving Trees for Remote Teams and Online Communities

You don't need an in-person group to run a Giving Tree. Virtual Giving Trees work especially well for remote work teams, online faith communities, and groups spread across multiple locations. Here's how to adapt the process:

Use an online SignUp to list items just as you would for an in-person drive
Ask participants to purchase and ship items directly to a designated coordinator or fulfillment address
Consider using gift registries (such as Amazon Wish Lists) linked from your SignUp so participants can buy and ship in one step
Set up a virtual drop-off period (a specific date range) so the coordinator can organize incoming packages
Share photos of the completed drive with all participants so everyone can see the collective impact

Remote teams often find that virtual Giving Trees create stronger community bonds than other team activities, because the purpose is concrete and the impact is visible.

Tips for Making Your Giving Tree Extra Meaningful

A few small touches go a long way toward turning a logistical exercise into a genuinely moving experience for everyone involved:

Include a personal note: Encourage participants to add a handwritten card with their gift. A few kind words mean as much as the gift itself.
Celebrate milestones: Send a quick update when you've hit 25%, 50%, and 100% of items claimed. It keeps energy high and lets late givers know there's still a way to participate.
Wrap gifts beautifully: A little wrapping paper and a ribbon transforms a donated item into a real gift. Include wrapping guidelines in your SignUp instructions.
Share the outcome: After the drive is complete, send a thank-you message with a summary of what was accomplished. "Our group donated 47 gifts to 12 families" is the kind of concrete result that makes people want to do it again next year.
Make it a tradition: Groups that run Giving Trees year after year see participation grow over time. The first year plants the seed; the second year, people are already asking when it starts.

Ready to get started? Set up your free Giving Tree SignUp today and give your group an easy, organized way to make the season a little brighter for someone who needs it.

"We have nothing but positive things to say about SignUp and would 100% recommend that any organization considering creating a virtual Giving Tree use SignUp. We will be using the site for our tree again next year. Thanks SignUp!"
~ Cheryl Ann Sydney Sabin, St. Cecilia's Advent Giving Tree Ministry

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a Giving Tree and how does it work?

A: A Giving Tree is a community giving program where participants claim specific items from a wish list to donate to someone in need. Traditionally, wishes were written on paper ornaments hung on a tree. Today, most groups use a free online SignUp where participants can view the full list, claim one or more items, and receive reminders about the drop-off deadline.

Q: What types of groups can run a Giving Tree?

A: Almost any group can run a Giving Tree: schools, churches, nonprofits, workplaces, sports teams, neighborhood groups, and online communities. The format works for groups of any size, from a small classroom to a large organization with hundreds of participants.

Q: How do you organize a Giving Tree online?

A: Set up a free SignUp sheet listing each wish list item individually. Share the link with your group via email, text, or social media. Participants claim their items, and SignUp automatically sends reminders so nothing falls through the cracks. A 6-step setup guide is available at signup.com to walk you through the process.

Q: What is the difference between a Giving Tree and an Angel Tree?

A: The terms are often used interchangeably. "Angel Tree" is more commonly used by faith-based organizations and is associated with programs that support children in need. "Giving Tree" is a broader term used by schools, nonprofits, and community groups. "Adopt-a-Family" typically refers to a larger commitment where a team or household fulfills multiple needs for one specific family.

Q: How do you make a Giving Tree work for a remote or virtual team?

A: Use an online SignUp to list wish list items, and ask participants to purchase and ship items directly to a coordinator or through a gift registry. Set clear shipping deadlines and share a final summary with the team once all items have been delivered. Virtual Giving Trees work especially well for distributed teams who want a shared purpose-driven activity.

About the Author

Tara McAdams

Digital Marketing Manager, Content Strategist & Creator

Tara leads content strategy at SignUp and creates a variety of resources on a wide range of topics – including lifestyle trends, prep for holidays, volunteer management, and event planning. More about Tara →