Dad Shares How He Crowdfunded at His Child's Birthday Party

Father of two and writer at babble.com, Buzz Bishop, has a great solution to the endless birthday gift dramas.

Buzz suggests we all start doing some crowdfunding for good!

He suggests that each child who comes to the party brings a small amount of cash –just five or 10 dollars, and the birthday boy or girl then gets to spend half the amount on a present and then you give the other half to a charity.

“Think about it. A dozen kids at $5-$10 each is $60-$100,” Buzz writes.

“That’s an awesome $30 LEGO kit for the birthday kid and a nice bit of cash going to people who could really use it.”

All you need to do is add a few lines on your child’s birthday present, saying something like:

“Please note that gifts are not required. If you would like to give one, we are asking for a small cash gift of $5 instead.

XXXX is proud to have a 50/50 party to raise money for his favourite charity. He will use half of the money collected to buy a small LEGO kit for himself and then donate the rest to his charity of choice.”

“Genius, isn’t it?,” Buzz adds. “The kid gets ONE thing they really want, they get a crazy cake and ice-cream day with their friends, AND they get to learn charity by helping out the community.”

“Kids don’t need 14 presents from 14 kids at their birthday. Parents don’t need to scramble around buying something for a kid they don’t know. This 50/50 birthday party idea solves everything at once. It tames the birthday-party-present-buying nightmare for parents, and tones down the entitled generation we’re likely raising.”

Read Buzz’s full idea here on Babble.com

Share your comments below

19 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 12 Oct 2022
    11:21 am
Sounds like a great idea but I always prefered to tell people that gifts were not required at all. Its the childs company that we wanted at the party and not their gifts.

- - mom7108 said
  - 28 Nov 2018
    9:56 pm
Love this idea. Some presents are tokens and not well thought of and some end up being duplicates, it is hard for kids to appreciate them when they have so much

- - Blossom said
  - 03 Sep 2018
    8:22 am
This is a wonderful idea but I think the child has to be able to understand the concept. Young children love getting presents. Until then perhaps the parents could combine the funds and buy one suitable present after asking the parents for suggestions and donate to as charity as well if they wish to.

- - tessie said
  - 21 Aug 2018
    8:43 am
This is a great idea. We could never work out what to buy for the kids to take for birthday presents so I would give them a card with some money inside.

- - rovermum said
  - 06 Aug 2018
    11:10 am
I really love this idea. I feel some kids have parties for the number of presents they’re going to get and it is now just so excessive and ridiculous. You hear parents often commenting that their kids have too much, don’t need it, etc. Money has been a gift of choice that my son gives to all the party hosts, and has done now for years. That bothers me too when some kids are receiving hundreds and into the thousands when they throw big parties. Ridiculous. This would be a great idea if it can gain momentum.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 04 Aug 2018
    9:28 am
This is a usual occurrence in Holland with Dutch kids. It is a wonderful idea and stops kids getting far too many gifts. It’s also a nice way to shift the focus away from presents and back onto the birthday and having fun with their friends.

- - mom101628 said
  - 03 Aug 2018
    9:25 pm
This is a fantastic idea – it should continue on for kitchen teas, baby showers and wedding presents.

- - mom90758 said
  - 01 Aug 2018
    4:00 pm
I like the idea too. A great way to show involvement in the community! 🙂

- - mom114371 said
  - 01 Aug 2018
    9:18 am
Interesting idea! And teaches kids about giving to the less fortunate

- - curlytops said
  - 01 Aug 2018
    8:38 am
Interesting idea. Like you said it makes present buying much easier and a charity benefits too.

- - mom111059 said
  - 01 Aug 2018
    8:22 am
Great idea. Teaches the kids to give to charity and helps parents who worry about what gift to buy and how much to spend.

- - becstalou said
  - 01 Aug 2018
    7:03 am
I like it easier on everyone and great for charities too.

- - mom93821 said
  - 01 Aug 2018
    6:31 am
Nice idea and when money is donated a thank you letter and the chance to watch the progress of the charity is often received. A good way to develop community participation in children.
- mom93821 replied
  
  02 Aug 2018 , 6:02 am
  I like these ideas and I like pay it forward ideas too – builds better and caring communities.
- - Ellen said
  - 01 Aug 2018
    3:39 am
Great idea !! Although I wouldn’t think about 10-15 kids to a party anymore, 5 at the most ! But all these presents are not necessary and doesn’t teach our kids to be thankful.

- - ashna9 said
  - 31 Jul 2018
    9:16 pm
Great idea to show aid for others.

- - BellaB said
  - 31 Jul 2018
    8:18 pm
This is a good idea, but my kids love choosing presents for their friends.

- - mom264171 said
  - 31 Jul 2018
    6:23 pm
It’s definitely a nice sentiment.

- - Cookfromscratchmum said
  - 31 Jul 2018
    4:53 pm
I think the idea regarding kids paying money towards the birthday present and for donations should be optional