we celebrate the day you became you
At Birthday Buds, we believe in the gift of giving, connecting children in need (Buddies) with caring sponsors (Buds) to create joyful and memorable birthdays.
How We Do It
Sign up, it's easy!
Make birthdays extra meaningful by signing up to be a Birthday Bud! We'll match you or your child with an under-resourced Buddy who shares a similar birthday, age, and gender. As a Bud, you'll have the opportunity to provide specific toys and basic necessities requested by your Buddy. Through Birthday Buds, you'll create a meaningful connection while also providing much-needed support to your Buddy's family—lasting until their 12th birthday. A tangible way to teach giving.
You be you
There’s a Bud type for everyone - whether you want to be matched with a Buddy, give as a group, or donate in a way that fits your lifestyle, you’ll help make birthdays extra special. Plus, you’ll stay paired with the same Buddy until their 12th birthday!
Chatter!
We stay in touch with you through the entire process, including a follow-up after your Buddy's big day.
Buds for all types
Bud to Bud
We'll match you child with a Buddy who shares a similar birthday, age and gender. You remain paired with your Buddy through their 12th birthday.
Class Bud
Sign your school's class up to be a Bud! Everyone chips in and works as a team.
Big Bud
Adults can also be a Bud! We'll pair you with a child in our program that has the birthday month of your choosing.
Out of Time Bud
I've signed up to be a Bud but I don't have time to buy gifts! No problem... let us know what you'd like to spend, make a contribution and we'll take care of the rest.
Just in Time Bud
In some unforeseen circumstances, our donors are not able to participate at the last minute or we have more kids sign up to be Buddies than we have current donors. As a Just in Time Bud you bridge that gap up to 3 times a year.
Monthly Bud
As a Monthly Bud, you'll contribute $10-$50 a month to Birthday Buds, creating a fund for unexpected gift needs. Your generosity ensures no birthday goes uncelebrated!
Sign up here!The Deets
The Buds in our program are recommended to us through our trusted partners. We currently work with Room to Grow in New York and Massachusetts, and Mary Ford Learning & Family Center, Halo's and Communities in Schools in South Carolina. We do not accept recipient families that are not affiliated with one of our partner organizations.
At Birthday Buds, we recognize that the financial situation of so many families is dire. We often hear stories of families forced to make difficult decisions because of poverty, and we recognize that it truly takes a village. Birthday Buds offers a tangible way to teach giving. Raising kids in a culture of community giving helps shape a world we all want to live in. By providing fun and essential needs for the children that make up the Birthday Buds Community, we empower families to receive much-needed basic items as well as educational and exciting gifts—playing a small role in ensuring that all kids feel loved, needed, and special.
In 2021 the child poverty rate in the United States was 5.1%
In 2022 the child poverty rate in the United States was 12.4%
In 2023 the child poverty rate in the United States was 13.7%
2024 numbers have not yet been released, but is expected to have increased*.
Birthday Buds was founded in 2012. Since then we have facilitated or purchased gifts for over 20 thousand birthdays and counting. We are savvy stewards of our funding and run a tight ship on an annual budget of $210,000. This budget allows for 3 staff members to coordinate birthday gifts for over 2000 children. The budget also allows for the children in our program who are not paired to receive gifts directly from us.
Our Crew
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On a recent birthday, Melissa and Jude learned not only that his birthday bud loved Thomas the Tank Engine but also that he needed rain boots and a toothbrush. The list was eye-opening for Jude but also for Melissa. Mother and son went to the bank and withdrew $40 from Jude’s savings account so he could buy the gifts on the list. Making a habit of giving on birthdays and other occasions is a great way to cultivate generosity in your kid, as well as gratitude for all he has.
