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 special by signing up to be a Brithday Bud! We'll match you/ your child with an under-resourced Buddy who shares a similar birthday, age, and gender. As a Bud, you will have the opportunity to provide birthday gifts and basic necessities, creating a meaningful connection that lasts until your Buddy turns 12.
Choose your bud type
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!
Birthday Bounty!
Once you receive the list from your Buddy, it is up to you what and how much of the requests you purchase. Gifts can be sent directly to your buddy through a retail website (wrapping optional) OR you can shop and ship directly to them.
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 pairs with your Buddy through their 12 birthday.
Sign up here!Class Bud
Sign your school's class up to be a Bud! Everyone chips in and works as a team.
Sign up here!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.
Sign up here!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.
Sign up here!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!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.
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 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 that are forced to make difficult decisions because of poverty and we recognize that it truly takes a village. 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 to play a small role in ensuring that all kids feel loved, needed and special.
Child Poverty Rate. Stats about empowering families. (This information is forthcoming)
Our Crew
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.
