This October, add some meaning to your Halloweening
Let's Do This
Help spread some scary goodness.
What Good You Could Do
Protect Refugees
In Ukraine and elsewhere around the world. Learn more...
Stop Famine
Provide therapeutic food that saves lives. Learn more...
Provide warmth
Give blankets to keep warm this winter. Learn more...
FAQs
What's New for 2022
What’s new about Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF in 2022?
We are transforming the campaign into a completely new and digital experience.
Entirely reimagined from previous Trick-or-Treat activations, this initiative invites everyone, of all ages, to Add Some Meaning to Your Halloweening, and drive positive impact for children.
How will Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF work this year?
Beginning October 1st, all are encouraged to participate in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF by visiting www.trickortreatforunicef.org and accessing a downloadable toolkit that has interactive posters, a digital QR code you can use as your phone wallpaper, a campaign social media guide and a canister wrapper you can use in approved community spaces, and at events. While anyone is welcome to use the code at any time during the month, kids will still be able to ask for donations on Halloween night using assets from the downloadable toolkit when trick-or-treating with parental consent.
Donations
What are Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF donations used for?
Since 1950, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF funds have helped save and improve children's lives around the world. From the war in Ukraine to drought across the Horn of Africa to the child refugee crisis, UNICEF Won't Stop fighting until every child has the future they deserve.
Your donations will help UNICEF deliver health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education and emergency relief to children where —and when —they need it most. Your support will allow UNICEF, on the ground in 190 countries, relentlessly work to ensure every child is healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Is there a deadline for turning in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF donations?
The 2022 campaign begins on October 1, 2022 and runs through October 31, 2022. You can support children any time of the year by donating to UNICEF USA right now. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF funds submitted after June 30, 2023 will be applied to the next year’s campaign.
You can make a donation here, visit www.unicefusa.org for more information about UNICEF or call 1.800.FOR.KIDS.
For shareable information about Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, visit our social press kit and use hashtag #ToT4UNICEF.
UNICEF reaches millions of children by supporting broad-based programs and projects. UNICEF operates at the highest levels of government to help shape national agendas for children while supporting program implementation. This approach gives UNICEF unique insights into how best to save and protect the world’s children, but it doesn’t allow us to fund a specific person, project, school or country.
What if I want to host a peer 2 peer fundraiser?
You can host a peer2peer fundraiser as an individual or a group and share your fundraising link out with your networks via email or social media. Here is a step by step one pager about how to do that.
Where can I register an event or fundraiser for TOT?
You can go to our Events and Fundraisers page to officially register an event, and select Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF as your cause. If you are looking for more directions on how to start a fundraiser or any spooky fun ideas for an event, check out this one pager here.
While UNICEF USA appreciates your spirit of giving, we are only able to accept monetary donations. These are more impactful and saves more lives because they:
- allows disaster relief professionals to procure exactly what is needed
- are much more efficient and cost-effective to administer
- can pay for relief supplies and programs located nearer to the affected area because transport costs can outweigh the value of materials donated
- support the economy of the region affected, providing employment and income
- ensure culturally, dietary and environmentally appropriate giving
KIWANIS FAMILY CLUBS (KEY CLUBS, CIRCLE K, K-KIDS CLUBS, BUILDER’S CLUBS, AKTION CLUBS)
What is the connection between Key Club and Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF?
Key Club International and Circle K International are student-led service leadership programs of Kiwanis International. Kiwanis family clubs have been Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF since 1994, raising over $8 million. Combating iodine deficiency and maternal and neonatal tetanus worldwide are just some of the programs Key Club and Circle K have supported in the past.
What program is Key Club supporting?
All funds raised by Key Club International will go to Start Strong: Zambia — Key Club’s project that is supporting UNICEF’s early childhood development efforts in Zambia with a focus on providing sustainable, community-based support to children, families, and caretakers.
What program is Circle K supporting?
All funds raised by Circle K International will go to Brick x Brick — CKI’s project that is supporting UNICEF’s efforts to build a sustainable future through education and empowerment in Côte d’Ivoire. Through this project, UNICEF will support the creation of a women-led recycling market that will convert plastic waste into safe and durable bricks which will be used to build classrooms.
Through this project, UNICEF will support the creation of a women-led recycling market that will convert plastic waste into safe and durable bricks which will be used to build classrooms.
Can K-Kids, Builders Clubs, Aktion Clubs and Kiwanis clubs participate?
Of course! K-Kids will support the Brick x Brick project, and Builders Clubs will support Start Strong: Zambia. If you are a member of an Aktion Club or Kiwanis club, you can support whichever program speaks to you!
How do I participate as a Kiwanis family club member?
Instead of participating through the UNICEF USA Trick-or-Treat website, please go to the Key Club page or Circle K page so we can recognize your club’s participation and fundraising accurately.
MATERIALS, ORDERS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
So, there won’t be physical boxes anymore?
Correct. The move from the little orange box to a spooky QR code in 2022, and moving forward, modernizes Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF for an increasingly cashless economy and digital friendly world. We do have printable Canister Wrappers if you want to collect change.
If I have old boxes, can I still use them?
No, you will not be able to use a physical coin box. The QR code is a modern and simple tool, with a fun design, where impact can still be delivered in a meaningful way and used physically on Halloween night. Instead, try printing out a poster, or a color-it-yourself sign and bring it along as you go trick-or-treating.
When will acknowledgment letters be sent?
Please allow at least three–four weeks from the date UNICEF USA received your donation for your acknowledgment letter to be delivered. If it has been more than 4 weeks, please email us or call 1.800.FOR.KIDS.
The acknowledgment letter I received is wrong. Can you send a correction?
Please call 1.800.FOR.KIDS with the following information:
- Your Name
- Name of Organization
- Address
- City
- State
- Zip Code
- Gift Amount
Once UNICEF USA receives this information, it will take at least two–three weeks for your new acknowledgment letter to be delivered. Please note that Coinstar® receipts receive their own acknowledgements; therefore, you may receive more than one “Thank You” letter!
HOW CAN I/MY SCHOOL/GROUP/CITIES/COMMUNITY DO MORE TO SUPPORT UNICEF?
How can I or my school or group participate in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF this year?
Kids are encouraged to take the QR code with them trick-or-treating, using a downloadable poster or a color-it-yourself page. Groups can also set up fundraisers for their classrooms, communities or organizations. Or you can plan a Halloween Event (helpful hints here).
How can I or my school/group/cities/communities do more to support UNICEF USA?
Use your voice and help amplify UNICEF’s mission with your network. Visit www.unicefunite.org to learn more and retrieve tools and resources to take action.
With over 800 UNICEF High School and University/College Clubs across the country, students can continue creating positive impact for children around the globe. Find your local UNICEF Club here or register one for your area here.
For kids over age 13 and grown-ups, join our vast network of volunteers across the United States who have supported UNICEF's lifesaving work for over 70 years through fundraising, advocacy and education. You can learn more about volunteering here!
The UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) equips cities and communities to support and empower children and young people through a flexible, child rights-focused framework to create safe, equitable, just, inclusive communities. For more information about Child Friendly Cities Initiative in the Unites States, visit our Child Friendly Cities Initiative. To take action and encourage cities across the United States to become more child friendly, visit act.unicefusa.org/childhood.
Contact
How do I update my contact information or that of my group?
Please email us or call 1.800.FOR.KIDS.
Additional Questions
Can I send cash through the mail?
Do not send cash through the mail. You can take coins to a local Coinstar® machine or make an equivalent donation with for the amount collected using your credit card or by sending a check to:
UNICEF USA
Attention: Revenue Processing (TOT)
125 Maiden Lane
New York NY 10038
Can someone write a check as a donation?
We happily accept checks. Have them made out to UNICEF USA with Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF in the memo line. Please send any collected checks to UNICEF USA by mail. Receipts will be mailed to the name and address that appears on the check. Send checks to:
UNICEF USA
Attention: Revenue Processing (TOT)
125 Maiden Lane
New York NY 10038
Who gets the tax deduction for submitted donations?
If your child collects cash, and you make a donation of equivalent value, you will be able to deduct the amount from your taxes. Any donor who writes a check will receive a receipt acknowledging the deductible amount. If you are remitting donations on behalf of an organization the recognition will be for the organization and not the individual.
Are there activities I can do to help teach my kids how to collect donations?
Practicing with your kids is a great way to get them to learn how to collect donations while trick-or-treating (you might even give them their first donation!). Parents can help prepare kids by asking them questions about why they want to help other children. Parents can also prepare kids that it’s okay if the person they ask to donate says no. Children should smile and thank the person, whether the person donates or not.
I'm getting an error when I try to sign up for emails on the site, what should I do?
We're sorry for any inconvenience! If you continue experiencing an error or difficulties registering, please email us or call 1.800.FOR.KIDS.