Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF FAQs

For 75 years, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has turned Halloween into something bigger—a night when kids make a big difference for children around the world. Kids and families who take part in this fun, empowering tradition collect donations that fund UNICEF's lifesaving work. This FAQ guide has everything you need to know about how Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF works today and how to get involved.

What is Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF?

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a fundraising campaign that adds giving back to the Halloween experience. As kids go door-to-door to collect candy, they ask for donations to UNICEF’s programs for children around the world. Generations of kids have taken part in the original “Kids Helping Kids” campaign by taking the now-iconic little orange box with them and saying the words, “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!” In the 21st century, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has added new ways to participate and expanded so that families and adults can participate, as well.

Where can I order Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes online?

Boxes are no longer available for order after Halloween. However, you can sign up to receive updates about our 2026 campaign and get general information about UNICEF’s impact year-round.

When was Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF founded?

The program began in 1950 in Philadelphia, when children who went trick-or-treating for candy were persuaded to collect coins for charity by the Presbyterian minister Clyde Allison and his schoolteacher wife, Mary Emma. Rumor has it the first year earned $17. But in the words used eventually by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF “caught the imagination” of Americans, and the campaign grew and grew, community by community. Now, 75 years later, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has grown into a nationwide movement that has raised nearly $200 million for children in need. To learn more, read our story about the history of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

Where does Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF money go?

  • Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF donations go to critical, flexible funding that can be used to help children when and where they need it most, as well as to programs that provide essentials like education, safe water, vaccinations, and more.
  • Flexible funding is crucial to UNICEF’s work in over 190 countries and territories, as well as to its humanitarian supply network. This global network rushes essentials like safe water, blankets, or medicine where they’re needed, often within 24-72 hours. This is critical as UNICEF responds to hundreds of emergencies and complex humanitarian situations every single year.
  • Supporting Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF means making a lifesaving difference for children in places facing terrible crises, like Gaza, Haiti, Sudan, and Yemen. And it means maintaining a global humanitarian support system for children that works to build better futures for every child through access to health care, education, mental health services, and more.

Who gets the tax deduction for submitted donations on behalf of groups, schools, or organizations?

  • If your child collects cash, and you donate an equivalent value, you will be able to deduct that 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 a group, school or organization, recognition will go to that entity.

How do I submit my collected donations?

Please do not send cash through the mail. You can submit cash donations in 3 ways:

When will my acknowledgement letter be sent?

Please allow at least 3 to 4 weeks from the date UNICEF USA received your donation for your acknowledgement letter to be delivered. If it has been more than 4 weeks, please email us at hello@unicefusa.org or call 1.800.FOR.KIDS. If you receive an acknowledgement letter and it is wrong, 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 2 to 3 weeks for a new acknowledgement letter to be delivered. Please note that Coinstar® receipts receive their own acknowledgments; therefore, you may receive more than one “Thank You” letter.

Can I or my group collect supplies in support of UNICEF?

While UNICEF USA appreciates your spirit of giving, we can only accept monetary donations. Donations are most impactful and support UNICEF’s work because they:

  • Allow 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 closer 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 friendly giving

I’m a member of a Key Club/Circle K group — how can I remit my funds?

If you are a member of a Key Club, Circle K, K-Kids, or Builders Club group, please visit www.kiwanis.org/tot to remit your funds.

Who can I contact with any additional questions or if I have not received my acknowledgement letter?

If you have additional questions or would like an update on your letter, please email us at hello@unicefusa.org or call 1.800.FOR.KIDS

Can I restrict my funding to a particular program or country?

UNICEF reaches millions of children in over 190 countries and territories 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 in the field. 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.