Frequently Asked Questions About Group Gifting

You may have heard the term “group gifting” being used among coworkers, friends, or family in recent years, as it has become increasingly popular for many occasions. In fact, if you’ve ever chipped in with your siblings to buy your parent a birthday gift, or contributed to a wedding registry or honeymoon fund, then you’ve already participated in group gifting!

Group gifting is a great way to get a group together remotely around different types of occasions, milestones, and experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the concept, we have compiled a list of things you should know to ensure that your group gifting journey is a smooth one.

What is group gifting?

Group gifting is a method of gifting that enables a circle of friends, family, or coworkers to pitch in on a single gift. It offers an easy and affordable way to give presents for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and baby showers.

Instead of buying individual gifts, it enables groups of any size to give larger gifts in a more sustainable and social way without breaking the bank.

How does group gifting work?

Group gifting offers a way for multiple people to chip in toward a single gift. The most common way to set up a group gift is to use an online platform or service that enables a group to easily collect money for the gift.

Once you select a platform, you can set up a gift page that has details about the occasion, recipient, and gift selected. After that, you can invite contributors to chip in toward the gift and sign the card. The recipient then receives the gift and can view messages from the group. Watch Presently’s how-it-works video for more.

What are some popular group gifting platforms?

When it comes to group gifting platforms, there are a few popular options to consider, including Presently, Elfster, and Zola.

Each of these platforms offers unique features and benefits for different types of gifting. For example, Elfster is great for organizing holiday gift exchanges, such as Secret Santa or White Elephant. Conversely, Zola is a wedding registry that enables couples to create bridal wishlists and invitations.

Presently, on the other hand, is designed specifically for splitting the cost of a gift with others, which makes it the best choice for year-round gifting. With features such as a user-friendly contribution page, progress tracking, and custom recipient cards with messages from the entire group. Presently’s a popular tool for stress-free gifting.

What are the benefits of group gifting over traditional or solo gifting?

When you set up a group gift, you simplify the entire process and you get everyone to celebrate together on one platform. It eliminates the inconvenience of collecting individual payments through Venmo and keeping track of contributions through spreadsheets. Additionally, it allows you to purchase a more expensive item that the recipient might not have been able to afford alone.

Saves time and effort. Group gifting platforms eliminate the need for endless texting, emailing, and chasing down friends to chip in on a gift. These platforms also allow you to track contributions and see who has contributed.

Cost-effective. It allows everyone, even internationally, to pitch in and contribute towards a single gift, making it more affordable. Some platforms make sure that individual contributions are hidden from everyone.

Better gifts. It allows people to give a more valuable and significant gift that the recipient will appreciate. Contributors can also add a personal message with their contribution instead of having only one greeting from the entire group. Additionally, it ensures that everyone who contributed to the gift is aware that it has been successfully delivered to the recipient, providing satisfaction to all involved parties.

Can group gifting be used for any occasion?

Group gifting is a great way to show your appreciation and celebrate special occasions with your loved ones, friends, and colleagues. You can also use this for a difficult time to show sympathy and support.

Festive celebrations, such as birthdays, baby showers, weddings, and other milestones, are perfect occasions to use group gifting. These events often require larger and more expensive gifts, which can be challenging for one person to provide.

You can also use group gifting to show appreciation. It’s an excellent way to show your gratitude to a teacher, mentor, or colleague who has gone above and beyond.

Harder occasions, such as get well soon or sympathy gifts, are also appropriate for group gifting. These occasions can be emotionally draining, and it can be challenging to find the right gift to express your feelings.

Can I set up a group gift for multiple recipients?

Not all platforms have this feature, but yes! You might choose to set up a multi-recipient gift for teachers, administrators, a regional team, and more.

Employer gifts distributed in bulk to their employees are a type of multi-recipient gift. You can learn more about bulk gift card distribution for employees.

How is the gift chosen in a group gifting scenario?

The person who initiated the group gift typically selects the gift, although input from other contributors may be considered.

Some platforms, like Presently, also allow the recipient to select the gift, or to swap a gift selected for them. This gives the recipient ultimate flexibility to choose the gift that would be most meaningful or impactful to them.

What types of group gifts can I choose from?

Group gifting platforms offer the flexibility to choose between cash or gift cards, making it easy to give the recipient flexibility to choose a present that they’ll most appreciate. Some platforms, like Presently, also allow you to choose physical gifts.

Can I personalize a group gift page?

Yes, many group gifting platforms allow you to customize the page. You can upload a photo of the recipient, add a photo of the gift, and write a personalized message on why you chose the gift. Some platforms even offer different “themes” for the contribution page.

How many people can participate in a group gift?

The number of people who can participate in a group gift depends on the chosen group gifting platform. Some platforms have a limit on the number of contributors, while others do not.

How do I invite people to participate in a group gift?

You can invite people to participate in a group gift using email invitations or via a shareable link.

You can provide the email addresses of the invitees, and the platform will take care of sending out the invitations for you. This allows you to invite multiple people at once. Most platforms provide a unique link for each event, which you can share with your invitees via email or text message if you want to personalize your invitations or if you prefer to communicate with your invitees directly. Finally, you can share this link on social media or with a larger group of people.

Can people internationally contribute?

Yes, most platforms allow international contributions. This is one of the benefits of using an online platform for group gifting. It enables friends, family, and coworkers to contribute no matter where they are located.

Can I include a message with my group gift contribution?

Most platforms allow contributors to include a message with their contribution. This is a great way to let the recipient know who contributed to the gift and add a personal touch. Individual messages and well-wishes can create a much more personal and thoughtful experience than a single greeting from the entire group. This is one of the benefits of using a group gifting platform over PayPal or Venmo, which doesn’t offer a way to collect messages.

How can I track money collected toward a gift?

Group gifting platforms provide features to monitor and track the progress of your group gift through an organizer dashboard. On the organizer dashboard, you can track the total amount raised and see who has contributed.

This is also one of the benefits of using a platform instead of manually collecting payments and messages. It replaces the need for spreadsheets and other project management tools.

Some platforms, like Presently, make individual contribution amounts private as a way to remove social pressure and make the gifting experience more financially inclusive. This means that the organizer, fellow contributors, and recipients can see only the total contribution amount (along with everyone’s messages, of course!), but not how much any individual person gave.

What happens if the group gift goal is not met?

Some group gifting platforms offer a refund or credit to participants if the goal is not met. Others, like Presently, may allow the recipient to select another gift with the funds collected. It is important to read the platform’s policies before creating or participating in one.

How do I know when the group gift has been sent?

Most platforms send an email notification to the organizer and contributors as soon as the recipient receives the gift. This allows everyone who contributed to the group gift to participate in the experience of the gift delivery. Some platforms, like Presently, also include features that enable the recipient to send thank-you messages to the entire group.

Is group gifting secure?

Most group gifting platforms use secure payment processing methods to ensure the safety of participants’ information and funds. Many platforms, like Presently, use Stripe to power their payment processing. As one of the largest payment processing companies in the world, Stripe is a highly secure payment platform. It offers multiple layers of protection and advanced fraud detection to keep sensitive information safe during transactions.

ABOUT PRESENTLY Presently is a group gifting platform that gives people an easy way to contribute to a single gift, together. Designed for kids and adults alike, Presently enables communities to gift better, choosing quality over quantity. Organize a group gift here.

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