Donation Policy

Bright Candles Collective

Bright Candles Collective is a community-led initiative dedicated to ensuring that all children feel celebrated on their birthdays, regardless of financial circumstances. To keep our program safe, dignified, and sustainable, we follow clear guidelines for all donations.

By donating, you agree to the policies below.

1. What We Accept

We gratefully accept new or gently used items that are:

✔ Clean and in good condition
✔ Safe and age-appropriate
✔ Neutral, adaptable, and inclusive
✔ Free from strong scents or allergens
✔ Suitable for a wide range of children

Examples of accepted items:

  • Birthday decorations (banners, balloons, table décor)

  • Party supplies (plates, cups, hats, candles)

  • Craft kits and activity sets

  • Small toys or games

  • Gift bags and wrapping supplies

  • Books (new or like-new)

  • Art supplies

2. What We Cannot Accept

To protect families and ensure safety, we are unable to accept:

✖ Used plush toys or stuffed animals
✖ Clothing or shoes
✖ Food or homemade baked goods
✖ Broken, damaged, or heavily worn items
✖ Items with violent, adult, or explicit themes
✖ Religious or political materials
✖ Personalized items (with names, dates, etc.)
✖ Large furniture or bulky items

If you’re unsure about an item, please contact us before donating.

3. Donation Approval Process

To keep things organized and manageable during our pilot phase:

  1. All in-kind donations must be approved in advance

  2. Donors complete a short intake form

  3. We confirm what we can accept

  4. Drop-off or pickup is scheduled

This allows us to maintain quality, fairness, and storage limits.

4. How Donations Are Used

Donations may be used for:

• Birthday party kits
• Decorations and activity stations
• Gift packages
• Community events
• Program infrastructure

Not every donated item is guaranteed to be used for a specific child immediately, but every item supports our mission directly.

5. Storage & Handling

All donations are:

• Logged into our internal inventory system
• Sorted by category
• Stored securely
• Distributed based on program needs

We do our best to use items responsibly and thoughtfully.

6. Monetary Donations

Monetary donations may be used for:

• Venue rentals
• Party supplies
• Gifts
• Transportation
• Program operations
• Outreach and community events

We operate with transparency and intention. During our pilot phase, we are building our reporting and accountability systems.

7. Privacy & Dignity

We are committed to protecting the dignity of the families we serve.

We never:
• Share family names or identifying details
• Share photos without written consent
• Publicly link donors to specific families
• Create “sponsor-to-child” dynamics

Our focus is on celebration — not charity spectacle.

8. Right of Refusal

Bright Candles Collective reserves the right to refuse any donation that does not align with our safety, dignity, or capacity guidelines.

This helps us protect the families we serve and the sustainability of our program.