A volunteer-powered campaign that collects new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) toys, games, and books to help expand access to STEM exploration and inspire future innovators

Each STEM Gift Drive community partners with an approved local charitable organization that receives and distributes the gifts collected in that community. Visit Our Communities in the main menu to learn about the local beneficiary and campaign in each area.

New, unwrapped STEM toys, games, books, kits, and other items related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, primarily for middle- and high-school youth. Visit our Gift Guide for details.

Absolutely! Businesses, organizations, clubs, living communities, families, and other groups can host a STEM Gift Drive collection. Use our Host a Collection form to sign up.

The official annual campaign begins November 1 and concludes with Elfing Day on or near December 21.

Collection hosts are also welcome to organize STEM gift collections at other times during the year. The volunteer team works all year planning and supporting the campaign, so if you have a different time frame in mind for your group or business we can still be there to support you.

The final collection of gifts (when all collected gifts are dropped off) is at our Elfing Day event.

Please note that if you hold the drive earlier in the year you must have a place to store the gifts; we don’t have a storage facility or office to hold items until Elfing Day.

It’s one of our favorite STEM Gift Drive traditions! Elfing Day is our annual final collection day, when local collection hosts and individual donors bring together the STEM gifts they’ve collected. Each community hosts its own Elfing Day or final collection activities, so check your local STEM Gift Drive page for details.

This is the day we take photos of the gifts collected and turn over all gifts to the recipient charity.

No. The STEM Gift Drive is a secular initiative and is not affiliated with any religious organization or holiday. Our primary campaign takes place during the year-end giving season, allowing donors to take advantage of seasonal sales and promotions while offering a STEM-focused alternative—or additional giving opportunity—to other seasonal gift drives.

Depending on the local beneficiary and how they intend to distribute them, gifts may be given during the holiday season or used to support STEM programming and youth engagement throughout the year.

For further clarity please see our Inclusion & Belonging Statement.

Absolutely! Choose the STEM Gift Drive community you’d like to support. Each community page includes its local Amazon Wish List and, when available, a link to make a monetary contribution directly to that community’s charitable beneficiary.

STEM Gift Drive volunteers do not directly accept monetary donations.

Our charitable partners may provide dedicated online giving options for individuals who prefer to give financially or for groups that want to host fundraisers. Contributions made through these portals go directly to the benefiting charitable organization and are designated to support the STEM Gift Drive partnership. This allows us to include those contributions in our campaign impact while ensuring the funds are used for the purposes established with our charitable partner.

Any charitable donation acknowledgment or receipt must be provided by the charitable organization receiving the gifts, and procedures may vary by beneficiary. If you would like to request a receipt, please complete our Donation Form and follow the instructions for your local STEM Gift Drive community. If you need a receipt and are unsure of the requirements, contact STEM Gift Drive before donating so we can help you confirm the appropriate process.

On the collection host registration form you can mark that you want to be a “private” collection host (rather than listed on our site). We will then provide you all of the resources and communications for the gift drive, but you won’t be listed on our site or mentioned on social media.

Similarly, individuals wishing to give anonymously are welcome to drop off gifts, send them through the Amazon Wish List, or otherwise provide support without providing personal or contact information.

0% – Our volunteers do not receive any compensation or reimbursement for expenses. Our time and resources are voluntarily given to support the STEM Gift Drive efforts. 100% of gifts are given directly to the charity for distribution to youth.

While the charity does have its own operating and administrative expenses, all gifts collected in the STEM Gift Drive simply go directly to youth in their programs.