Youth fundraising with exponential impact.
Why choose us?
Backpack Dreams is changing the world, one youth fundraiser at a time!
We’ve created a more impactful fundraising experience by replacing the typical catalog items with high-quality products made by artisans in developing countries and by women in the U.S. who are rebuilding their lives—overcoming addiction, reintegrating after incarceration, or finding hope after surviving trafficking and exploitation.
An impressive 40% of each dollar raised supports your youth program! The rest helps provide sustainable work to the women who craft each Backpack Dreams item by hand.
And thanks to our dedication to holistic education, our fundraising program is designed to teach children about social impact, career paths, and ethical product sourcing throughout the process.
Expand impact: Donate Backpacks!
When you fundraise with Backpack Dreams, customers can donate a backpack directly to a child in Guatemala while also supporting the local youth program.
Innovative & Impactful Fundraising
Educational Enrichment
We provide teachers and students with high-impact video content that connects their fundraising efforts to real-world lessons. It’s important that students can see and understand how their actions impact themselves, their communities, and their broader world.
Nothing is more effective than experiential learning. Backpack Dreams uses a holistic learning approach to educate students about philanthropy and social impact.
We aim to empower young people by igniting a passion for change and helping them develop useful life-skills.
Economic and Social Impact
Our fundraisers provide a sustainable source of income to women, creating a ripple effect of positive change as they reinvest these earnings into improving their communities and educating their families.
Did you know?
On average, when students sell 15 items in a fundraiser, they create a week of work for our artisan partners.
Convenient & Hassle-Free Fundraising
We offer a simple, turnkey fundraising program where participants earn 40% of the total sales.
Throughout the program:
We provide all the materials you need to run a successful fundraiser
You’ll sell premium high-quality, products made by women who participate in social enterprises
You will have an easy-to-use online store for customer shopping
Simple order fulfillment: no pick-ups or drop-offs necessary! We ship items directly to customers from our US-based hub
Exclusive access to holistic education enrichment videos.
How to Fundraise with Us
Register
1
Kick off by registering your group or organization through the contact form below.
Schedule
2
Plan your fundraising event at a time that works for you.
Distribute
3
Share the provided fundraising materials, including access to our digital marketplace and educational content, with your group.
Engage
4
Support your group as they participate and explore the provided materials.
Celebrate
5
Enjoy the success of your fundraiser as you receive your check along with a detailed impact report.
As simple as that - we’ll take care of everything else and guide you through each step of the process!
Not running a fundraiser but want to support our mission?
Make a difference with us!
Here are two ways you can get involved without registering for a fundraiser:
Refer Someone
Refer a school group, teacher, coach, or anyone who would love to raise money in a meaningful way. Consider clubs, arts & music programs, and educational teams.
Become a Dreamer
If you’re inspired by our mission and have talents to help bring this program nationwide, get in touch. Our community of Dreamers is always growing! We’ll keep you updated with all the news and opportunities.
Our Team
Kara Valentine
-
A visionary Social Impact Entrepreneur, Kara has been a transformative force in the social enterprise space, notably with Threads Worldwide, which empowers women through fair trade artisan jewelry.
Her academic journey at Tufts University and the University of Denver in which she achieved a Masters of Counseling Psychology shaped her into an innovative thought leader and humanitarian, deeply committed to fostering global citizenship and empowering student engagement.
With over 15 years in the non-profit sector, Kara's holistic leadership approach has significantly impacted community development and educational opportunities, driven by her passion and inspired by her two daughters.
Ellen Goldstein
-
With over 30 years of experience, Ellen stands out as a strategic advisor and program innovator in both nonprofit and corporate sectors.
Her expertise, honed with a Master of Social Work and specialized nonprofit management training, has led to pivotal roles, including Chief Operating Officer of a major $20 million nonprofit, and Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) which has a budget of $1.2 billion. Additionally, Ellen was an adjunct professor at the University of Denver’s Daniels School of Business.
Her commitment to ethical product sourcing and social responsibility in education extends beyond her professional achievements, reflecting her passion for international travel, philanthropy, and empowerment through education, all while being a devoted mother to her Guatemalan-born daughter.
Contact US
We’d love to hear from you and welcome your participation in our mission. Whether you're ready to start a fundraiser, have questions about our approach, or want to join the Backpack Dreams community, we’re here to support and advise you every step of the way.
Email