How to Organise A Teacher Gift from the Whole Class

How To Organise A Teacher Gift From The Whole Class

As one mum said, “I don’t have time to stalk parents in the playground!”.

Let's be honest, the thought of organising a gift from the whole class is a nightmare. Collecting cash or sharing your personal bank details (no thanks!), chasing parents to sign the card and then the diplomacy of choosing the gift.

This nightmare is actually why we started GroupTogether! We wanted to take the hassle out of organising teacher gifts, so the recipient could get a better gift - something they really want or need.

So how does it work? Well, it's pretty simple!

1. You just create a gift collection online and choose your card design, then share your personalised URL with the parents (WhatsApp, messenger, email, etc.).
2. Parents click to pay online and sign the card, no apps or sign ups required.
3. Choose from hundreds of gifts (including gift cards, flowers, hampers, plants, etc.) or withdraw the funds for a small fee. Most people give the AnyCard which lets the teacher choose from 100+ eGift Cards.

Want more information (with pictures)? Download our step-by-step guide on how to create a GroupTogether teacher gift collection.

Why It's Better To Organise A Teacher's Gift With GroupTogether

We've designed GroupTogether so it solves some of those issues you'd normally face when organising a group gift.

• It's more inclusive: You can let parents sign the card without chipping in, so regardless of their financial situation they can participate in the class gift. Parents can't see what each other are chipping in.
• It does the heavy lifting: We do the inviting, reminding, collecting, tracking and then package up the gift and card really nicely.
• You can print the card: We know you might want to have something physical to give to your teacher in person. You can download the card (and gift card) as a PDF to print and gift. It looks great and your teacher will love the special keepsake.
• You can track it all in your dashboard: No more scrolling through your bank account trying to see who has paid. Track everything in your dashboard! It's really transparent and you're in control.

What Gift To Give The Teacher

Research with over 140 Australian teachers to find out what gift they really want showed that:

• Teachers don’t expect a gift but a card is appreciated.
• If you’re going to give a gift, 88.2% of teachers preferred a group gift from the whole class rather than individual gifts.
• Teachers would really love a gift card. In fact, a card + gift card was ranked the #1 gift by 86.1% of teachers.

For more gift ideas, check out our blog on the Best Gift Ideas for Teachers and Educators.

Worried a gift card doesn't feel personal enough? Pair it with a beautiful teacher thank you card filled with messages and pics from the whole class and your teacher will be absolutely thrilled! You can do it all-in-one with GroupTogether.

Common Questions & Tips

Privacy and Safety – We’re two Sydney mums with 7 children between us. We understand the privacy issues! We don’t share your pictures or your emails.

Are Transactions Secure? – We don’t store credit card details. Transactions are encrypted to the highest level. Credit cards are processed by Checkout.com.

Fees – It's free if you give the AnyCard or choose a gift from one of our retail partners (gift cards, hampers, etc.). If you want to transfer the money to your bank account, there's a flat 2% fee. Check out our pricing page for more info.

Got More Than One Teacher? – There’s one card that parents can sign per collection. So, either write a title like “Thank you Miss Manning, Mr McGoo & Miss McGee” or create a separate collection for each recipient. You can split the total amount collected among gifts for multiple teachers.

What's The Average Amount That Parents Contribute? – Most classes state on the invitation, “There’s no obligation at all, but if you’d like to contribute …“. You can either specify a set amount or leave it open and suggest a range. Generally, we’ve found that people collect about $20 per child for a teacher but it’s up to you.

Can You Print The Card? – Yes. It’s super cute! Print it at home or take it to be printed on card for about $2 at Officeworks.

How Long Does It Take For People To Contribute? – Give people as long or little as you like. We find that sometimes short times (2 -3 days) can work a treat to get people moving. After all, they can pay online from their phone via direct debit or credit card.

Which Gift Cards Do You Offer? – We have 100+ brands like Myer, David Jones, Woolies, Rebel Sport, JB HiFi, endota spa and many more. The brilliant thing is that we let the recipient choose if you give the AnyCard. We'll send you a voucher to give or forward. The teacher clicks the link and a beautiful digital gift box opens and lets them choose the gift card they really want.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best online platforms to buy class gifts?

For a stress-free group gift from the whole class, use GroupTogether. It does all the heavy lifting: the money collecting, the card and even sorts the gift. You can give an AnyCard which lets the teacher choose from 100+ eGift Cards. 

What are effective tools for collecting money for a teacher’s gift?

Set up a GroupTogether collection, choose your card design, share the link and let the platform do the money collection, tracking and create an awesome card. Old school bank transfers = chaos. Hard pass.

Are there platforms that help organise group gifts for teachers?

Yes - GroupTogether was built by 2 Sydney mums for exactly this. It's by far the easiest way to collect money for a class teacher gift in Australia. 

Can I organise a class gift without sharing my bank details?

Absolutely. GroupTogether lets you collect money for a gift without sharing your bank details. Payments are processed securely online and they'll appear instantly in your online gift collection. 

How do I invite parents to a class gift via WhatsApp, email or SMS?

Copy your unique GroupTogether link and paste it into WhatsApp groups, email threads or SMS. Simple!

How do I set a deadline and send reminders for a teacher group gift?

Set the close date in your GroupTogether dashboard. If you need to extend the close date, you can log in to your dashboard and update this. If you've invited the group via email, automated reminders go out.

Can parents sign a shared teacher card digitally?

Yes. With GroupTogether, parents can add messages and photos/GIFs to the card online and even from their phone.

How much should parents contribute to a teacher gift in Australia?

The common range is $10–$30 per child (we see an average of $20). Pick what suits your class; inclusivity beats pressure every time.

Can contributors choose their own amount for the class gift?

Yes. With GroupTogether you can choose for people to contribute a set amount, any amount or even let people sign the card without contributing. If you'd like, you can suggest a range in your message to the group.

What payment methods can parents use for a GroupTogether collection?

In Australia, GroupTogether accepts Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, AMEX (and Apple Pay and Google Pay). 

Are there fees to use GroupTogether for teacher gifts?

No! It's free if you give the AnyCard or choose a gift from one of our retail partners (gift cards, hampers, etc.). If you want to transfer the money to your bank account, there's a flat 2% fee. Check out our pricing page for more info.

What are the best teacher gift ideas if we’re doing one gift from the class?

Most teachers really want a gift card, and paired with a card from the whole class this is both personal and practical. The ultimate teacher gift is the GroupTogether AnyCard. It lets them choose from 100+ leading brands so they can spend it on anything like a massage (endota spa), books (Dymocks), tech (JB HiFi), travel (Airbnb) or even just put it towards that monster end-of-year grocery shop (Woolies). Browse the full range of eGift Cards in our Gift Guide.

Do teachers prefer a gift card or a physical gift from the class?

Most prefer a gift card (in fact - 86.1% according to our survey of 140 teachers in Oct 2025), plus a heartfelt card from the kids. Practical + personal = winner.

Which gift cards can a teacher choose with GroupTogether AnyCard?

Heaps of popular Aussie brands (think Myer, David Jones, JB Hi-Fi, Woolies, endota spa, Airbnb, Rebel Sport, BCF, The ICONIC and more). They pick...no re-gifting pile.

Can I withdraw the funds to buy a gift myself?

Yep. In Australia, you can withdraw the funds to buy your own gift (there's a flat 2% fee) or choose a gift directly in our platform (no fee on these).

How do we collect messages and photos from the class for the teacher card?

Just share your unique GroupTogether card link. Parents add messages and photos/GIFs online, and it all lays out beautifully - no glue sticks required.

Can parents sign the card without contributing money?

Yes. You can choose to make signing open to all (contributions optional), so every family can be part of the thank-you card.

Can I download and print my GroupTogether card at Officeworks?

Sure can! Download the PDF from your dashboard and print at home or Officeworks. It looks schmick.

Is GroupTogether safe for organising teacher gifts?

Yes. It's built with privacy in mind, secure payments and no sharing of personal data or photos.

Can other parents see how much I contributed?

No. Contribution amounts are private from the group - only the organiser can see.

How is my payment information protected?

Transactions are encrypted to the highest level. Payments are processed by Checkout.com (in Australia) and Stripe (in the U.S.). GroupTogether doesn’t store card details. 

Can I track who has contributed and who has signed the card?

Yes. Your dashboard shows contributions and signatures in real-time. Transparency and control...but make it pretty.

When should we start a class teacher gift collection before end-of-term?

We've been doing this a loooong time now (10+ years!) and we see that 2–3 weeks out is standard. Although a shorter timeframe like 3 - 5 days still works. 

How long should I keep a teacher gift collection open?

We find 7–14 days hits the sweet spot. It's long enough for pay cycles, short enough to keep momentum.

What happens if some parents miss the deadline?

Life happens; we get it. If you need to extend the closing date for a GroupTogether collection or card, you can reopen it from your dashboard.

How do we organise a gift for multiple teachers or assistants?

You can create one collection with a card addressed to all teachers/educators/assistants then split the total amount across multiple gifts and eGift Cards. Or do separate collections per person. Both work.

How do we do a farewell, maternity leave or retirement teacher gift?

It's super easy with GroupTogether! Create a collection, choose a card, share the link with parents and everyone signs and chips in for the gift online.

How do you organise a preschool or daycare teacher gift from the class?

You can organise a preschool or daycare teacher gift with GroupTogether as well! Just create a collection, choose a card, share the link with parents and everyone signs and contributes for the gift online.

What’s a polite message to invite parents to contribute (no pressure)?

"Hi parents, 

I'm sure you'll all agree that Mr Lacey Smith has gone above and beyond this year! If you'd like to chip in for a gift and card from the whole class, please join this GroupTogether. $15 - $25 per child is plenty, but give what you like."

Or for a group of teachers...

"Hi parents, 

We would like to offer our class the opportunity to contribute towards gifts for the Year 5 teachers. Together, we are able to give something meaningful and special for each of the teachers who have provided a wonderful year of growth and learning under their guidance. You can contribute easily and securely online via the link and please, please add a photo of your child for the card - it’s what the teachers would love the most. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions."

Is $20 per child enough for a meaningful teacher gift?

Yes. Pooled together, $20 a child turns into a generous gift! If there's 25 in the class...thats $500 (wow!).

How to organise a Thank You Teacher gift when you don’t know all the parents?

Ask the teacher/office for the class email list policy, or start with the parents you do know and let the link snowball.

How do I resend the invitation link to parents who can’t find it?

Copy the link from your GroupTogether dashboard and resend via WhatsApp/email. Pin it in the chat so it doesn’t vanish.

Meet the experts

Ali + Julie

Co-Founders, GroupTogether.

Life’s busy. That’s why we’re here to make it easy for you to collect money from a group. Less wasted time, less packaging waste, and spending a little less but giving a lot better!