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!
Tips & Inspo
How to Organize a Teacher Appreciation Gift from the Whole Class
So, you’re a nice parent. You want to show your gratitude. After all, that teacher has looked after your precious child all year! But you’re also a realist. What gift can you buy for $20 … because no teacher needs another 20 mugs (or scented candles). A class group gift for the teacher would be much better – and everyone can spend a little less but give something really good. But ugh … how can it happen without the hassle!
By Ali + Julie
Last updated on October 7, 2025
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 organizing 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 group 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!
- You just create a gift collection online and choose your card design, then share your personalised URL with the parents (WhatsApp, messenger, email, etc.).
- Parents click to pay online and sign the card, so apps or sign ups required.
- Choose from hundreds of gifts (including gift cards, flowers, hampers, plants, etc.).
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 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 100 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, 96.9% of teachers preferred a group gift from the whole class rather than individual gifts.
- Teachers would really love a gift card, in fact, that was the preferred gift by 90.7% of teachers.
For more gift ideas, check out our blog the Best Gift Ideas for Teachers.
Worried a gift card doesn't feel personal enough? Pair it with a beautiful group 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 Aussie mums with 7 school 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 Stripe.
Fees – The group card is a one-time fee of $5.50. Most gift cards are fee-free, but a few select gift cards have a 5% fee. Check out our FAQs for more info.
You might be wondering
Yes. GroupTogether was founded by two Australian mothers who designed the platform with family privacy in mind. Photos and email addresses are never shared with other participants, and no credit card details are stored. All transactions are encrypted and processed securely through Stripe, one of the world's leading payment processors.
There's no obligation to contribute any set amount. Most classes suggest a range and include a note like "there's no obligation at all, but if you'd like to contribute…". Based on GroupTogether's experience across thousands of collections, classes typically raise around $20 per child for a teacher gift, though the amount is entirely up to the organiser.
Yes. GroupTogether allows parents to sign the group card and leave a personal message without making a financial contribution, so every family can participate regardless of their budget.
You can set any timeframe. Shorter deadlines of 2–3 days often work well to prompt quick responses, since parents can pay directly from their phone using a credit card or direct debit no app download or account creation needed.
Yes, in two ways. You can either create a single collection with a combined title (e.g. "Thank you Miss Manning, Mr McGoo & Miss McGee"), or set up a separate collection for each teacher.
Yes. The card can be downloaded as a PDF and printed at home, or professionally printed on card stock for around $2 at FedEx. Many organisers find this a meaningful physical keepsake to hand to the teacher in person.
GroupTogether offers 150+ gift card brands, including Amazon, Airbnb, and GrubHub. The AnyCard option lets the teacher choose the gift card brand they prefer they receive a voucher link that opens a digital gift box where they can select the brand they want most.
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