How it works

Three simple steps

Our board stewards the movement of money from Berkeley neighbors with enough to share to neighbors who could use a bit of support. Your generous donations and our caring agency partners propel this community driven cycle, year after year. Getting contributions from your heart directly into community mailboxes is something we keep purposefully simple.

  1. You give

    Every November we solicit donations, mailing around 5,000 letters, each with a return envelope (and now a QR code connecting to our website). Generous gifts come back through the mail and the website.

  2. Social workers nominate

    Our partner agencies — from youth centers to senior service hubs — work with residents year-round. Their caseworkers know who could use a breath of fresh air and a reminder that their community is thinking of them. We entrust them to send us the shortlist.

    Families and individuals don’t need to apply and there is never any direct contact. We believe this matters as it removes the part of asking for help that people dread most. The actual asking.

  3. Gifts arrive in December

    For years the board has gathered in December around somebody’s kitchen table and stuffed roughly 1,100 checks in envelopes addressed by hand. Now we distribute the cash gift cards via our partners in early December of amounts from $100 to $250, sized to the household. While our process continues to evolve, we still feel connected to each gift, to each name on each envelope.

We believe in keeping it simple

Our commitment to keeping the Holiday Fund streamlined and simple is one of the reasons our tradition has endured. That and the endless generosity of our donors who continue to value our neighbor to neighbor approach.

The gift is unrestricted cash. We don’t ask what it’s for. There is no application, no interview, and no reporting requirement.

There are no strings attached. No conditions placed on recipients and no expectation of thanks.

We rely on our partners to gather the recipients. A caseworker gives us a name and an address so the gift can reach the person. We don’t build a database of people, and we never write to them asking for anything.

We are an all-volunteer board. We meet at each other’s homes and keep expenses low. We believe this approach has sustained the Fund for over a hundred years and hope it will continue to for the next one hundred years.

Year-round lifeline

The James M. Kaye Emergency Fund

The December campaign is our main work, but tough times don’t check the calendar before showing up. When sudden emergencies hit during the rest of the year — a surprise utility shutoff, sudden repair, or urgent medical expense — our partner caseworkers can call on the James M. Kaye Emergency Fund for swift, discreet help.

A caseworker sends a short request and we turn it around often inside 24 to 48 hours, up to $300. Our hope is that the money lands before the situation gets worse and we’re able to offer meaningful support.

What it typically covers

We focus on emergency expenses. A car repair that determines whether someone keeps their job. Help with a security deposit that makes a housing placement possible. A replacement mattress after an eviction. A prescription that isn’t covered.

Ready to give?

Donations are tax-deductible. The Berkeley Holiday Fund is a registered 501(c)(3).

Donate now See our partner agencies