2026 IMPORTANT DATES:
October 1- Applications open for trees and silent auction items
October 27- Mandatory tree meeting {two options: 9:00am or 7pm} @ Conference Center
October 27- Bidder registration and Event tickets (for bidders only) open
November 24- Tree and silent auction set up at Convention Center [9am to 6pm]
November 27/28- Tree View for the public (11am-8pm Friday and 11am-6pm Saturday)
November 30- Gala and Auction
December 1- Tree delivery [7:30am -11:00am]
We encourage all donors to promote their trees and/or charity within the community. Finding and engaging a buyer can greatly increase the success of donations to a charity.
A submitted application does not guarantee a participation spot. All applications will be reviewed and vetted. We reserve the right to decline any application for any reason.
If recipient is a group or organization, it must be registered, or in the approval process of being approved, as a 501c3. If proof of registration is not available, recipient will be denied.
If recipient is an individual, we encourage you to seek permission from that individual. This is the responsibility of the tree donor.
An individual or group cannot donate a tree and/or silent auction item that will directly benefit themselves, anyone in their household, or anyone in their immediate family.
An individual or group cannot donate a tree and/or silent auction item that will benefit a charity or organization for which they oversee or sit on the board of said charity or organization, unless it is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3).
No funds will be issued to the donor or sponsor, anyone in their household, or anyone in their immediate family.
All funds raised for a charity, organization, or individual must be used as described in the charity description. If you are unsure of how the funds will be used, you need to verify this with the charity, organization, or individual.
Any organization listed as the recipient must have an established bank account, matching the recipient name, where the funds can be deposited. Trees for Charity will only issue checks to the organization/individual listed in the application.
General Guidelines
Important Information
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All tree builders and contact persons are required to attend a mandatory tree building meeting. See dates and times above. All classes will be held at the Conference Center. Reminders will be sent to builders as date gets closer
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All trees and silent auction items need to be built/dropped off at the Convention Center on tree set-up day in the specified timeframe (see dates and times above)
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Nothing can be attached to the walls or floor of the Convention Center
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Information on Donors/Recipients/Buyers will not be given out, except to coordinate delivery of trees
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The complete cost of trees/accessories/silent auction items must be declared on the day of set up. This includes all material costs as well as the dollar amount for all donations.
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Tree builders are responsible for the delivery of the tree to the place the buyer has indicated. Deliveries must be made by 11:00am the day after the auction. If someone else volunteers to deliver your tree, the event committee will alert you. Otherwise, you will be given contact information and it is your responsibility to coordinate delivery.
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Charity recipients are limited to 1 tree and 2 silent auction items. If you have chosen a charity that has been duplicated, you will be contacted by the event committee and allowed to choose another charity.
Tree Requirements
- If tree is pre-built off-site, be aware that the doors into the convention center are limited in height and your tree may have to be tilted or laid down to get through the doors
- Tree spaces are restricted to 5 ft x 5 ft and no additional room/space will be given. Please plan so the tree and all of the contents fit in this 5x5 space
- A traditional Christmas tree must be the focal point of your tree display
- All items on and around the tree will be included in the auction and sold. This includes pictures, stands, and everything else
- All trees must be new and come with their original box
- All trees must be at least 7.5 feet tall (new this year and no exceptions will be made) and have a strong metal stand (plastic stands will not be allowed). Tree height does not include any base that it is standing on. Once set up, the tree stand should no longer fold, move, or come apart so that it can be easily transported and placed in a new location. The event committee reserves the right to place screws and other reinforcements in the base of your tree if necessary
- All trees must be pre-lit
- All trees must be reinforced with 1/4 inch rebar, that is placed on the outside of the trunk, reaching from the base/stand to at least halfway up the top section of the tree. This rebar must be zip-tied or secured onto the tree at least once in each section. Note that it may take more than one piece of rebar to meet this requirement. Rebar will be provided by the event committee during the tree building meeting.
- All sections of the tree, after assembly, must be zip-tied or wired together where the sections of the tree connect so that they no longer come apart.
- All trees must be fully decorated. All sides and angles must have the same amount of decorating.
- Every item placed on the tree must be wired on to the tree. This includes sprays, decorations, garland, pictures, displays, etc...
- The tree should be decorated with items that won't cause stress or break in the tree while it is being moved and delivered.
- Battery operated lights and ornaments are discouraged. If you choose to have battery operated decor, you will have to make arrangements for someone to turn them on/off manually for the tree view and the evening of the auction. The committee is not responsible to turn on or off anything.
-If bigger items or pieced together/built on site items are left under or around your tree, they must be secured together so they move in one piece. This applies to tree stands, big props, etc...
-Once the trees (including all items on it and around it) are left at the conference center, they become the property of Trees for Charity and we reserve the right to move them around as we see fit until the event is over.
Silent Auction Requirements
- All things left with the silent auction item will be auctioned and sold. This includes stands, display items, etc...
-Silent auction items are expected to fit in their designated spot and be displayed on top of a table. Any items that won't fit on a table, must be approved in advance by the committee
- Trees larger than 4 feet will not be accepted for silent auction items
- All silent auction items must fit on and be displayed on top of the display table
- Maximum item space is 3 feet across x 2 feet deep. If your item takes up additional space, you will be required to purchase additional space at the time of drop off
-Once items are left at the conference center, they become the property of Trees for Charity and we reserve the right to move them around as we see fit until the event is over