01/07/2026
We’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on this season and listening to our members, our families, and our sponsors. With that in mind, we’re making some important changes to our structure for next year.
For the upcoming season, applications will open one full month earlier than they did this year, and all gifting will be completed in November. This year, we kept gifting open into December to allow space for last-minute applications, because turning families away is never easy. However, we’ve come to realize that continuing into December places an overwhelming amount of pressure on our members and creates unnecessary stress during a time that should be filled with joy, not burnout.
These changes are not about doing less, they’re about doing better. We want to protect the well-being of the volunteers, admins, and sponsors who pour so much of their time, hearts, and energy into making Christmas magic happen for families across Michigan.
We will also be requiring sponsors to share their tracking links for purchased items. This allows families to follow their deliveries directly and removes the extra strain of us having to act as the middle-man for every update, helping communication feel clearer and more empowering for everyone involved.
We are making a few additional updates behind the scenes as well, all with the same goal in mind: to create a season that feels more organized, more supportive, and more sustainable. We truly hope these changes lead to a smoother, calmer, and more joyful experience for our entire community next year because the magic we create together matters, and so do the people creating it.
- The Magic Elf Project Team (TMEP)
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢’𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴