The program works by selecting families and homeless people who have registered with the recipient Social Service agencies . These families are interviewed to ascertain their current needs. Their requests are printed on cards and distributed to host companies throughout the Bay Area and placed on Giving Trees. Many of the hosts place their Giving Trees in break areas or cafeterias so their employees can participate in the program. Other hosts place their Giving Trees in more public locations such as building lobbies where customers, as well as employees, may donate gifts.
Volunteers collect, sort and distribute the gifts to the recipient agencies.
Over the years, the Family Giving Tree has been the subject of several local interest newspaper articles and TV news reports throughout the Bay Area.