Reaching out to businesses?

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Permalink Reply by Carissa Dollar on October 9, 2010 at 11:49am

You just have to go and ask. And you have to find out what their "giving calendar" is like. Some businesses have a certain amount that they give away each month - so you are better off to ask at the beginning of the month before they deplete what they are allowed to give out. And you need to make sure you have a month or more lead time when you start asking if at all possible as this increases your chances of success. Take along a letter stating what you are asking for and including your tax exempt information. Being prepared to leave something like this with them from the start can speed things along.

If you have any Kohl's employees who have kids in your school, ask them to help you get hooked up with Kohl's. They will send volunteers AND give you a $500 donation!

Steak and Shake almost always gives us chili for our Carnival.
Texas Road House will usually give us hot dogs or spaghetti if we ask.
Sometimes GFS will give us a box of something when we are purchasing.
Olive Garden and Fazoli's has given us coupons before.
Our local roller rink will usually give us a family pass for a door prize.
Local theatres and dance companies will usually give us tickets to a performance for our Arts Night door prizes.
Best Buy will usually bring in Rock Band or Guitar Hero and run a booth with that or even take group photos and print them for us at events.
I have heard from other units that your local Wendys might be willing to put you on their tray placemats.

Think about what you need and who makes the most sense to ask for help. Think about local businesses and how you can work together. Offer to list them in your newsletter, flyers for the event or on your website as "community partners."

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Permalink Reply by Becka bossons on October 9, 2010 at 7:55pm

Thanks. For our Tricky Tray I did offer to put links on our website and put them in our program. Thats awesome about Best Buy Ill have to look into that one!

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Permalink Reply by Brian Mannix on February 2, 2011 at 3:07pm

Our PTA did an amazing fundraiser where they actually solicited donations from local business to sponsor a "property" on a Mononopoly.   The game is not called monopoly, however.  My village is called Sea Cliff so ours was called SeaCliffopoly.  They will customize it for any town.  Basically, I believe the war it works is that PTA members go around and sell the properties to businesses.  This money pays for production of the board and the pieces themselves.  The board were then sold to local families from the schools and all of that money was PTA profit.  It was a lot of work, but they raised a huge amount of money and everyone got a really cool local Monopoly game and the business got advertising that lasted for as long as the Monopoly game was around.

 

Let me now if anyone's interested and I'll find the company's contact info.  I think it was a guy in Michigan

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Smith on June 10, 2011 at 7:37pm

If anyone knows anything about that Best Buy program, share the info. I looked at their website and it did not say anything.

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Permalink Reply by Lauren McDade on June 29, 2011 at 10:03pm

I have great success with business owners.  I always try to get local small owners verses corperations.

Just don't be affair to ask.  : )

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