So you want something for free?
Part of my job is to fulfill donation requests. Every museum, school and church has a silent auction/dinner/gala/sock hop to raise money. Great idea. Each group asks for donations to auction off. Once again, great idea.
However, it is a bad idea to call chadini 8 times and send salty e-mails wanting free stuff when chadini has already sent it out. So maybe this will be helpful to anyone that wants to raise money for their herb garden in the city or whatever.
1. Most groups want to give you free stuff. Every museum, lots of restaurants, sports teams and just about anything you can think of wants to help the community. It boosts their karma and they look good. And it is free publicity. Don't be afraid to ask your favorite restaurant for a certificate or your favorite team for tickets.
2. As Mr. Patrick Swayze has said in my favorite movie Road House, you need to be nice. This really is a bonus because it goes a long way in other areas too. BE NICE. Don't demand that I send you a gift basket. We usually just send admission passes unless you are a big donor. Don't whine and pout that I am only sending you a package worth 30 bucks. Combine it with a dinner out and maybe a limo or hotel, and you have a nice package. In this economy, you can't pound your fists on my desk and scream at me. Honestly, that will get your request lost.
3. Send your request in writing. Please don't call 8 times. Most organizations have a process, and it is usually on their website. I have between 10-50 of these a week (it completely fluctuates) so I don't have time to play phone tag with you. Make it look like you really want what we have to offer and that our donation will be helpful to you. Most organizations also require 6-8 weeks out to process requests, so be mindful of that. A panic on your part does not necessitate a panic on my part.
4. Please only send one request. In this day and age we are all using labels and excel lists, so please double check that you are only sending one out to each organization. They will likely all go to the same person and they will think you are a greedy bastard. You aren't fooling anyone. Just send one. Only one. One.
5. Check with the rest of your committee (and your mailbox) before you call to follow up. I had a group last week get all salty with me telling me how they sent a request on such and such date and how it was rude for me not to tell them one way or another if we could help. After a game of e-mail volley, I informed the group that I did receive the request and I sent it to such and such guy at such and such address. I also told them to call me back if they did not receive anything. Hmmm...I didn't hear anything back.
6. Send a thank you letter along with anything from the event listing the donor's name. It is only fair and it makes the donor think that you are on the ball. Some groups are more selective in who they donate to, so you want to rise above the chuckleheads.
That is all I have and I hope it is helpful to someone.
However, it is a bad idea to call chadini 8 times and send salty e-mails wanting free stuff when chadini has already sent it out. So maybe this will be helpful to anyone that wants to raise money for their herb garden in the city or whatever.
1. Most groups want to give you free stuff. Every museum, lots of restaurants, sports teams and just about anything you can think of wants to help the community. It boosts their karma and they look good. And it is free publicity. Don't be afraid to ask your favorite restaurant for a certificate or your favorite team for tickets.
2. As Mr. Patrick Swayze has said in my favorite movie Road House, you need to be nice. This really is a bonus because it goes a long way in other areas too. BE NICE. Don't demand that I send you a gift basket. We usually just send admission passes unless you are a big donor. Don't whine and pout that I am only sending you a package worth 30 bucks. Combine it with a dinner out and maybe a limo or hotel, and you have a nice package. In this economy, you can't pound your fists on my desk and scream at me. Honestly, that will get your request lost.
3. Send your request in writing. Please don't call 8 times. Most organizations have a process, and it is usually on their website. I have between 10-50 of these a week (it completely fluctuates) so I don't have time to play phone tag with you. Make it look like you really want what we have to offer and that our donation will be helpful to you. Most organizations also require 6-8 weeks out to process requests, so be mindful of that. A panic on your part does not necessitate a panic on my part.
4. Please only send one request. In this day and age we are all using labels and excel lists, so please double check that you are only sending one out to each organization. They will likely all go to the same person and they will think you are a greedy bastard. You aren't fooling anyone. Just send one. Only one. One.
5. Check with the rest of your committee (and your mailbox) before you call to follow up. I had a group last week get all salty with me telling me how they sent a request on such and such date and how it was rude for me not to tell them one way or another if we could help. After a game of e-mail volley, I informed the group that I did receive the request and I sent it to such and such guy at such and such address. I also told them to call me back if they did not receive anything. Hmmm...I didn't hear anything back.
6. Send a thank you letter along with anything from the event listing the donor's name. It is only fair and it makes the donor think that you are on the ball. Some groups are more selective in who they donate to, so you want to rise above the chuckleheads.
That is all I have and I hope it is helpful to someone.