Articles
Guides and articles on getting product donations and running better fundraisers. For the fill-in templates, checklists, and planners that go with them, see free fundraising resources.
Which Companies Donate to Schools and PTAs? — Twelve companies schools and PTAs can ask for product donations — auction and raffle prizes, carnival and class-party items, books and supplies.
Which Companies Donate Products to Fundraisers? — Many national companies donate products to fundraisers. See 15 strong examples, grouped by gift cards, tickets, merchandise, and food.
Which Companies Donate Silent Auction Items? — Hotels and resorts, pro sports teams, and premium brands donate silent auction items. See 12 bid-worthy companies and why the ask must go out early.
What Companies Donate Raffle Prizes? — Gift cards, family activity passes, treats, and merchandise brands make the best raffle prizes. See 12 companies to ask and how to request them fast.
Which Companies Donate to Youth Sports Teams? — Yes — sporting goods companies, restaurants, and pro teams donate gear, food, and tickets youth teams use for raffles and banquets. See who to ask.
What Should a Donation Request Letter Include? — A donation request letter needs six things - who you are, the event and date, the ask, a deadline, tax status, and your thank-you plan. Template inside.
What Do Companies Require Before They Donate? — Most donation programs ask for tax-exempt proof, event details, and pickup logistics. Here is the checklist companies commonly request before donating.
Do You Need a 501(c)(3) to Get Product Donations? — No law requires a 501(c)(3) to ask for donations, but most company programs request tax-exempt documentation. Here are your options without one.
Fundraiser Donation Questions, Answered — How community organizations get donated products for fundraisers — who donates, how to ask, when to ask, and what the rules are.
Do Hotels and Resorts Donate Stays to Fundraisers? — Yes. Hotels, resorts, and cruise lines donate stays and travel to fundraisers. See which companies to ask, from Ritz-Carlton properties to Vail.
How Do You Ask a Company for a Donation? — Find the right contact or process, make a specific dated ask, include your organization's details, and follow up once. Steps and scripts inside.
Which Restaurants Donate to Fundraisers? — Yes — many restaurant chains donate gift cards and food to fundraisers. See who to ask, and how donations differ from percentage nights.
Do Pro Sports Teams Donate Tickets and Memorabilia? — Yes — many pro and college teams donate game tickets and signed team memorabilia to fundraisers. See which teams have programs and how requests route.
Which Theme Parks and Attractions Donate Tickets? — Yes — theme parks, museums, zoos, and activity centers donate tickets to fundraisers. See 17 attractions with donor pages and how to ask.
Who Decides Donation Requests — Corporate or the Local Store? — It depends on the company: some centralize donation requests, some let local managers decide, and many split approval by request size.
Chasing Down Donors, or Is It Herding Cats — Truly personal connections with partner organizations and donors is paramount to keeping them engaged. It becomes easier to get hold them in times of need if they enjoy their conversations with you...
7 Innovative Free (or Near to It) Technology Solutions for Nonprofits — We have finally had some time to take a look at various technology services that users have been hyping up. This list is a compilation of a handful of services which deserve to be highlight. Many o...
What type of auction is right for your event? — While I was working on this article, I had an opportunity to work with a few small local non-profit organizations. The first thing we did was figure out how to successfully implement an auction: yo...
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Running a Nonprofit — t isn’t what we do but how we do it that determines the success of a nonprofit organization. Having the most important mission is not enough for your organization to get its feet off the ground, or...
Requesting Donations – Tips and Tricks — When figuring out appropriate donors to target for your organization/event, start with an outline of who/what/where/why/when/how to better understand how your organization’s mission fits with the d...
Keep Donors on Board…Changed Their Mind! — The core issues of fundraising for any non-profit organization have been around for a long time. To strengthen your organization’s success in raising funds, it is key to always ask yourself questio...
The Ultimate Donor List — UltimateDonations is for anyone wanting to increase their organization’s fundraising efforts even if they don’t know where to start. Indeed, raising funds can be challenging! We have compiled the u...