Which Bookstores and Toy Companies Donate to Fundraisers?

Among bookstores in our directory, Books-A-Million donates a $20 gift card to fundraisers, and Barnes & Noble supports schools and nonprofits through Bookfairs that earn a share of sales rather than through donated items. Among toy and craft companies, Oriental Trading Company takes requests nationally, while Crayola and Vermont Teddy Bear donate only near their home communities. Several famous toy names, including Build-A-Bear Workshop, American Girl and Toys R Us, show no active donation program right now.

Bookstores

Books-A-Million: a $20 gift card by email

Books-A-Million's policy form says it donates a $20 Books-A-Million gift card to fundraisers by local schools, churches, organizations and charities. A few details decide whether a request succeeds:

• Email only. Send the Donation Request Form by email; only email requests are considered, one per organization a year.
• Corporate decides. Requests are filled by its corporate offices, not your local store, and the card is mailed to the address on your form.
• Priority goes to 501(c)(3) charities and nonprofit educational institutions whose main mission is reading, literacy and education, and to communities with a Books-A-Million, Books & Company or Bookland store.
• Exclusions include requests to benefit specific individuals or families, online auctions, resale and school coupon books.
• Timing. Its sources differ: the help-center article says at least six weeks before your event, the policy form says three. Plan on six. The policy form also says processing can take up to four weeks in busy seasons, typically September through December.

Barnes & Noble: Bookfairs, not donated items

Barnes & Noble says it does not have a grant program. What it offers Pre-K through 12th grade public and private schools, and nonprofit literacy, arts, humane and community service groups, is a Bookfair: your group earns a percentage of net proceeds from Bookfair sales, in store and online. Booksellers handle setup, cashiering and accounting, and supporters shopping online add your Bookfair ID at checkout. Contact your local store manager to set one up. A Bookfair works best as its own event, or alongside a school night, rather than as a raffle prize.

Toy, craft and party-supply companies

A few details from those pages are worth knowing before you apply:

• Oriental Trading puts particular weight on programs for children and youth, with an emphasis on education. Its request form is built around fundraising events, listing auctions, raffles, door prizes and peer-to-peer events. Attach your 501(c)(3) determination letter; a public school without 501(c)(3) status can leave the EIN field blank.
• Crayola points schools and nonprofits outside its local area to Good360, Kids in Need Foundation and NAEIR instead.
• Vermont Teddy Bear reviews requests at the end of each month and takes one request per nonprofit per year. Nonprofits outside its guidelines may still apply for a 25% discount on products.

Toy names with no open request route

Knowing who is not taking requests saves a week of waiting. Our pages for Build-A-Bear Workshop, American Girl and Toys R Us show no active donation program in our directory. Nintendo does not publish donation guidelines or an application; its About page lists only a charitable donations email contact, and its community programs are employee giving and national partnerships rather than a way to request prizes.

How to use these items

Books, toys and craft supplies are at their best in themed raffle baskets and school events. A family game night basket, an art basket or a reading basket built around a Books-A-Million card gives a small donation more pull at the prize table. Our guide to raffle basket ideas shows how to build themes, and companies that donate to schools lists more donors that suit PTA and classroom events. For a carnival or festival prize booth, see what companies donate for a school carnival.