Does New York Knicks donate to fundraisers?

The Knicks donation program assists non-profit and community-based organizations in the tri-state area.

The team donates autographed photos, basketballs and jerseys to be used in auctions and raffles.

Each organization may submit one request per calendar year, because of inventory.

Every request gets a response at least two weeks before the event, approved or declined. Decisions depend on the criteria, the number of requests and inventory. Missing information may lead to a denial.

Not fulfilled: items for personal use; requests tied to business or organizational rewards programs; donations to individuals, or to groups soliciting on behalf of a third party (such as nonprofit walks or runs); more than one donation to the same organization in a year; and requests for game admissions, money or event signage.

Donated items cannot be repurposed for any use other than the one stated in your request, including resale services such as CharityBuzz.

Tips from the program page: Name one item (photo, ball or jersey) and say whether it goes in a raffle or an auction. The letter must state both. · Use a street address. PO boxes are not accepted. · After you submit, you will get an email to create an account where you can check your request's status. · Plan on using the item exactly as your request says. It cannot be moved to a different use later.

What New York Knicks donates

New York Knicks donates item.

New York Knicks has typically donated: Autographed photos, basketballs and jerseys for auctions and raffles.

Who can apply

New York Knicks donates to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. New York Knicks does not donate to individuals.

New York Knicks limits donation requests by area: Within a 75-mile radius of Madison Square Garden.

How to apply

New York Knicks asks every request to include the following.

• 501(c)(3) status.
• Based within a 75-mile radius of Madison Square Garden.
• An electronic request submitted at least six weeks before the fundraising event. Telephone, fax, mail and email requests are not accepted.
• An attached letter on official letterhead with: organization name and full address (no PO boxes); event date, time and location; event description and who benefits; a contact name, phone and email; the item requested (photo, ball or jersey) and whether it is for a raffle or auction; and your publication deadline or item-needed-by date.

What New York Knicks will not fund

New York Knicks states in its own published guidelines that it will not fund the following.

• Items requested for personal use
• Requests requiring contribution to business or organizational rewards programs
• Donations to individuals, or to groups or organizations soliciting on behalf of a third party (e.g. non-profit walks or runs)
• Multiple donations to the same organization within a given year
• Requests for game admissions, monetary contributions or event signage purchases

This covers only what New York Knicks states. A request can still be turned down for reasons a company does not publish.

When to ask

New York Knicks states a lead time of 6 weeks. Count back that far from your event date and send the request no later than then.

Across more than 25,000 fundraising events in our own records over fifteen years, March, April and May are the busiest months for fundraisers, October is the next busiest, and July and December are the quietest.

Work backwards from your event rather than forwards from today, and if your event falls in the spring peak, ask earlier than the stated lead time rather than later.

Common questions

Do I need to be a 501(c)(3) to request a donation from New York Knicks?

Yes. New York Knicks' donation program is limited to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, so you will need your determination letter and Tax ID before you apply.

Can a school, team, or individual apply to New York Knicks?

New York Knicks states that it will not fund: Items requested for personal use; Requests requiring contribution to business or organizational rewards programs; Donations to individuals, or to groups or organizations soliciting on behalf of a third party (e.g. non-profit walks or runs); Multiple donations to the same organization within a given year; Requests for game admissions, monetary contributions or event signage purchases. Check your organization and your event against that list before you apply — those are the restrictions New York Knicks publishes itself.

How far ahead should we ask New York Knicks for a donation?

New York Knicks' stated lead time is 6 weeks. Work backwards from your event date: count back that far from the day of the event and send your request before that point.