# Do Big-Box Stores Like Lowe's, Target and Staples Donate to Fundraisers?

> Mostly through grants or store-level programs, not free prizes. Target donates gift cards at local stores; Lowe's gives Community Impact Grants to renovate community spaces; Staples helps schools through shopper programs. Here is exactly what each chain does.

Source: https://ultimatedonations.org/stores-that-donate-to-fundraisers  
Last updated: 2026-09-30  
Publisher: Ultimate Donations

Most big-box stores route their giving through grants or store-level programs, not free prizes you can request. Of the three in the question, only Target donates something you could raffle: gift cards, requested at your local store. Lowe's gives Community Impact Grants to renovate community spaces. Staples helps schools through shopper programs such as Classroom Rewards. Neither Lowe's nor Staples describes a gift card or product donation you can apply for.

That pattern holds across most large retailers. The useful question is not "does this store donate?" but "what does it actually give, and who decides?" This guide sets out exactly what each chain's own giving pages say, sorted into four kinds of answer.

## Store-by-store answers

Every detail here comes from the retailer's own giving page. Each store links to its donor page in our directory. Programs change, so check the company's page before you ask.

| Store | What it gives | Who decides, and how | Useful for a raffle or auction? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Target](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/target-product-donation) | Target GiftCards; no merchandise | Your local store, from a printed company form | Yes, a gift card |
| [Big 5 Sporting Goods](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/big5sportinggoods-product-donation) | Big 5 store eCards for raffles, auctions and prize drawings | Online request system only | Yes, a store card |
| [Dick's Sporting Goods](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/dicks-sporting-goods-donation) | Coupons or in-store gift certificates, at its discretion | Online portal, reviewed monthly | Yes, for an event or youth team |
| [Books-A-Million](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/books-a-million-donation) | A $20 gift card | Corporate office, by emailed form | Yes, not online auctions |
| [Trader Joe's](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/traderjoes-donation) | Food and beverage | The Donation Coordinator at your neighborhood store | For event food more than prizes |
| [Wawa](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/wawa-donation) | Soft pretzels, water, or a gift basket for a silent auction | Online request; products picked up at a local store | Yes, the gift basket |
| [Total Wine & More](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/total-wine-and-more-donation) | A private wine class as an auction item | Online application; applicants 21 or older | Yes, as an auction item |
| [Walmart](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/walmart-product-donation) | Local cash grants from stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers | Online application through a Spark Good account | No, a grant |
| [Lowe's](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/lowes-product-donation) | Community Impact Grants to renovate community spaces | Public nomination during an annual window | No, a grant |
| [The Home Depot](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/home-depot-product-donation) | Veteran Housing Grants, Retool Your School, Path to Pro Grants | Grant programs | No, grants |
| [Costco](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/costco-donation) | Monetary support or Costco Shop Cards | Local warehouse, or a grant application | Excludes raffle and auction merchandise |
| [Staples](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/staples-product-donation) | Classroom Rewards and Community Giveback kits | Shoppers, at the register | No, a shopper program |
| [Menards](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/menards-product-donation) | Scrip: gift cards sold to nonprofits at a discount | Your group buys and resells | No, a purchase program |

## The four kinds of answer

### 1. A gift card or product you can request

This is the answer most raffle organizers hope for, and fewer chains give it than you might expect. **Target** says 501(c)(3)s and accredited schools may go to any store to request a Target GiftCard. You fill in the request form, print it, and bring it in with an IRS letter. Donations run February through December as funding permits, average $25–50, and are capped at $500 per year per agency. Stores typically take up to 30 days to respond. Target does not donate merchandise.

**Big 5 Sporting Goods** limits its giving to store eCards for fundraisers, through its online system only. **Dick's Sporting Goods** says donations may include coupons or in-store gift certificates and can support a specific event or an individual youth sports team. **Books-A-Million** donates a $20 gift card, but through its corporate office by email, not your local store. **Wawa** offers soft pretzels, Wawa water, or a gift basket of Wawa items and coupons for a silent auction. Each organization is eligible for one in-kind donation per calendar year, and your event must be at least 3 weeks away.

### 2. A decision at the local store

**Trader Joe's** says each store has a designated Donation Coordinator. Food and beverage requests go in writing, on your letterhead with your tax ID, delivered to the store at least three weeks ahead. The limit is one donation per year per organization from the whole company, not one per store. This suits a volunteer meal or a bake-sale table better than a prize table.

### 3. A grant, not a prize

Several of the biggest names give money for projects rather than items for an event.

- **Walmart** stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers award local cash grants of $250 to $5,000. You apply through a Spark Good account, verified by Walmart's partner Deed, to a facility serving your area. Eligible groups are 501(c)(3) public charities, government entities, and K-12 public or nonprofit private schools. Volunteer fire companies and other non-charities such as 501(c)(4)s are not eligible.
- **Lowe's** Community Impact Grants fund physical renovations of community spaces such as parks, food pantries and firehouses. The public nominates a project during an annual window, which ran from February to March in 2026. Grants go to a local nonprofit, school or municipality, and projects must be within 30 miles of a Lowe's store. Lowe's describes no product or gift card program for events.
- **The Home Depot** lists Veteran Housing Grants, Retool Your School and Path to Pro Grants as its community grant programs.

If your project is a playground or a garden, a grant may be the better ask. If you need raffle baskets next month, it is the wrong door.

### 4. A shopper or purchase program

**Staples** supports schools through Classroom Rewards, where shoppers earn 5% back on in-store purchases to give to a local school or teacher. Its Community Giveback program lets customers buy school-supply kits that are donated to local organizations. **Menards** runs Scrip for religious and other nonprofit groups: you buy Menards gift cards at a discount of up to 4% and sell them at face value. Both can help a school budget. Neither is something you can ask a store manager to donate.

## Costco: read the eligibility first

Costco is one of the most searched retailers for fundraiser donations, and its rules exclude most school and team events. It takes monetary requests only, from 501(c)(3)s focused on children, education, or health and human services. Warehouse giving, for local organizations, is handled at the warehouse level and can take the form of Costco Shop Cards. Its guidelines exclude individual schools and PTAs, athletic teams, and merchandise for raffles and auctions. Costco considers one request per organization per fiscal year (September to August) and asks for at least 3 months' notice for a dated event.

## How to ask a store manager

Where a program is store-level, the ask is a short conversation with someone who is working. Go in person, ask for the manager or the named coordinator, and name one specific item and your event date. Leave a one-page request with your contact details and your determination letter. Our guide to [who approves donation requests](https://ultimatedonations.org/who-approves-donation-requests) explains how to tell a store decision from a corporate one. The [restaurant and local company ask sheet](https://ultimatedonations.org/resources/restaurant-local-company-ask-sheet) covers when to walk in, what to say first, and a leave-behind page. For companies beyond retail, start with our overview of [companies that donate products to fundraisers](https://ultimatedonations.org/companies-that-donate-to-fundraisers), and for prize ideas see [companies that donate raffle prizes](https://ultimatedonations.org/companies-that-donate-raffle-prizes).

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Lowe's donate to fundraisers?

Lowe's describes no product or gift card program for events; its Community Impact Grants fund renovations of community spaces within 30 miles of a Lowe's store, through an annual public nomination window.

### Does Target donate raffle prizes?

Target donates GiftCards to 501(c)(3)s and accredited schools through a printed form you bring to your local store, but it does not donate merchandise.

### Does Staples donate to schools?

Staples supports schools through Classroom Rewards, where shoppers earn 5% back on in-store purchases for a local school or teacher, and through Community Giveback supply kits bought by customers.

### Does Costco donate items for a school auction?

No. Costco takes monetary requests only, and its guidelines exclude individual schools, PTAs, athletic teams, and merchandise for raffles and auctions.

### Which big stores give local grants?

Walmart stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers award local cash grants of $250 to $5,000 through a Spark Good account; see [Walmart's donor page](https://ultimatedonations.org/donor/walmart-product-donation).