Thanks so much for this wonderful thread! I've had great success with some of the businesses you all have listed, and it's also been a great place for me to start my brainstorming!
I thought I'd share a few tips of my own: Like others have said, your local stores are great resources. We've got lots of local shops, restaurants, and attractions that have agreed to donate. And our parent community has been great about making donations.
If any of you happen to go to Montessori schools, For Small Hands is sending us a $50 GC.
I did some research to find authors who live in my area/state and have asked them for signed books. I have three already, and will make up a local authors basket.
Hopefully we have lots of other good stuff coming our way!
Thanks to the PP who mentioned Coach, I hadn't thought of that one!
Gwen..I would also love to have your list if that is ok with you. You had alot of new companies on there. Donations seem to be getting harder to come by so we all need to work together on this.
THanks This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wrigley's
Provides donations to specific cities only and says they generally do not donate to silent auctions/raffles and has restrictions on donation to events for children 12 and under:
From their website:
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company U.S. Product Donation Request
Due to the high volume of in-kind contribution requests received, only requests submitted electronically will receive a reply. In order to be considered, your organization must meet the following criteria and provide 30 day advance notice:
A registered non-profit, charitable organization with current 501(c)3 status or an accredited educational institution
Programs national in scope or local in the following communities:
Chicago, Illinois
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Yorkville, Illinois
Gainesville, Georgia
Organizations with open participation regardless of religious, political or other affiliations
Product donations are generally not provided for:
For-profit organizations
Individuals
Political organizations
Social events
Silent Auctions/Raffles
Military requests - We have an ongoing partnership with the USO distributing product to military personnel via the Operation USO Care Package Program. Due to the high volume of individual requests for product donations, we are unable to provide additional product and prefer to concentrate our efforts on large product donations with the broadest reach.
Please be aware that in compliance with Wrigley’s marketing commitments, certain restrictions apply in regard to the donation of product to events attended by children under 12 years of age.
Just FYI, while someone posted they recently received a yes from Regal Cinemas, their website is stating that they do on issue passes any longer. They give to national organizations at this time.
This is from their website:
How do I request a donation of ticket packages or gift cards?
A: As a company and through the Regal Foundation, we have proudly established relationships with numerous organizations that benefit from our National Pass Program. Our commitment remains to support charities based in the communities our theatres serve through national projects which benefit multiple groups across the country.
We consider this to be the most productive way to allocate movie passes throughout the communities in which we are located. Accordingly, we do not accept requests for pass donations.
Gwen, if you're up for sharing, I'd love to have the info as well. I'm in a bind this year. Our city had a natural disaster that destroyed many of our local business donors, so we have to focus more on national companies this year. I've had to throw an extra auction this fall (to try to defray school expenses for our famliies who lost everything) and I'm discouraged as I try to find more items for spring (which will go to the same cause). Thanks for at least considering my request.
Laura This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jenm - what exactly is a Raise the Paddle? Our school had massive budget cuts last year and we are expecting another half million this year. We have tried unsuccessfully to get a tax levy approved and because of that I started our PTO.
We really need to raise money to buy basic things like textbooks, workbooks, and pens, pencils, etc. We also lost our tutoring program which was huge and I would really like to work to get that back.
We are hosting an event this spring to raise money and awareness of the situation. We will be having a talent show, Italian dinner, and silent auction. Each of these things will be ran by one of our student groups so that the community can see their skills and achievements.
