GreenMountain Coffee as their donation request page down since March 15, 2013 because they are revamping their donation program. i missed submitting before then...

CDCOFFEY - I went through this link: www.wholefoodsmarket.com/customer-service

Then the local manager emailed me within the week.

One more question. When is the appropriate time to send Thank you notes to companies that donated? As soon as I receive the item or after the event?

This is my first year solicting for donations. Green Mountain Coffee's website couldn't validate my Tax Id, so I sent an email and attached my W-9. I got a response asking for a "copy of the actual 501c3 certificate. Can someone tell me the difference and how to obtain the certificate? All I have is the W-9.

JAMOM74

Who did you email with Whole Foods? I submitted an online application months ago and I have not heard back. My event is April 24th.

Another auction item that is a really good one and I don't know if it has been mentioned yet or not is dinner at your fire station. Awesome live auction item and even better if you can get firemen to come and help hype it up. We have also had luck with people that put on kid's parties donating birthday party service donations - bounce house rentals, etc. We haven't had near as much luck with big corporations, and some of the ones we have found here have been inundated with requests and just can't keep up. You just have to be creative and think outside of the box. Radio stations are another good one - they often have extra tickets and merchandise.