Regina As for swaps, I don't think it's appropriate since a company has donated to a specific organization for a specific purpose.

But if you're trying to find hotels in Disneyland area, I've had some success with getting donations in other vacation areas not close to where we live. First find 5-10 hotels in the area (Go to TripAdvisor for some guidance); then call each hotel and ask for the general manager and his/her email. Then send an email letting the manager know that you have other LA/Disneyland area donations and would like to include their hotel as part of a stay package.

It takes some time and effort, but I've had some success. I would start with hotels that are prime to Disneyland, but then also be prepared to ask hotels that are a bit further away. From one hotel manager, he said he gets 10+ donation requests a week. So you know your competition is tough.

Even if you get one night accommodation, I think that's a good addition to your package. Depending on your school community, is there someone who would donate points (from credit cards) to get a hotel stay, particularly someone who owns a business or travels a lot.

Regina, I've tried to facilitate swaps between my clients before. It does seem like a good idea, doesn't it? Here are the two issues I ran into when we attempted it.

First, some donations are not allowed to be shared. The donation was made to a specific cause or a specific person or a specific event, and the donor isn't open to having it traded. As one business owner explained, he wanted his donation in front of *that* specific crowd ... not in front of some other random group.

Second, the schools and nonprofits themselves are particular about what they believe to be a "fair trade." An airport hotel isn't as good as a city hotel, for instance. And is 4 days in a "tier 2" city equal to one night in a "tier 1" city? Everyone has their own opinion.

I still think it can work, but it's just a matter of moving through these hiccups.

Have any of you swapped items with other schools? A lot of businesses(hotels sports teams) want to donate locally. I am trying to secure hotel close to Disneyland, but am having trouble as I am in Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas. I am looking to maybe put a Texas package together to swap with another school for another city's package as well has hotel near Disneyland.

If you've gotten any donations for locations outside your immediate area and your trying to put together a travel or "stay" package, I've had bit of luck contacting the state or local tourism/convention bureaus. I've let them know we've gotten donations from their area and asked if they could donate some souvenirs. I've gotten two city bureaus to donate t-shirts. It's kind of a nice-to-have for a travel package.

wow! just finished making notes on all 140 pages of posts!! Thanks to all for the great links and ideas! I got some ideas that came to me just seeing what others got. Got Disney tix so far and several waiting on responses.
Event in March, s.c. We are hoping to expand our charter school into a middle school as well....
Anyone know where to address a Disney thank you to?