Joanne - please feel free to email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are in the Grand Rapids area.
Lindsay, our school has used Bidding for Good for several years. While there is an expense, if you have a lot of items and a broad viewing audience it's definitely worth it. We wouldn't be able to handle nearly 500 items up for auction at a live event. You definitely need a deep team - people soliciting, people collecting, and a team dedicated just to listing, proofing, and organizing the donations on the back end.
Separately, has anyone recently had any success getting a hotel donation in NYC (we have multiple messages following up on RfD letters into Courtyard Times Square and Four Seasons. Looking to round out a NY experience basket with hotel accomodations.
Also, looking for a hotel in North Conway, NH. Solicited and called the Grand Hotel up there and have heard nothing back. Also, no luck getting anything from Story Land or Conway RR, but did get tickets to Santa's Village. Hard to put a basket together without at least the hotel component as it's definitely a trip from CT.
Crystal - I'm located in MI and have success with many places. Many of them only donate to schools and non-profits in the state of MI but I'd be glad to give you a list of some museums, zoos, etc. that have donated to us. Please email me if you'd like to swap information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Good luck!