Silent auction gets better responses typically, especially from hotels as they consider their donations to be higher end.

I have always put that my request is for silent auction/raffle items. Depending on the value is how we use them.
Since you are in Florida you should try the Panama Jack donation that was listed a couple posts before this.
Also, look for products that are made in your area.
If you have local free newspapers that either come to your house or you pick up at the market. Look through those for idea's.
Also, Google your town with the word donation request and see what comes up.

We are a 5013c football association. Last year this list was very helpful, and we received donations from Disney, Redbox, Publix, and Six Flags, I had no success with hotels, and we are located in Florida. We don't do a silent auction, but are looking for raffle items. Has anyone had more responses from companies that donate to a silent auction vs. a raffle?

Hello all,

This page was so helpful last year, as we had our best silent auction of the event's run. I'm hoping to make it even better this year, and have already started working on getting items in for the August event.

I did, however, have a question for those who have used Pink Calyx before. I applied to them again, through there "Like Facebook" item, and they almost immediately sent me a gift certificate. I did notice, though, that on the e-mail, it says "Kindly note that only 1 gift certificate may be redeemed per charity, so please do not print multiple copies.".

Has anyone else used Pink Calyx two years in a row? I wouldn't want to sell a gift certificate to someone, and then have them not be able to use it.

Thanks.

Marie MD -- Thanks for pointing out the misdirected link in the nav. That should be fixed sometime today.

Craig

Hey everyone! I work for a nationally-recognized non-profit organization (I work at the local level in the Metro Atlanta area), and am planning our first silent auction. This message board has been so unbelievably helpful for me, that I felt I should post an update on what organizations I've gotten donations from (and which I've gotten no's from), along with response time so y'all would have an idea on how long it takes for responses if you apply to these places. Our event is in April and I started requesting donations in October 2013. I've found the best way to find companies (besides this message board) is to just google any company you can think of along with "donation request" ("company name + donation request"). Another great way to search is to type your city or state name plus "corporate donation requests." Hope my list helps!

COMPANIES WHO GAVE A DONATION:
Note: All of these were through online applications/company website unless otherwise noted

1. ATLANTA BRAVES - Jonny Venters autographed baseball (online request 10/25, response 10/29)
2. BROOKS RUNNING COMPANY - Gift Card (online request 10/29, response 1/15
3. CANVAS ON DEMAND - $100 Gift Card (online request 11/2, response 11/14)
4. EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS - Four $25 Gift Cards (online request made to local store 10/29, response same day)
5. JAN BRETT - Autographed Poster (emailed address on website 11/2, response 11/3)
6. MELLOW MUSHROOM - Two $25 Gift Cards (online request 11/13, response 1/7)
7. PANAMA JACK - 4 bottles of product, 2 tshirts, 2 hats (online request 10/29, response 10/30)
8. REDBOX (Outerwall, Inc.) - 25 individual rental coupons (online request 10/28, response 10/30)
9. THIRTY-ONE BAGS - I got a "no" from corporate level, but found a local seller who gave me a couple bags
10. THE VARSITY (Atl restaurant) - Four meal combo vouchers (online request 10/29, response 12/1)
11. ZOO ATLANTA - Four general admin tix (online request 10/25, response 10/27)
12. A local auto shop gave us 3 free oil changes "oil changes for a year"

NOs:

1. Big Five Sporting Goods
2. Bob's Red Mill
3. Brooks Brothers
4. Callaway Golf
5. Carmike/Fandango (website says not doing corporate level, I'm going to try local)
6. Lake Lanier Resort
7. Mizuno
8. Nutiva
9. Oakley
10. Planet Dog
11. Thymes

COMPANIES I'VE APPLIED TO, HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE YET (DATE I MADE REQUEST IS IN PARENTHESES):
Note: The majority of these were done via snail mail (at the company's request. I guess it just takes longer...)

1. Alex and Ani (I think their online app was screwed up..., applied Jan 2014)
2. American Girl (Oct 2013)
3. Atlanta Botanical Gardens (Jan 2014)
4. Atlanta Falcons (Jan 2014)
5. Atlanta Hawks (Oct 2013)
6. Aveda (Nov 2013)
7. Big Green Egg (Jan 2014)
8. Books A Million (Oct 2013)
9. Bravo Brio Restaurant Group (Nov 2013)
10. Bridgestone Golf (Jan 2014)
11. Buckhead Restaurant Group (Nov 2013)
13. Bushnell (Oct 2013)
14. CamelBak (Nov 2013)
15. Celestial Seasonings (Oct 2013)
16. CVS (Nov 2013)
17. Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Jan 2014)
18. Fox Theater (Atlanta) (Nov 2013)
19. Georgia Aquarium (Oct 2013)
20. Honest Tea (Oct 2013)
21. Jack Link's Beef Jerky (Oct 2013)
22. King and Prince Beach/Golf Resort on St. Simons Island (Jan 2014)
23. Major League Soccer (Oct 2013)
24. Medieval Times Dinner Theater (Nov 2013)
25. Nantahala Outdoor Center (whitewater rafting) (Jan 2014)
26. Nathan Sports (Nov 2013)
27. Otterbox (Jan 2014)
28. Panera Bread (Oct 2013)
29. Rack Room Shoes (Oct 2013)
30. Rosa Mexicano (restaurant) (Nov 2013)
31. Sephora (Oct 2013)
32. Six Flags Over Georgia (Dec 2013)
33. Sports Authority (Oct 2013)
34. Star 94 (radio station - donates extra tix, etc if they have it) (Oct 2013)
35. Stone Mountain Park (Oct 2013)
36. Think Fun Toys (Dec 2013)
37. Tony Hawk (pro skater - autographed pic) (Oct 2013)
38. Toys R Us (Nov 2013)

Hope that helps!!! I'll post an update if I get any more responses! I also have a list of more companies that I have yet to apply to, I'll post those if I get responses as well. Good luck with your events!