For Hotels like the Hilton I usually call the manager and tell them about our event and cause and what donations we have in their area and they usually ask me to fax our official letter.
We did our first tin can auction last year and this sight was very helpful in getting donations, my question is, when do I start asking for donations again. Last year I started in July & August and some companies had already said their donations for the year were used up, when is a good time to start asking again?
For hotels such as Hilton, do you guys request online, email, or call the one hotel directly? I have a donation from Adventureland in Farmingdale NY and would really like hotel accommodations to go with it. Any suggestions?
I agree with the previous poster about checking with the schools in your district. We get the elementary school principal and the middle school principal to give us prizes such as reserved parking spaces for graduations, field day, etc. It doesn't cost them anything and the people who win are thrilled. We get the enrichment organization that runs afterschool classes to donate a free class. One of the band teachers donated a free private lesson.
So think beyond just "businesses" and you may get some great prizes!