how to get stores to donate items

by Geraldine Yost 3 min read

  • Make connections. Start by thinking of any companies you may have existing contact with. ...
  • Identify the right person. Make sure you approach the right person - the store/company Manager or person responsible for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is most usual.
  • Think about non-monetary support. Only around half of all company giving is in cash and it is often easier to persuade a local business, particularly one that you may not ...
  • Think about what can be offered in return. Where appropriate, think about what you are prepared to offer in return, such as public acknowledgement or publicity opportunities.
  • Make the ‘ask’. A letter outlining what you are doing, what it is you are asking for, and why a company should think about supporting you is often a good ...
  • Say ‘thank you’. Remember to say ‘thank you’ and report back on how a company’s support has made a difference. ...
  • Consider any ethical dilemmas early. When considering companies to approach, please remember that many charities would not wish to be associated with companies whose business values or practices conflict with ...

Visit the stores from which you want to solicit clothing donations and talk directly to the manager. Many managers have authority to make donations of goods directly to local nonprofits. If they don't, they will refer you to the owner, or, in larger stores, to a person who has the authority to make such a donation.

Full Answer

What is the best place to donate goods?

Sep 26, 2017 · Contact the stores on your list and ask for the contact information (name, address and phone number) of the person in charge of charitable giving. Send your letter to that person. Visit the store in person and present a verbal pitch to the owner or …

What should I make to donate?

Getting stores to donate merchandise to your cause is often easier than getting them to part with cash. If you have an energetic team of volunteers to help round up items for your silent auction, door prizes or clothing for your clients, you need to send them out well-prepared for their task. They'll need credentials, a script, a description of what they're looking for and paperwork for …

Where to donate your household items?

Contact the nearest Habitat ReStore to let them know what items you have available to donate. Determine the best method for you to donate your items. What can you donate to ReStore? Habitat ReStore accepts new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, household goods and more from individuals and companies. Each ReStore is unique, and many locations …

Where to donate everything in your home?

Jul 23, 2009 · How to Get Auction Item Donations (Without Cold Calling!) One of the most frequent questions related to auction fundraisers is how to get auction items donated. In the audio seminar series Secrets of the Charity Auction Experts Karin Costa gave many great ideas for auction items. She also described in detail how to get those items donated.

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How do I get donations from local stores?

Contact the stores on your list and ask for the contact information (name, address and phone number) of the person in charge of charitable giving. Send your letter to that person. Visit the store in person and present a verbal pitch to the owner or manager, then give them the hard copy.Sep 26, 2017

How do you ask a store for donations?

Getting StartedCreate a bold subject line.Make the ask near the beginning.Explain and describe why you're asking for a donation.Include links to your online donation page and contact info for donors who want to give by mail or phone.Say thank you in advance.

How do you get people to donate items?

The following tips take the stress out of fundraising, making it easy to create a streamlined system that encourages more people to donate.Use storytelling to share your cause. ... Include images to paint a picture. ... Make things easier for people. ... Ask for specific amounts. ... Offer gratitude for the donation.More items...•Jul 9, 2020

How do I get donations from Target?

At this time, REACH Community Grants are made by invitation only. Target GiftCard donations: Our local stores care about the communities they serve. If your organization is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), accredited school or public agency, you may go to any of our stores to request a Target GiftCard donation.

Can you ask for donations if you are not a charity?

Yes, you can receive a donation without be a nonprofit. In the United States and many other nations, there are tax benefits to the donor when donating toward a certified nonprofit. Regardless of your nonprofit status, someone can give you a donation. The benefit to the donor is lost if you are not a nonprofit.

How do I request donations on Amazon?

How to shop AmazonSmile Charity Lists:Visit smile.amazon.com/charitylists.Sign in with your Amazon.com credentials (customers who are not already signed-up for AmazonSmile will receive a prompt to do so).Shop your favorite organization's Charity List.Select and donate items from the list.Ship to the charity.Dec 9, 2019

How do you ask a celebrity to donate?

Don't send the celebrity a small novel asking for support....Personalize each email, catering to the specific reasons why you chose them.Articulate specific reasons why the celebrity and your cause will work well together.Offer a summary of your mission and the goal you hope to achieve through their participation.More items...

How can I ask for donations online?

To effectively ask for online donations, check out these top six strategies:Tell a compelling story.Build an effective brand.Simplify the giving process.Personalize follow-up communications.Optimize for mobile devices.Develop a social media strategy.

How can I get donations online for charity?

Best Ways To Collect Donations OnlineAccepting donations through your bank. By using your bank account and simply passing on your sort code, account number and account name to any willing donors. ... Using a money transfer service. ... Registering with a fund collection platform.

How do I request a donation from Walmart?

To receive donations from Walmart, you need to submit an online application through giving.walmart.com/foundation.

Does Target donate to non profits?

Each year, we donate millions in cash grants and in-kind product donations in the Twin Cities, including corporate giving grants to support local nonprofit organizations.

How do you get on targets non profit list?

Casting Votes: Open target.com/circle and go to Community Support. Or open the Target App, go to your Circle benefits, and Vote For Nonprofits. Nonprofits will display in a list with their name, logo, mission, and website link.

How do you ask for donations examples?

I'm writing to ask you to support me and my [cause/project/etc.]. Just a small donation of [amount] can help me [accomplish task/reach a goal/etc.] Your donation will go toward [describe exactly what the contribution will be used for]. [When possible, add a personal connection to tie the donor to the cause.

How do you write a letter asking for donations?

How To Write the Perfect Donation Request LetterStart with a greeting. ... Explain your mission. ... Describe the current project/campaign/event. ... Include why this project is in need and what you hope to accomplish. ... Make your donation ask with a specific amount correlated with that amount's impact.

How do I email donations to companies?

Take a look at these top six best practices for asking for donations with emails.Create eye-catching subject lines. ... Don't wait to ask. ... Explain and describe. ... Keep it personal. ... Provide links and ways to give. ... Follow up and say thank you.

Why do stores always ask for donations?

The law was originally designed to be an incentive for grocery stores to donate more of the food they were throwing away. Beyond asking you for donations, many grocery stores also donate unsold food to local food banks and other organizations.

How long does it take to get a donation from Albertson's?

Albertson’s – If a nonprofit wants to ask Albertson’s for a donation, they must make the donation request at least 8 weeks before the event or fundraising need. Nonprofits must provide details about their organization as well as the fundraising event.

What is Costco's donation program?

Costco – Costco’s donation program is specifically directed at nonprofits that focus on kids, education, or health and human services.

How long does it take to get a grant from Southwest Airlines?

The process takes anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks. Southwest Airlines – Donation requests for a Southwest Airlines grant must be submitted at least 60 days in advance of the fundraising need. Nonprofits can only apply once a year, and only U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply.

Does General Mills have box tops?

General Mills also runs the Box Tops for Education program. Kroger – Organizations can make donation requests to Kroger or any of their partner grocery stores. Nonprofits must be involved in one of the following focus areas: hunger relief, women’s health, education, the environment, or diversity.

How many grants can a nonprofit submit?

Nonprofits must submit online applications by the end of the calendar year. Organizations can submit up to 25 grant requests each year. Whole Foods – Nonprofits are encouraged to make donation requests to the Whole Foods Market closest to their organization.

What does Alaska Airlines do?

Alaska Airlines – Alaska Airlines makes donations to medical and emergency research, social and community services, educational institutions, and arts and culture nonprofits. Organizations can apply at any time via their online application.

Does Amazon give to nonprofits?

Amazon Amazon offers several different grant options for nonprofits. They offer Kindles to underserved communities, give back to organizations through Amazon Local Love, and donate to nonprofits that aid in disaster relief. American Eagle – American Eagle donates $25 gift cards to high school and college-sponsored events ...

What do shelters provide?

Shelters provide everything from bedding to toiletries to clothing. Most shelters warmly welcome donations like women’s and children’s clothing in good condition. They also appreciate children's toys, books, and educational tools for kids of all ages.

What is Dress for Success?

Dress for Success is an international nonprofit organization serving women who seek economic independence. Dress for Success welcomes gently-used workplace-appropriate women’s clothing. It also accepts shoes, purses, undergarments, cosmetics, and toiletries and can offer a total head-to-toe makeover for women in need.

What do people leave with when they leave domestic violence?

When people exit a situation where domestic violence is present, they often leave with only the clothes on their backs. Many victims of domestic violence aren’t even able to grab small necessities. Shelters provide everything from bedding to toiletries to clothing.

Can you keep everything Marie Kondo?

It can be so hard to let go of items that a loved one treasured. But you can’t keep everything. Channel your inner Marie Kondo and only choose items that bring you real joy or a positive emotional connection.

Where can I donate used items?

With more than 3,200 thrift stores around the country, Goodwill is one of the most popular places to donate used goods. Goodwill sells your donations in brick-and-mortar Goodwill stores and on online auction site shopgoodwill.com.

What items can you donate to a charity?

Generally, charities that take donations of household goods allow donations in all categories — including furniture, clothing, toys, books, electronics, vehicles, appliances, housewares, and sometimes bedding — provided they’re clean and in good condition.

What to do with KonMari?

Whether the KonMari method has inspired you to organize and declutter your home or you’re planning to move or downsize, you have to find something to do with all your excess stuff. Instead of tossing them in the trash — where they’ll end up clogging a landfill — give them new life and donate them to someone in need.

How many states does the Furniture Bank network operate in?

The Furniture Bank Network operates in 34 states, giving all accepted furniture directly to those in need. That often includes formerly homeless individuals working to get back on their feet financially.

What charities use donated goods?

Different charities use your donated goods in different ways. Generally, those that accept a wide variety of goods — like Goodwill and Salvation Army — sell used merchandise in thrift stores and use the money to support their programs. Others, typically those that accept specific types of goods — like Furniture Bank Network ...

Does the Salvation Army sell goods?

towns and cities. Like Goodwill, Salvation Army sells donated goods in its thrift stores, using the proceeds to fund their programs. It also occasionally brings donated effects directly to those who need them.

Is Habitat for Humanity a nonprofit?

As with other thrift stores, it resells your donations at a fraction of the typical retail price and uses the proceeds to fund its programs. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing for those in need in the U.S. and worldwide. It works to build and repair homes.

How do you donate goods to Habitat ReStore?

Habitat ReStore staff and volunteers make the donation process as simple as possible. You can always donate goods in person, and many Habitat ReStores offer free pickup of large items. Here’s how the process works.

What can you donate to ReStore?

Habitat ReStore accepts new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, household goods and more from individuals and companies. Each ReStore is unique, and many locations also accept items outside these categories.

How does donating to ReStore help families?

The money raised by Habitat ReStores helps families build a decent and affordable place to call home. When the items you donate to ReStore are sold, the money helps families achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better future.

Need to donate stuff?

Remodeling, cleaning, down-sizing or just getting organized? Whatever your project, don’t let the items you no longer need end up in your local landfill.

Interested in donating to Habitat ReStore as a corporate partner?

Our corporate partnerships help make our work at Habitat possible, and we offer partnership opportunities for corporations wishing to donate overstock materials and participate in recurring donation programs. We have coordinated donations from nationwide restaurant chains, hotels, going out of business events and more.

More ways to donate

Head over to the support page to learn about more ways to donate to Habitat for Humanity.

Do you hate asking businesses for donations?

I assume you do because about 98% of PTO volunteers I’ve worked with over the years hate it.

Asking Businesses for Donations on Facebook Step by Step

Facebook is a fantastic tool for finding companies that give donations for raffles, school auctions, and other fundraisers. Using Facebook will help you reach more of the

Ready-to-Use Business Donation Request Kit

Hate asking businesses for donations? Need raffle prizes and school auction items and don’t have time to waste? This School Fundraiser Business Donation Request Kit gives you everything you need to get great fundraiser prizes the easy way including:

What is recurring donation?

Recurring donations are automated donations given at a certain interval of time. On average, a recurring donor will give 42% more annually than a one-time donor.

Why are people more likely to give?

People are more likely to give when they already have their wallets out or are already providing their information. Your event is beneficial to the community you’re serving. If there are donors at your event and they can clearly see the value your organization is creating, they’ll be all the more inspired to give.

Why is urgency important in fundraising?

Urgency helps you capture their attention and can help convince them to make a donation.

What does organic mean on Facebook?

The term “organic” means you haven’t spent any money to promote it —it’s a post on your organization’s page that can gain traction based on how popular it is with your subscribers. Use boosted posts. With Facebook’s boosting option, you can pay to give your content more views.

Is Facebook a good tool for fundraising?

Facebook is an excellent tool for fundraising. Part of this is due to the fundraising options Facebook has built-in like the ability for your supporters to host their own fundraisers, the ability to collect donations through a Facebook Live video, Facebook’s Tuesday Giving matching program, and more.

What is social proof?

What do we mean by “social proof” here? It’s just what it sounds like: proof that others are doing it, too. Potential donors are more likely to give if they see other people give, especially if those other people are their friends, family, colleagues, or neighbors.

Do donors respond well to clear incentives for giving?

Some donors respond well to clear incentives for giving. If there’s a clear reward for giving—besides helping your awesome cause!—there’s a good reason to give that grants some kind of immediate benefit.

What to do before you donate tools?

Before you donate: You don't have to do much except box your tools up. Just make sure you don't have anything dangerous floating around in a box in case of someone roots around, i.e., small saws, nails, etc. Contain those items or label them and donate them separately. Read More.

What is a furniture bank?

Furniture Banks lets you donate your gently used furniture to persons in need, typically formerly homeless people trying to get back on their feet financially. Before you donate: Dust it, clean it, and make sure there are no ragged, dangerous edges or nails sticking out that could potentially hurt someone.

Who is Elizabeth Larkin?

Elizabeth Larkin is an organizing and productivity expert with a strong interest in time management and process refinement. Nothing makes clutter clearing easier than knowing your household items, clothes, and shoes are going to a worthy cause.

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