How to Ask for Donations From Businesses
A large part of being a nonprofit organization is relying on the generosity of others to help you achieve your goals. Whether the goal is to expand current programs, build a new building, or simply make ends meet, raising funds is crucial. Most businesses are approached regularly by nonprofits for donations, so you would do well to have a systematic approach. If you plan and prepare yourself well when approaching businesses, you should see success toward reaching your goals.
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Instructions
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How to Ask for Donations From Businesses
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Be prepared. You will need a detailed description of your nonprofit or fundraising event, and a specific explanation of what cause the donated money will be supporting. This letter should be straightforward and written on your organization's letterhead. You will also want a tax-receipt to give the business to acknowledge their gift. This will allow the business to deduct their donation from their taxes.
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Research the businesses you plan to approach. Large corporations may plan all their giving in advance, and if you approach them after the fact, you may not get into the budget. Check out websites and make calls to the corporations you intend to approach. Find out if there is a particular method required to ask for donations, if there is a deadline to request a donation, if there is a particular person to contact, and how long it will take to hear a response. Approaching businesses via their preferred method will give you more of a shot than a generic letter.
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Target specific businesses that are connected in some way to your organization. People tend to hold a special place in their hearts for organizations that help things they have been touched by. For instance, if you know the CEO of a local company had breast cancer, she may be a good person to ask for a donation for your breast cancer fundraiser.
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Use any connections that you have. People may be more likely to say yes to a request for a donation from someone they know. Survey everyone involved in your organization to see if they have any valuable contacts and then ask them to approach those contacts about a donation. For instance, if the husband of one of your volunteers works at popular restaurant, see if they will donate food for your event.
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Follow-up. Just as in sales, persistence can pay off when asking for donations. If you are told to check back later, do so. Keep checking back and sending updates and information on your organization until you get a clear yes or no.
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