How to Ask for a Charitable Donation

Have you ever been put in the position of asking for a donation for your church, school or favorite non-profit organization? Some people are not comfortable asking for freebies, but with these quick tips anyone can be successful when asking for a donation.

Instructions

1. First Step and Most Important: The best time to ask for a donation is right after you have made a purchase at a store or eaten a meal in a restaurant. You clearly have shown that establishment that you used your buying power at their business, and that one good deed deserves the next. Strike while the iron is hot, and right then ask the manager for a donation for your cause. It will be very hard for them to say no.

2. The second thing to be armed with is an official letter or contract from the organization stating what the donation is for (auction, give-a-way, etc.) the date of the event and the organization's name. Many times managers on location may have to go up a level to a corporate decision maker and a letter or contract would have to be attached. If you don't have such a document handy, you may have to come back to that business another time to leave the contract. Try to save yourself from this extra step by being prepared.

3. Once you have received the donation from the business be sure to write them a thank you note and let them know how successful the event was. This may play a big role for future asks. Remind business that their donations is a good way to advertise and get their name out into the community. Everyone likes to shop or eat at places that support their local non-profit groups. Its a win-win for all.