Fundraising for school

[VLT]

Sorry if i'm in the wrong place, please feel free to move or advise.

Currently looking for prizes for school raffle which companys are the best at donating were on a tight deadline
Thanks VLT

[pleasedelete]

You need local companies and so the best depends on where you live. Get a glamorous outgoing mum (or dad) to go door knocking ie walk round all the shops begging- more likely to get given something even small if you are in the shop.

Promise and ensure they get advertising for what they give,

Send a note to all parents asking if they or their companies would like to donate.

National companies dont donate unless you gave a unique angle

[SUESMITH]

you need someone on your comittee to write a good letter, and remember that everyone that donates should have a thank you letter as well.

we're in york and have had a good response from bettys and from rowntrees. mcdonalds have always sent vouchers for us.

also obviously some parents will have local businesses and are usually more than happy to donate - eg. beauty treatments, haircuts, we have a chocolatier as a parent and they always donate lovely stuff.

tbh, if its for xmas you have left it a bit late - most companies take a couple of weeks to respond.

[Moneybot]

I remember this well having been on a PTA for years

Debenhams would usually stump up a bear for Christmas and the beauty counters would give free samples.
Local attractions for tickets eg the local zoo.
Local takeaways as not many people asked them.
Garden centres especially is you can collect.

You do really need to ask for Christmas in September though get a system set up of sending out letters.

Another idea for is the school are willing is a non uniform day where the children have to bring in a bottle of something then you have prizes for your bottle tombola.

[snugglepet20]

My sons school does 2 non-uniform days a term. On one you have to bring something chocolate and the other is bring a bottle of something. These are used as prizes at school events. Also local businesses, pubs and restaurants donate gift certificates for the big prizes.

[Katiehound]

Always, always send thank you letters to firms & individuals. If the firms are thanked then they will likely be generous again.

If possible give them publicity- and say you will do that even if it is a list at the raffle table saying "Our raffle prizes today generously donated by firms X, Y, Z." Sometimes advertising can be the very thing that gets you some sponsorship/ prizes.
I was involved in raising money for charity by dog shows and the sponsors all got their names printed on the rosette tails and their names in the schedule, and if possible the larger sponsors were mentioned in local press article (but that was subject to the editing by the newspaper!)

You have to start months in advance!