Free things for a charity?

Liz_M

First off I'm quite new to this forum so very sorry if this is in the wrong board or I shouldn't have made it as a new thread or something...if I did it wrong please let me know!

I am about to start organising a fundraising event for my local Sea Cadet unit. It will be a barbecue fun day type thing and my main idea is to ask local businesses to donate things that could be used as prizes in a big raffle.

While reading the complaints letter thread someone mentioned that their mother runs some kind of childrens group and they spoke to coca cola and got 96 free cans of coke...this has given me more ideas. Do coca cola and other companies often donate things like this? As anything free would help the cadets (it is a registered charity). We could sell cans of coke at the barbecue, or give them to cadets as a reward on days they come to help out at the unit etc.

So my question is does anyone have ideas for companies who would donate raffle prizes, AND/OR who will donate things like the cola which can be used for other things.

Thanks (in advance) for your help and again, let me know if this is the wrong place

Angelraesunshine

I chair a pta and i used to run a club for mums in my area, when i did fundraising i found it best to ask locally Write to them all stating who you are why you are raising money and the date of your event. Do it on headed paper with all your contact details of the group they are less likely to send to a home address because of non fundraisers just using for there own gain.

I tend to write to everyone and have always done well for the school, try your local shops, tesco, argos, toys shops, sports shops, book shops etc if you have a place of intrest nearby eg zoo, safari park or a House that opens itself to the public ask them, we tend to get free entry for a family.

hope this helps there is a charity board here they should be able to help better too

fiscalfreckles

I would just echo what the above poster has said, I have done this in the past for a junior school.

Write to local shops, restaurants, pubs, places for days out, cinemas, theatres, bowling alleys etc, as well as some national firms.

Your letter must be professional looking, on headed paper (I used the school's) and you should explain exactly what you are raising money for and about the event. if you are producing a programme or leaflet about it, promise to mention their name in it ("Raffle Prizes kindly donated by...etc")

Many companies actually have a budget for supporting the community or charities, and will happily give you stuff. Often they are inundated with requests though and can only pick so many to help, so don't expect everyone to respond positively. I was pleasantly surprised how many did though.

Free stock (such as the coke) is quite hard to come by, it depends on having a willing contact. We had a few years of getting free meat for bbqs as one of the parents ran a local butchers, which was fantastic, but that's the only time that happened.

But, if you don't ask, you don't get!

Some send vouchers that you can then buy prizes with, or you can just give the vouchers as prizes, others send actual items (you should offer to collect theses if you can).

Another way we sometimes did it was to appeal to the parents of the school to donate any unwanted gifts etc. You get a load of toiletry gift sets then usually! But if you break these down and make up baskets/beauty hampers with them, that's a nice prize.

Good Luck with your event.

flyp

phone and write letters into companies

Liz_M

Oops didn't realise there was a charity board...should have checked more carefully!

OK so writing letters is definately better than phoning/going in person?

Also slightly off the topic can anyone think of other games etc that we could have as a stall that wouldn't cost much to run but will make us money, and attract people? I had thought of trying to get discount on a bouncy castle hire (as we're a charity) but I don't think we have room for one...and it might be a bit young for our kinda day too.

fiscalfreckles

Liz_M wrote: »

Also slightly off the topic can anyone think of other games etc that we could have as a stall that wouldn't cost much to run but will make us money, and attract people? .

If you can get a soft toy, guess the name of the teddy is always popular - with all ages.

Or a "human" fruit machine. You need three willing sea cadets (!) who are to stand in a row with a box each in front of them containing various fruit. The customer pays his money, you shout "roll!" and they each hold up a random fruit from their box. Oh, forgot to say they should be blindfolded, so they can't see each other!) If there are three in a row, you have to pay out or give a prize to the customer.

A stall selling sweets & drinks can be quite profitable if you have a cash & carry for supplies.

Beat the goalie?

I'll let you know if i think of any more...

caz7620

Slightly different, but for future and ongoing fundraising see this website.

http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/

I've raised over £26.00 so far for my friends school, just by going via this site to use eBay.

You register your organisation then get all the members to do their online shopping through the site.

Hope it's useful.

mo1_2

local shops in your area should be pretty helpful

Liz_M

I love that fruit machine idea I might just have to use that! Thanks!

And thank you everyone else for your ideas

And I don't think trying to raise money for a charity is TROUBLING anyone...I'm not forcing anyone to donate just asking if they want to. And it's not like they don't get anything out of it as obviously their businesses would be given credit so it's advertising for them.

tightasagnats

It's also worth trying Freecyle - www.freecycle.org - look for your local group. People may well have new stuff, unwanted gifts for example to donate.

Also, personal visits to local shops can be productive...and large stores such as Waitrose, often big local companies like to get involved in community events.

Good luck!

Liz_M

Thanks - I have joined up to freecycle but it is a bit confusing (or I am just being slow!)...I joined up on the website then joined my local group and I am now getting emails of things being offered and taken...but I don't see a website where you can see a list of what's on offer? Is there a site or is it all done through emails? Do I have to sign up to Yahoo Groups AS WELL as the website to see the offered items?