Writing begging letters!

littlestar1981

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post.

I'm going to volunteer at an orphanage in Tanzania soon, and there's always things they need so I want to write some letters to companies asking for donations. I've already exhausted the freebies board for bits and bats!

What can I write apart from the old "I am writing on behalf of X, which is a Baby Home in Tanzania, this is what they do. As this is a charitable organisation, I was wondering whether or not your company would be willing to provide a donation - X struggles to get some items in Tanzania and if you could make a donation we would be so grateful."

Looking for craft items and baby stuff (nappy liners wet wipes antibacterial gel etc)

thanks!

Nenen

I've no personal experience of this but wondered if it would be worth you telephoning first to find out who to address the letter to? I guess the success of your 'mission' would be very largely dependent on the person receiving the letter and you don't want it going stright in the bin. Perhaps you could include a photo and/or mini- CV about yourself too so that they know you are genuine.

When I was involved in sending Christmas shoe boxes we got a good donation from the Cannon Rubber factory (now called 'Avent' I think) in Glemsford, Suffolk. They manufacture baby bottles (only to be used in orphanages and not to encourage bottle-feeding of infants whose mothers are able to breastfeed), feeding cups etc . However, this may have been because they were very local to us and were keen to support local people involved in charity work. Likewise a local chemist were very generous.

It might be worth you approaching any appropriate local retailers in person as they are often keen to help if they know you are local. Maybe you could trawl round friends (and friends of friends) for anyone working for companies and retailers who might help.
It might also be worth you contacting your local churches and asking if they have any contacts or would let you do a stall at their summer fete etc.

There are also some recycling units that take in unwanted paper and items suitable to distribute for craft for schools, playgroups, youth clubs etc to have (sometimes you have to pay a small joining fee).

Another alternative would be to do a boot sale and tell all your friends and family that anything they care to donate will be sold and proceeds go to buying some of the items needed.

Good luck

Ianna

I've found going round shops with a letter of permission and a friendly smile often turns up trumps. So does being specific about what you want e.g. gel, blankets, nappies or whatever.

IME when you're writing letters it helps to make it handwritten and personal. For example "Dear Mr Kipling, I love your cakes so much and over the past ten years have spent hundreds of pounds on cakes. My favourite are cherry bakewells. In return for my devotion to your product I'm asking for blah blah this is the charity blah blah"

Also helps if you've got an ongoing relationship e.g. if they've delivered to your address. They know you're a genuine customer then.

Is there anywhere that you can publicise them? Do you have a website for the orphanage, newsletter or something that you can put a gushing thing up bout the company? lots of companies would be very happy to have pictures of smiling children with a caption about how they're so grateful to X company for their generous donation of Y. Sounds a little cold I know but heck, we're in a capitalist society. Same goes for local radio, could you blag an interview or mention on local radio where you show your gratitude for X?

Last thing...have you tried freecycle? I've got some fantastic things for charity from there. Lots of people have old giftsets or clothes or whatever lying around that they don't want and would love to go to charity. Think how many kids clothes kids barely wear before they shoot out of them - plenty of parents would LOVE them to go to charity. It can be very hit and miss (I'll never forget travelling for 20 minutes to collect what turned out to be 4 nearly empty shampoo bottles) but it can be fantastic (I actually got given a tv believe it or not). Worth a go.

vivatifosi

Hi littlestar,

There are some real charity gurus on here who hopefully will come along and help soon. I've done a bit of fundraising, and hope that the following suggestions help.

1. There's a book (if not several) that you can get on writing charitable approaches to companies. You should be able to find it in the library. When I was writing letters I found both the way they wrote letters and the system they used (eg writing back to say thanks for considering, even when unsuccessful) very good.

2. Either your local voluntary centre, council or library may have access to information such as funderfinder, to help identify the trusts and companies able to help. Well worth looking at.

Good luck, and have a wonderful experience in Tanzania!

mercman1969

Littlestar

I would highly recommend visiting the following business forum

www.mumszone.co.uk

This is a great forum aimed at Work At Home Mums

there are lots of small businesses on there and I would imagine that many would be more than happy to help

If you mention Pete from pvcprinting in your thread it will not come across as you spamming them

Good Luck

Pete

Debt_Free_Dreamer

I have collected for charity events lots of times before. Usually I would just go into the shop and ask to see the Manager. When the tidal wave on Boxing day occured we held a cake sale, books sale, raffles etc., at work. A colleague and I were responsible for the cake stand. We just visited Sainsburys and Tesco's and spoke to the people in charge, we took a letter stating who we were on official letter headed paper.

Tesco's gave us 75 Danish Pastry cakes which I collected on the morning of the sale. Totally cleared their shelves as the manager had not informed the bakers to make more. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Sainsburys gave us loads of boxed cakes and we came away with loads of bags full staright away.

As stated before, you could organise a cake sale somewere to raise the money you need to buy some of the items you want. Do you work for a large organisation? Could you hold the event at work? If not, why not contact the local council and use a venue in the town and hold a coffee morning in the town hall for example.

vodkawitch1

Write to radio stations and agents for music bands etc. We have always had a good response from these places.

Valli

When I was collecting donations for Toddler Group (eg easter Eggs for easter raffle) I always tooks a letter - but turned up in person. Try not to turn up at busy times, and, if you do get stuff - esp, say a big craft donation take a photo of the kids using the, go back and show them... develop an 'ongoing relationship'.

oldtoolie

You are not 'begging' if you are doing this for a good cause and not for yourself. You won't have much success if you feel guilty or obsequious about politely asking for support.

Letters don't have much impact if the recipient doesn't know who they came from. Businesses and companies are just bunches of people, so it is people you are asking for support. Personal contact is the key in this type of fundraising.

If the organisation you are raising support for is not registered in the UK as a charity, you cannot call this fundraising 'charitable'. It could still be for a good cause but 'charity' is a legal description that could not apply.

How do you intend to transport these item to Tanzania? If it is in you personal luggage, you can't take much, so personal contacts should insure you acquire enough.

If you are thinking of shipping in any other way -- investigate shipping costs and import taxes before hand. It probably will not be worth it. Cash is always the easiest way to deliver aid.

Don't forget that nappy liners, wet wipes, antibacterial gel are not essential items for healthy babies. My mother did not have any of these things and we survived. I guess 90 % of the people in the world today don't have them either.

You might want to look at a book like "Where There is No Doctor," to see how things can be done with minimal resources.

Trying to run an orphanage in Tanzania the same way as a creche in the UK is not sustainable.

LillyJ

Ask local stationery shops, you may get more joy out of independent ones rather than Smiths and the like. They often have slightly damaged stock ie where the packaging is damaged that they can't sell. Things like packs of coloured paper etc. They may be willing to give you these.
I did this when I was working in Zambia.
How are you going to transport the items? We had a bit of trouble getting it all over there (we were mainly taking medical supplies) as we hadn't ordered enough air freight crates. They are very expensive as well, and so the worth of the items in the crates has to be enough to make it worthwile rather than using the money to buy over there. (Most things can be bought over there in the cities). If you are planning to just take the stuff on board with you, consider your luggage allowance- you will go over it most likely, and end up with excess luggage. They don't tend to waive the fee even for charities (we did ask.)


For medical supplies, we asked the medical school at the university if anyone had parents who were GPs and could donate things like packets of gloves. The response was excellent and we got all sorts. Most people just donated a couple of things each but with 2500 students at the medical school it all added up.

Also is this a registered charity? You may find it much easier if it is as most larger companies won't give to anything without a number. Include the number on all correspondence.

full-time-mum

Are you just after new stuff?

I've got nearly a whole packet of pull-up pants which I would willingly donate. Unfortunately, I'm not in your area and I've looked at the postage and it would be cheaper to buy a new packet.
I'm sure that there are loads of mum's in the same position with half-used packs when their child got potty trained or moved to the next size. How about approaching toddler groups/local NCT etc. You might also get donations of second-hand toys and clothes too.