Does anyone know companies that may donate supplies to charity?

bees_2

I'm working for a charity that is well known but just setting up in my area. I am looking for companies large or small that may donate or offer reduced rate on their products. Can anyone think of any companies that do this? I'm racking my brains and coming up with not a lot!

We need basics such as a laminator, overhead projector, laptop, as well as smaller things such as acetate sheets.

Please anyone help!

Savvy_Sue

InKind Direct may have some of what you want: there's (I think) a £50 annual fee but your head office may already have joined. TBH you're more likely to get the acetate sheets through them than the pricier things, but sometimes they have that kind of thing.

They certainly do 'office in a box' packs where you get a mixed bag of basic things which will almost never go to waste, so one of them might be useful!

Also can head office not give any advice / suggestions?

bees_2

Thanks, I'll get the finance people to look into that.

Since we're only just starting up and I've only just joined the committee I don't know what head office have got arranged but I've told the appropriate people about InKind Direct. Thanks

I'm looking into getting in touch with places like PCworld and seeing if they do charity discounts/freebies, nothing ventured nothing gained!

Ianna

Most companies will be happy to offer you something if you give them something e.g. a link on your website, a sign in your shop or a piece in your newsletter gushing about their generosity. My advice is just get the yellow pages and ring round to see what you can get.

oldtoolie

Two suggestions:

Watch the local business news for companies going out of business or closing branches. Sometimes they will give away surplus items. After a phone call, we were offered our choice of 30 forklift trucks from a major company in our area closing a plant.

Join your local FreeCycle: it is remarkable what people want to get rid of.

Larry Boyd
Tools for Self Reliance
https://www.tfsr.org

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Thanks to MSE for making TFSR one of your charities of the year

vivatifosi

I'm a bit late in replying to this (like a month - about a decade in internet terms)... but you should check with your local libraries as to whether they have a copy of the UK Guide to Company Giving, published by the Directory for Social Change.

This lists all companies who make donations (handy for any charity) and what type of organisation they help (eg children's charities, health, religious, other). They also list donations in kind that they offer.

The books themselves are not very expensive, about £25-30 if my memory serves me correctly, and can be bought from the Directory for Social Change. Alternatively, libraries quite often sell their out of date versions for a couple of quid, so ask if they will put it aside for you.