Business donations?

[Kaylee's Mommy]

How do you go about asking businesses for donation.. I have made up a letter.. do I mail it or personally drop it off? what type of businesses to you go to? this is one area I didn't do much with last year.. but would like to try and get more businesses involved this year..

[WestinsMom]

I have only done it one year, but I mainly hit business we do business with. Those people know Westin and they are happy to help. I just sent letters and included a picture to make sure they made the connection. Otherwise, if you are hitting businesses that don't know you, I would go in person and take your child. Plus it is a great learning experience for your child. Let them tell a little about themselves and about life with diabetes.

[Lindy]

I agree - we are organizing a Walk here for Aug. 18th - and the businesses I have gotten the best replies from have been those that we do business with often - I also went in and personally talked with the others.. I hit all the local pharmacies and the local Walmart is writing a grant for us... Some businesses were very turned off by asking them for a donation.... Oh well!

[khoward1017]

I do both! I mail out a letter that includes a picture and then hand out packets to business near me. I have received a few donations for our walk team by handing out both. One thing that I just started and not sure if it will be successful or not is to call the business and ask to talk to the commuity events coordinator. I then tell her what I am doing and just ask if I could fax or email her her/him some information. I have my fingers crossed and hope it works. I do this so that I can put a hyperlink in the email that shows my son's video story. It is so moving to me that I hope that everyone is touched by it enough to make a contribution.

[Thoover]

When we did this for our first walk in April, we typed up a letter all about Brittney's diagnosis and what we actually have gone through from day one. They actually get the feel for what Diabetes is in Type 1's. This letter went to alot of the Heating and AC companies that my husband deals with but they will donate. Get the bigger companies and some grocery stores will donate as well.

Ask the company about matching donations. If their employees donate ask if they will match their contributions. We got about $2,000.00 of matching donations off alot of business's.

I know over here at Safeway grocery store they have power donating hour. All they ask for is $1.00 or more from the shopper to be donated to a certain cause. This week is prostate cancer. They also have water jugs (of course empty) at each register. You could see if you could put those in a grocery store for one week with Kylee's pic and a little about her on them to raise money.

Good luck.