We’ve received quite a few tips from others on how to get your local “big box store” or corporation to support or help with your fundraising activities. A few ideas include:
- Always ask for “in-kind” donations, such as items for your event. Ask Trader Joes to donate bottled water and granola bars for your run/walk, Costco to donate paper goods for your bake sale, a sign company to donate signage for your event, a website development company to help you with your web stuff, etc.
- If the big box store gets a lot of traffic in your town, ask them to allow you to set up a booth in the front of the store for a bake sale, raffle, donation table, etc.
- Approach restaurants about donating a portion of a day’s proceeds. Many corporate restaurants do this on a regular basis, giving 10% to 15% of a days pre-tax sales, and we’ve found that local restaurants can be even more helpful.
- Ask both local stores and corporations to sponsor your event by making a donation towards your goal for logo placement on all of your marketing materials.
- Ask stores to donate gift cards and items to be used as prizes.
- And consider asking a “big box” store to give you a grant towards your campaign.
It’s always best to speak directly with the manager of your local store — tell them what you are doing, why you are doing it, and what you are trying to accomplish — and be specific with exactly what you are asking them to help you with. Don’t expect them to just offer. With fundraisers and campaigns we’ve run in the past, we’ve been extremely surprised by the willingness of corporations or local businesses to help and support a good cause — you just need to ask and ask with confidence!
With the “big box” stores, Walmart specifically, the manager may ask for a letter, on the letterhead of your sponsoring nonprofit organization, including their tax I.D. number and a description of the event. Families of SMA is happy to provide this for you. Simply contact Tim Walker at FSMA for more information:
Tim Walker
Fundraising Director
(800) 886-1762
tim@FSMA.org
Good luck, have fun, and keep sending us your fundraiser ideas, events, and success stories!
