I have always been more luckey with face to face asking. Or another tactic i use is when I am actually shopping in the store or eating at the restuarant I ask them at that time so they know that I am a customer as well. I ask through out the year and just keep the forms of request in the car.

Laura
www.westayhome.com

I have found that local businesses, especially "mom and pops" are more likely to donate than larger ones. I think the response is much better. They like the advertising and being involved in the community.

Thanks Cindy, I'll let you know how we do.
Good luck tomorrow nite!!!
Jan

We are having our auction tomorrow night and I was in charge of business letters. This year I sent out about 400 letters in the beginning of January we received about 50 actual donations. I did receive about 15-20 that said they didn't/couldn't donate the rest I never heard from. Most of our businesses we sent to were local but there were a few national ones.
One donation we received happened to be a Cruise for two, the person who was in charge of donations was a alumni of our school. What are the chances of that happening otherwise we wouldnt have gotten one.

I dont think there is an acutal rhyme or reason to how they donate. I think many businesses are asked so much they just can't all say yes.


Good Luck


Cindy

I've sent about 150 solicitation requests to national corporations, etc. The letters all went out 1/24/06, and so far we've had respnses from about 40 of them. They range from yes, no, send in an application, or return-to-sender.
There are atleast 100 more we have yet to hear from. Are most letters answered, or do many places not bother sending any reply.

By the way, local sports teams are very responsive. Red Lobster sent a $15 gift card. Hershey-no, Kellogg-no,Exxon-no,Regis-2 studio tickets,office max-website application,Purine-no,
staples-no.

Please post a reply, or contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thanks, Jan, AKA Rachel's mom