Fundraising 101: How to Ask Businesses for Donations

As you consider various sources of donations for your organization or charity, businesses can be the perfect partner in supporting your important work. Unlike the process of seeking donations from family, friends, and community members, reaching out to businesses with a request letter or specific donation request requires a specific and, oftentimes, different approach.

But with these helpful considerations and simple steps, you’ll be able to determine which nearby and local businesses to reach out to, and what approaches will afford you the most success in your efforts to connect with a potential donor for a business donation.

How to Determine Which Businesses to Ask for Donations

Ensure the mission of your organization aligns with the mission of the businesses you’re targeting. If your organization focuses on children, make sure that the local business you’re approaching is also kid-focused in some way. Remember that your audience can be quite broad. For example, an organization that supports kids also affects their parents, grandparents, extended family, and more. Examine your focus broadly to encompass everyone your organization actually reaches.

In addition to mission alignment, be clear about the assets your organization brings to the table. These could include community interaction, emotional experiences, or even loyalty and authenticity. These assets may be quite valuable to a business looking to connect with their community. Highlight your ability to capture these. Also, consider the more tangible benefits of the business working with your organization, such as access to your publicity channels and showcasing their products at events or online.

How to Decide Who to Approach and What Donations to Ask For

Identify who your organization reaches and what assets you offer a business. This should help you easily decide which businesses in your community would benefit from a collaboration or partnership. No business is too small or too large. Look around your community and think about all the businesses currently serving your community members. Make a list of those that best align with your mission and would appreciate your assets.

After creating your prospective donor list, grasp what kind of contribution you’re looking for. Are you interested in monetary donations only? Are you looking for product donations like equipment, supplies, or gift cards? Or do you need volunteers and other services that donors could help with? While you may initially be interested in monetary donations, consider if a business offers products you can sell or services or equipment that you would have otherwise had to pay for. This might lead you to reconsider your ask.

It’s also possible that a business might initially offer product or service donations, but establishing that relationship now might lead to cash donations later on, once they see the success of your collaboration.

Know Your Audience: Think Like the Business You’re Approaching

To seek out the support of a business, think like one. A transaction between an organization and a business is a business transaction, so the more you understand why they’d want to work with you, the easier the conversation will be when you schedule a meeting.

A local community business may be looking to reach more customers, so show them your current reach and your ability to help them achieve that goal. Collaboration with your organization may help them improve their image and appearance to community members. Showcase this benefit to help the collaboration become a reality.

Timing is also important. If a local organization has already budgeted their planned giving for the year, your donation letter might hit at a time when they can only make a small donation, but establishing that relationship could still lead to more charitable giving in the future.

It’s also possible that the business is looking to provide their employees with a meaningful experience, whether as a benefit or as a team-building activity. Perhaps they could attend your fundraising event as a team-building activity for their employees.

There’s no “wrong answer” for the “why.” Just be clear on what the businesses you are approaching might want to get out of their charitable donation and partnership with your organization so that you can ensure your fundraising effort aligns with their wants.

Key Takeaways

An online fundraising store can be a high-impact way to drive donations and fund your organization. We recommend ensuring you have a clear and documented strategy before you launch, which will help you get the most out of your efforts.

Learn more about how to manage all of your fundraising efforts on one digital platform, and sign up for your free Destiny Fundraising Manager account today!