Articles
Guides and articles on getting product donations and running better fundraisers. For the fill-in templates, checklists, and planners that go with them, see free fundraising resources.
What Should You Do When a Company Says No or Never Replies? — Work out what kind of no it was, decide whether silence is the answer, and fill the gap with a company whose lead time still fits your event date. Then thank the decliner and note when to ask again.
Do Hardware and Home Improvement Stores Donate to Fundraisers? — The big chains mostly fund building projects, not raffle prizes: Home Depot through foundation grants, Lowe's through nominated Community Impact Grants. For a prize, ask a locally owned hardware store or garden center. Here is which ask fits which need.
Do Pet Stores Donate to Fundraisers? — Mostly at the local store, not through a corporate program. We found no company-wide Petco donation program at our last check, so a pet store ask is usually an in-person request to a manager or an independent shop owner. Here is how to make it and what to ask for.
Do Car Dealerships and Auto Companies Donate to Local Events? — Some do, and usually locally: the Harley-Davidson dealerships in our directory decide requests for their own area, AAA Club Alliance and New Hampshire Motor Speedway take written requests, and Quick Quack offers a wash-pass sale.
Which Bookstores and Toy Companies Donate to Fundraisers? — Books-A-Million donates a $20 gift card, Barnes & Noble runs Bookfairs instead of donations, and Crayola, Vermont Teddy Bear and Oriental Trading take requests. Build-A-Bear, American Girl and Toys R Us show no active program.
What Should an In-Kind Donation Receipt or Acknowledgment Letter Include? — Your organization's name, the company's name, the date you received the gift, a plain description of the item and quantity, and whether you gave anything in return. Leave the dollar value to the company. General information, not tax advice.
Do Golf Courses Donate Rounds of Golf to Fundraisers? — Some do, and a round for four with a cart is a strong auction item. Few golf companies publish a program, though: Snowshoe Mountain offers a midweek round for four, Topgolf gives game play certificates, and Callaway gives product.
What Should You Ask Companies to Donate for a Charity Golf Outing? — Ask for items that work on the course and at the prize table: game play certificates, rounds of golf, golf product, coolers and dinner cards. Know which golf brands donate and which sell at a discount instead.
Do Wineries and Breweries Donate to Fundraiser Auctions? — Some do, but alcohol donations come with conditions other prizes do not: licenses, age limits, state law and home-area rules. Total Wine & More offers a private wine class as an auction item; Dogfish Head gives beer only to licensed Delaware groups.
What Can You Get Donated for a 5K or Fun Run, and Who Do You Ask? — Ask for three things: race-day drinks and snacks, prizes for finishers and raffles, and post-race food. Emergen-C, Wawa, Kwik Trip, Trader Joe's and Big 5 Sporting Goods all run programs that fit a run.
Should You Ask Companies for Donations at Year-End or on Giving Tuesday? — Yes, if you ask for what company programs actually give: a restaurant give-back night on Giving Tuesday itself, and product requests for winter and spring events. Do not count on last-minute December prizes.
Do Zoos, Aquariums and Museums Donate Passes to Fundraisers? — Many do, usually as two to four admission passes for a raffle or auction, and almost always only for groups in their own region. Here is what each program in our directory gives, who it excludes, and how it wants to be asked.
What Does a Month-by-Month Spring Gala Procurement Calendar Look Like? — For an April gala, start in September: set up the committee and paperwork, send long-lead requests in October and November, the main wave in January, and close procurement in March.
Which Airlines Donate Flights or Travel to Fundraisers? — Very few. Delta takes charitable giving requests through an online portal, SkyWest says it does not give air travel for fundraising events, and we found no program for JetBlue or Southwest. A cruise or hotel stay is often the easier travel prize.
What Should a Sponsorship Letter to a Local Business Say? — A sponsorship letter asks a local business for money in exchange for recognition it can see. It should say who you are, what the money is for, one specific amount, what the business gets in return, a deadline, and who to contact, all on one page.
How Do You Get a Donation From a National Company Versus a Local Store? — From a national company you usually apply online, with your 501(c)(3) details and weeks of notice; from a local store you usually hand a written request or the company's printed form to the manager or donation coordinator. Many chains use both routes.
Which Outdoor and Sporting Goods Companies Donate to Fundraisers? — Bass Pro Shops (with Cabela's), Big 5 Sporting Goods, Grizzly Coolers, Garmin and Callaway Golf take donation requests that can fit a fundraiser. DICK'S gives invitation-only grants, not prizes, and YETI sells to nonprofits at a discount instead of donating.
Which Companies Donate to Veterans' Organizations and Fundraisers? — Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Callaway Golf, Cabot Cheese, Topgolf and the San Diego Padres all name military or veterans causes in their donation guidelines. Here is what each asks for.
Which Companies Donate to Animal Shelters and Rescue Fundraisers? — A few companies in our directory name animals or pets as a giving focus: Smucker's, Topgolf, Long Island Aquarium and the Indianapolis Zoo. Here is what each asks for, and which to skip.
Will Companies Donate to a Benefit for One Person or Family? — Usually not. Books-A-Million, Kroger, Whole Foods, Topgolf, Wegmans, J.M. Smucker, Canon and Lowes Foods all list individuals or benefits among the requests they exclude. Here is what their rules say, and the routes that do work when your community wants to help one person or family.
What Should a Donation Request Email to a Company Say? — Five things on one phone screen: who you are, the event and date, one specific item, when you need it, and your nonprofit status. First check the company takes email at all: Wegmans and ALDI don't, and Books-A-Million takes nothing else. Templates for the first email and the follow-up.
Do Grocery Stores Donate Food and Gift Cards to Fundraisers? — Many do, mostly through the local store and mostly as food rather than gift cards. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and The Fresh Market decide at the store; Wegmans, Kroger and ALDI take requests online. Here is what each grocer's own page says it gives, and the limits that trip people up.
Do Companies Donate to Churches and Church Fundraisers? — Some do, many don't; the line is usually religious purpose versus community service. Books-A-Million names churches; Kroger and Wegmans exclude members-only or religious-purpose requests; Panda Express, Smucker, Pentel, Topgolf and Canon list religious groups or causes. Each rule in its own words.
Which Candy and Chocolate Companies Donate to Fundraisers? — Hershey, Just Born, Spangler, Sarris, Munson's, Sweet Candy and Creo donate candy, but almost only near their own factories. Lindt has paused until mid-January 2027. Here is where each one gives and how to ask.
What Can Companies Donate for a School Carnival or Church Festival? — Oriental Trading, gift-card donors, local candy makers, Wawa, Trader Joe's and family attractions all fit a carnival or festival. Church festivals should check each program's rules on religious organizations first.
What Prizes Can You Get Donated for Post-Prom and Project Graduation? — Gift cards from Target, Books-A-Million and Big 5, outings from Topgolf and Urban Air, and food from Trader Joe's and Wawa fit a post-prom party. The school or PTA usually has to sign, and the asking happens in winter.
How Do You Thank a Company for a Donation? — Thank the person who said yes within days, name the item, and send a written acknowledgment that describes it without a dollar value. Check the company's own rules before thanking it in public.
Do Big-Box Stores Like Lowe's, Target and Staples Donate to Fundraisers? — Mostly through grants or store-level programs, not free prizes. Target donates gift cards at local stores; Lowe's gives Community Impact Grants to renovate community spaces; Staples helps schools through shopper programs. Here is exactly what each chain does.
Which Companies Accept Donation Requests Online? — Many do: Big 5, Wegmans, Dick's, Oriental Trading, Total Wine & More, the Red Sox, Steelers, Packers and Crayola Experience take requests online. Here is what each gives, where, and how much notice it wants.
Which Companies Donate Gift Cards to Fundraisers? — Target, Books-A-Million, Big 5, The Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Outback and Benihana say on their own sites that they donate gift cards or certificates to eligible fundraisers. Here is how each one wants to be asked.
What Is a Tricky Tray? — A tricky tray is a basket raffle: guests drop chances into containers beside the prizes they want, and one winner is drawn for each prize. The name is most common in New Jersey and nearby New York and Pennsylvania.
What Goes in a Raffle Basket, and Which Companies Donate Each Theme? — Build each raffle basket around one theme and one anchor item, then fill it out. Here are basket themes matched to companies whose own sites describe a donation program, from attraction admission to gift cards.
Which Companies Donate Prizes for Holiday Fundraisers? — Gift-card donors, gift-basket and grocery companies, candy makers and family attractions all fit holiday raffles, but most ask for weeks of notice, so requests for a December event belong in the mail by October.
How Far in Advance Should You Request Donations? — Send donation requests six to ten weeks before your event — earlier for stays and high-value items, later works for gift cards and treats.
Which Companies Donate to Schools and PTAs? — Twelve companies schools and PTAs can ask for product donations — auction and raffle prizes, carnival and class-party items, books and supplies.
Which Companies Donate Products to Fundraisers? — Many national companies donate products to fundraisers. See 15 strong examples, grouped by gift cards, tickets, merchandise, and food.
Which Companies Donate Silent Auction Items? — Hotels and resorts, pro sports teams, and premium brands donate silent auction items. See 12 bid-worthy companies and why the ask must go out early.
What Companies Donate Raffle Prizes? — Gift cards, family activity passes, treats, and merchandise brands make the best raffle prizes. See 12 companies to ask and how to request them fast.
Which Companies Donate to Youth Sports Teams? — Yes — sporting goods companies, restaurants, and pro teams donate gear, food, and tickets youth teams use for raffles and banquets. See who to ask.
What Should a Donation Request Letter Include? — A donation request letter needs six things - who you are, the event and date, the ask, a deadline, tax status, and your thank-you plan. Template inside.
What Do Companies Require Before They Donate? — Most donation programs ask for tax-exempt proof, event details, and pickup logistics. Here is the checklist companies commonly request before donating.
Do You Need a 501(c)(3) to Get Product Donations? — No law requires a 501(c)(3) to ask for donations, but most company programs request tax-exempt documentation. Here are your options without one.
Fundraiser Donation Questions, Answered — How community organizations get donated products for fundraisers — who donates, how to ask, when to ask, and what the rules are.
Do Hotels and Resorts Donate Stays to Fundraisers? — Yes. Hotels, resorts, and cruise lines donate stays and travel to fundraisers. See which companies to ask, from Ritz-Carlton properties to Vail.
How Do You Ask a Company for a Donation? — Find the right contact or process, make a specific dated ask, include your organization's details, and follow up once. Steps and scripts inside.
Which Restaurants Donate to Fundraisers? — Yes — many restaurant chains donate gift cards and food to fundraisers. See who to ask, and how donations differ from percentage nights.
Do Pro Sports Teams Donate Tickets and Memorabilia? — Yes — many pro and college teams donate game tickets and signed team memorabilia to fundraisers. See which teams have programs and how requests route.
Which Theme Parks and Attractions Donate Tickets? — Yes — theme parks, museums, zoos, and activity centers donate tickets to fundraisers. See 17 attractions with donor pages and how to ask.
Who Decides Donation Requests — Corporate or the Local Store? — It depends on the company: some centralize donation requests, some let local managers decide, and many split approval by request size.
How Do You Follow Up on a Donation Request Without Being a Pest? — Wait until the review window the company states has passed, then check in once, through the channel it names. Some programs ask you not to call at all. Here are the stated windows, scripts, and when to stop.
What Free Tools Help Volunteers Run a School or Nonprofit Fundraiser? — A free sign-up tool for volunteers, a tip-funded platform for payments, auctions and raffles, a shared tracker for donation requests, and nonprofit office software if you qualify. Each tool re-checked on its own site.
What Type of Auction Is Right for Your Event? — Pick the format by your items, your room and your volunteers: a live auction for a few showpieces, a silent auction for a browsing crowd, online for supporters who can't attend, and a raffle or tricky tray for many modest prizes.
How Should a Volunteer Committee Organize Donation Requests? — Give every company one owner, keep one shared list, one document folder and one committee email, and assign pickups and thank-yous before the first request goes out. Here are the pitfalls that cost committees donations.
What Gets a Donation Request Approved, and Why Do Companies Say No? — Most declined donation requests break a rule the company already published: wrong group or event type, outside the area, too late, already given this year, wrong channel, or missing paperwork. Check them before you send.
How Do You Get a Company to Donate Again Next Year? — Thank the company promptly, tell it what the donation raised, learn how it counts its once-a-year limit, and ask again when its next window opens. Some programs only consider repeat requests after you report results.
Where Can You Find a List of Companies That Donate? — The Ultimate Donations donor list: every list we publish, organized by event, organization, company type and category, plus how each company page is checked and what "no program found" means.