How to Get Companies to Donate to Your Charity

If you are struggling to fund the operations of your nonprofit organization, charitable donations from large companies could help. Corporate sponsorships, volunteer grants, and other support efforts can provide the necessary resources to assist underserved communities.

How should you approach companies with donation requests?

Continue reading to see what our charity experts at Easy Donation PickUp recommend.

Why Should You Ask for Company Donations?

Many nonprofit organizations – especially those just getting off the ground – struggle to financially support charitable campaigns for those in need. Nonprofits typically require expensive resources to organize, such as:

• Computers, mobile devices, and field technology
• A sizable volunteer force
• Communication and public outreach teams
• Transportation and heavy equipment

Most charities start by accepting cash donations from locals and online donors. Often, this strategy is not enough to sustain large-scale charity efforts in their local communities.

Fortunately, corporate giving programs from large companies can cushion some of the financial burdens needed to fund comprehensive economic and community development projects.

Federal tax benefits incentivize companies to make substantial financial and product donations to local nonprofits. Many businesses also make contributions to support causes that align with their brand’s values. You should partner with these corporate entities for charitable grants and sponsorships that could help your organization achieve positive change.

Is It Easier to Ask for Monetary Gifts or In-Kind Donations?

Companies of all sizes can support nonprofits with regular monetary contributions called cash grants. These direct payments support local organizations in their efforts to revitalize communities or assist with disaster relief programs abroad. A recipient can use grant money to purchase equipment, feed their workforce, and field transportation throughout the campaign.

Companies can also establish matching gift programs in which a nonprofit can receive additional money from employee contributions. This practice is popular among larger corporations like General Electric, Disney, and Coca-Cola. However, some companies only match employee donations up to a certain dollar amount – anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000 or more.

Alternatively, in-kind donations supply physical resources to nonprofits, such as computers, food, toys, etc. Volunteers can transport these charitable contributions directly to storage facilities and food banks to save time.

Which type of charitable donation should you request? The answer varies depending on a company’s available resources.

For example, a company with a matching gift program may not offer in-kind donations if they do not have the tangible resources to spare. Other companies may utilize every type of donation program. It’s important to ask questions during your request to see which corporate donations are available to you.

Things That Nonprofit Organizations Need Before Submitting a Request

Complete research on each company before submitting grant requests. Most companies are transparent about whether they accept donation requests or not. Unsolicited grant proposals can damage your reputation with corporate donors and waste valuable time.

It’s a good idea to create a shortlist of multiple companies in case some decide not to partner with your organization. Good candidates might include:

• Companies that donate to nonprofits in your sector
• Companies that are transparent about their finances
• Companies with a long history of charitable giving and corporate philanthropy efforts
• Companies that are vocal about your organization’s cause

Some entities – like Walmart, Tesla, or Google – may seem like excellent candidates for a nonprofit like yours. However, these popular companies receive hundreds of requests from charitable organizations every year, which may cause yours to become lost in their inbox. In most cases, smaller companies will be more willing to donate and invest in their local communities.

In addition, take the time to identify the correct board member or department before submitting corporate giving requests. Staff may ignore your mail if you use a catch-all address, like “To the Google Team.” The marketing manager (or the CEO of small businesses) will typically handle requests like these.

You can find individual contacts through LinkedIn or the “Contact” pages of company websites.

How Should You Ask for Donations From Companies?

If you are ready to submit a request, follow this step-by-step guide for the best results:

Respect Each Company’s Donation Request Procedures

Every company drafts its own donation request procedure. They typically outline these guidelines for nonprofits on their websites or offer them per request.

Some companies will prevent nonprofits from submitting requests during certain times of the year for accounting purposes. For example, Pfizer – a leader in the healthcare workforce – only accepts applications four times a year, with submissions typically lasting just over a month.

You should expect to provide some common information on all your request forms, including:

• Proof of your organization’s 501(c)(3) tax status
• The type of donation program from which you wish to receive resources (i.e., matching gift program, employee volunteers program, local grants, etc.)
• An IRS-issued W-9 form for tax purposes
• A brief description of your organization’s cause

Tailor Your Donation Requests

Cookie-cutter donation requests rarely work, especially for prominent companies that receive multiple donor requests throughout the year. Tailor each application to appeal to the company’s values and history of charitable giving.

You can start by establishing a formal connection if you already have one. Name-drop a representative from the company that you or someone from your organization may know on a personal or professional level. This method already sets your nonprofit apart from dozens of other applicants.

Discuss which type of donation you would like and why you are approaching this specific company to receive it.

Suppose your organization seeks to fund the construction of educational institutions like public and private schools. In that case, you could recognize your potential donor’s past community grants or economic development contributions.

Discuss How a Donation Can Help Your Cause

You should explain in detail how the prospective donor’s contributions will help your organization achieve its goals. This step is essential if your nonprofit is new or confronts issues that may not be familiar to the mainstream discourse. Explain the history of your organization and offer examples of past success.

For instance, suppose you are approaching a company to help fund rebuilding after a natural disaster. You can explain how your nonprofit will productively organize charitable resources to aid disaster response and hunger relief, as reflected by your experience in previous campaigns.

It is also practical to present your organization’s future goals and potential fundraising ideas if you seek a long-term sponsor. Keep your introductions brief and allow the company time to respond per request.

Offer Multiple Donation Solutions When You Submit Requests

A small company that does not have the financial capacity to support cash grants may offer a volunteer grant. This donation program lets employees volunteer to help nonprofits organize building projects, fundraising events, or other tasks that require an extensive workforce.

You may not be seeking a volunteer grant as an initial donation. Still, you should keep these options available for prospective donors. A volunteer grant may allow you to manage multiple charitable projects while you continue to scout for other donors.

Suppose you have an established donor that let employees volunteer in the past and can now afford cash donations. In this scenario, you may earn a larger contribution by promoting a matching gift program that includes multiple donors.

A matching gift program encourages multiple donors to work together toward more impactful goals – such as environmental sustainability – and offer higher funding toward your campaign.

Discuss How a Company’s Donation Can Impact Their Bottomline

In a perfect world, companies donate money to your cause just to make the community a better place to live. In reality, donations can drain company resources, discouraging leadership from partnering with your organization.

You must convince prospective donors that donations from companies like theirs will support a worthy cause and positively impact their bottom line.

For instance, sizable donations from companies could help your organization fund land development for affordable housing. A lower cost of living may allow consumers to spend more on their local economies, directing profit back to the donor.

Charities also boost the public image of donors significantly. Branding, fundraiser outings, and press releases allow companies to advertise for free and grow closer to their communities and target markets. You can add their logos to your organization’s online list of donors or on physical plaques or posters.

Follow Up On Your Request

It could take several days or weeks to hear back from a potential donor after submitting your request. Keep the lines of communication open by following up over email or phone. Larger companies may even expect a representative from your organization to appear in person.

Don’t forget to conclude every interaction with a “Thank you.” Many business professionals take time out of their busy schedules to speak with you and your representatives. Let them know you are serious about your partnership by expressing appreciation.

Continue to Nurture Your Network

Whether you received donations from companies on your list or not, continue to nurture a professional relationship with every point of contact. Building a network of reputable donors increases your organization’s credibility and may be vital during future campaigns.

You can keep your donors updated with your organization’s progress by explicitly mentioning how their contributions helped your campaigns succeed. This method shows them that their money and resources went to good use, encouraging them to continue giving. Other strategies include:

• Creating a donors-only email list
• Sending holiday cards to thank them for continuing contributions and support
• Giving donors priority seating at organization banquets or fundraisers

Do Most Eligible Nonprofits Succeed When Asking for Donations?

Sometimes nonprofits must submit several applications to a potential donor before securing a contribution.

Don’t let this practice discourage you from seeking support from prominent companies. Continue to build a body of work demonstrating your organization’s successes and emphasize any progress made since your last request. This method could sway new donors to support your cause.

Mistakes Many Eligible Organizations Make When Requesting Donations That You Should Avoid

Some organizations lose potential donors when they become overzealous in their causes. This behavior can turn companies away if they believe your nonprofit may harm its reputation with risky social outreach or impractical campaigns. Try to be reasonable when pitching your cause and respond non-judgmentally to any questions or concerns donors may have about your methods.

You could also annoy potential donors if you reject contributions that differ from what you seek. Remember, not every company can afford a matching gift program or cash contribution. Don’t damage your reputation with other nonprofits in your sector by closing the door on donors offering alternative resources.

Learn More with Easy Donation PickUp

At Easy Donation PickUp, we can help you do good for the community by picking up your donations. You can schedule a large donation pickup using our online tool. Explore our list of approved items to see how you can make a difference.

Contact us at Easy Donation PickUp today. Call 855-628-8387 to learn more.