Asking for In-Kind Donations

Wish Granter Webinar

In-Kind Overview In-kind gifts are donations or discounts of goods or

services instead of cash gifts.

By securing in-kind donations on the foundation’s behalf, you help us keep the cash cost for each wish lower.

In-kind donations enable vendors to be directly involved in a wish. Most businesses expect to be asked for donations and have budgeted for charitable giving. Donating towards a wish gives them a very direct sense of involvement.

Asking for in-kind donations can be intimidating, so remember…

Make-A-Wish has a very recognizable brand and people want to be a part of what we do. By asking a local business to get involved, you are sharing the power of a wish. In-kind donors are often thankful to have been a part of the experience.

The worst that can happen is that they say no. If so, they may be able to offer a discount instead.

Don’t let a few “no’s” discourage you and don’t assume it will happen again!

Finding the Courage

Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley’s goal is to ensure that at least every wish has some type of in-kind.

As a wish granter, we ask that you aim to get at least one in-kind donation per wish.

Just because you have a budget for wish enhancements, doesn’t mean you must use it. There is no limit on in-kind totals!

Take advantage of toys, and games that the Make-A-Wish office already has in the toy closets!

In-Kind Goals

National Partnerships: National partnerships may help you secure in-kind for a particular wish! E-mail your Wish Coordinator for us to guide you in the right direction!

Local Businesses: Local businesses typically want to give back to their community and won’t send you to their corporate office. It is also usually easier to get in touch with the manager or decision maker.

Friends & Family: Many people are inspired by what you do and want to help! Give them suggestions of exactly what you need!

Who To Ask

Out of Territory Companies: Please do not reach out to companies outside of our 8-county territory. If a local business redirects you to a corporate office out of our territory, please contact the wish staff so we can get permission from the Make-A-Wish chapter in that area.

National/Local Make-A-Wish Sponsors: Contact wish staff before approaching any companies on our Sponsors List (next slide), even if they have a local store in our territory. Due to partnerships that already exist, there may be specific procedures in place for requests.

Sports Teams or Celebrities: Make-A-Wish has relationships with the entertainment and sports industries already in place and must follow specific procedures for all requests.

Who Not to Ask

Toys “R” Us Dunkin Donuts GameStop WWE Cold Stone Creamery Walt Disney, Universal Studios, SeaWorld Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Lines Applebee’s Petland or Petco Macy’s Brooks Brothers Things Remembered

National Sponsor List

Plan: Develop a list of items needed and identify vendors. Give yourself time, as a business may need a couple of weeks to respond to requests.

Prepare: Prepare paperwork and identify the decision-maker. Ask about non-peak times, so you can approach them when they’re not busy.

Introduce: In-person is always better than phone or e-mail. (Wear your MAW button/shirt if in person.) Let them know you are a volunteer and explain our mission with enthusiasm, but remember to keep it brief.

Make the Ask: Always be professional and courteous. Offer to submit the request in writing on foundation letterhead. Make sure you are asking for a specific item/service and giving a specific timeframe. If a vendor tells you no, ask when a better time to request a donation might be or ask for the employee discount.

Thank: Regardless of the answer, always say thank you! If they say yes, be sure to complete paperwork and send a personalized thank you. (MAW will send an acknowledgement letter for tax purposes as well.)

Making the Ask

It is important that you submit a completed “In-Kind Donation List” to the office for every donation you receive. We need to track all donations in our system and make sure that donors receive acknowledgement letters for tax purposes. Please fill out the form completely and submit no later than 10 days after the completion of the wish.

We know that some wish granters make personal in-kind donations during the wish. This is not required, but if you do contribute, you must also complete the form!

Reporting In-Kind

Finding the Right Person: Sometimes it can be tricky identifying who makes the decisions when it comes to donations. It’s best to ask upfront rather than repeatedly sharing your compelling story with the wrong audience.

Timing: Sometimes, companies have already given their allotted donations for the year. If so, don’t be afraid to ask when their giving will begin again, as it may still fit within the wish’s timeframe or can be a resource for your next wish.

Waiting Game: Sometimes, businesses will say they want to help but it can be difficult to get a call back after the initial ask. Don’t assume their busy schedule means they don’t want to help. Continue to follow up and remind them of your deadline. Ask if e-mailing would work better.

Common Challenges

View sample of the In-Kind Solicitation letter in the Wish Portal section called Manuals &

Guides.

Sample Solicitation Letter

Please send a personalized thank you letter or handwritten note to the donor within 10 days of receiving the donation.

If you need Make-A-Wish letterhead, notecards and/or envelopes sent to you, just let us know!

View sample of the In-Kind Thank You note in the Wish Portal section called Manuals & Guides.

Sample Thank You Note

Questions?Comments?Thoughts?

Contact me directly at aalmanza@hudson.wish.org

The End!