| Do you need to request products samples for an | | | | policies, and compose your letter, following the |
| event you are organizing? Do you need to request | | | | instructions listed in the policies. |
| bulk freebies for fundraising? Do you need to find | | | | You may have better response rates from local |
| sponsors for product donations? | | | | companies. Try contacting companies that have |
| Here are strategies to help you request freebies and | | | | target markets of your event or your organization. |
| samples from companies and sponsors. You should | | | | For example, I helped to organize a youth artwork |
| be aware that the offers posted on many free stuff | | | | contest. I contacted local fast food companies and |
| sites are not suitable for bulk requests. These sites | | | | youth clothing companies for the contest prizes. I |
| list free stuff offered by corporations that use free | | | | was able to get a large duffle bag, a sweatshirt, and |
| offers to promote their products and services. | | | | several gift certificates from local businesses. |
| Generally, these companies limit their samples to one | | | | When you are successful in requesting the samples, |
| per person, family, or an organization. | | | | be sure to write thank you letters, including photos |
| The best way to request multiple samples is to | | | | and videos to show how the samples were used and |
| approach national and local manufacturers, stores, or | | | | how the companies received recognitions. |
| companies directly. Visit their web sites and search | | | | Here are additional resources to help you request |
| for contact information of their corporate giving | | | | multiple free samples: |
| departments, public relations, or customer services. | | | | 1. Read “Secret Ways to Get Free Stuff” to |
| Then, email, write, or call to request the samples. | | | | find more examples of contacting companies directly |
| You should consider writing letters using your | | | | and asking for free stuff. |
| organizations’ letterheads. In your letters, be | | | | 2. Contact nonprofit groups such as Gifts in Kind |
| sure to explain what you would like to request, why | | | | International. These groups take extra inventories |
| you need them, how you are going to use them, and | | | | from manufacturers and redistribute them to other |
| how you would recognize the companies for their | | | | nonprofits. You may have to complete applications |
| generosity. | | | | and wait to use these services. |
| When you contact large, national companies, you | | | | 3. Visit fundraising sites for resources at Yahoo! |
| may want to find out if the companies have formal | | | | Directory of Fundraising |
| corporate giving policies. Use a search engine and | | | | 4. Read books on fundraising. Visit the site below for |
| search for the corporate giving or donation policies. | | | | fundraising titles that you are able to locate in your |
| Keywords to try are the company’s name and | | | | local libraries. |
| “corporate giving” or the company’s | | | | Good luck and best wishes on your efforts in |
| name and “donation.” Then, determine if | | | | requesting multiple samples and donations. |
| your events or your organizations correspond to the | | | | |