School Auction Blog

6 Responses to “How can I get a T.V. donation for my son’s school fundraiser. It’s an auction and we want one big item.”

1. Jenn Said,

   Talk to local stores that sell them. They might donate one.
   References :

2. Darby Said,

   See if BJs, Sam Club, Target, Wal-Mart will donate one for the auction. Tell them it’s for a worthy cause and it would be great advertising for them and be a way of showing support for the community. Where I live, BJs and Target have adopted schools.
   References :

3. Jean F Said,

   talk to local stores and ask if they’d be willing to donate one. it will be good publicity for them, as well
   References :

4. Iknowthis! Said,

   Well you have to knock on doors and ask for them. Be aware that some large stores have to have things approved through their corporate office before donating which can sometimes take months.

   If you have them take a copy of the letter on your school’s stationary soliciting donations with your tax information so they can use it for a write off. Go in person and ask to speak to the manager of the store and tell them what you are raising money for and ask if they can help you and what you would like to see donated. I’ve worked with a lot of fundraisers and if you have a few people out there asking for donations you will be surprised how much you can get.

   In addition, send and email to the parents of students or a flyer home askin gif any parents have connections to get a television donated for the fundraiser. The parents have a vested interest in their child’s school and you can’t know what every parent does or what connections they may have.

   Good luck!
   References :

5. howdigethere Said,

   Our company has had many celebrations and fund raisers for charities, with door prizes of all kinds. The prizes are most often purchased or provided by our materials and service suppliers.
   Stores and companies need recognition. You might want to approach local businesses -starting with larger retail stores. Explain your need and simply ask for the TV. Then ask how the store would want to be acknowledged, should the store agree to donate the TV.
   If the retail stores cannot donate the TV ask if they would be willing to pledge an amount toward the purchase. Try other businesses for donations toward the purchase of the TV. The companies can be listed as donors. Any business is fair game, so don’t overlook manufacturing companies, trucking companies, and service companies. You may get donations of other products or services for your auction in the process.

   Good luck
   References :

6. katy Said,

   my experience is the larger stores (especially walmart) never gives more than $25 at any one time for any cause.

   BUT, this works sometimes and it stimulates a lot of interest in the auction:

   Go to a smaller, owner operated television store and pick out a nice teleivision – not a cheapy charity 19 incher, but a really nice one that’s going to bring in good bids, and propose they consider a 50/50 split. That is: if your school can raise half the money for the television, can they donate the other half?

   Offer to place a notice (classy now, not just a black ink printer flyer from a thin white word document) in the store next to the television, which will bear a banner aross the screen, letting customers know the "deal" and "offering" them the opportunity to donate to the cause. They can just give their donation directly to the store when they pay for their own merchandise and the store will keep a running total of the money.

   Next, go to the local newspaper and talk to the PUBLISHER. Not the editor, not the ad manager the BIG GUY and explain what’s going on, ask for a "free display ad" announcing the 50/50 and that it’s for the auction and that the store is accepting the donations.

   Also, if you have a local radio station – they have free space for announcements like this – usually 15 to 30 seconds, so have them put out the word too.

   This will a) give the store some free, human interest advertising in both the paper and the radio, and

   b) you’ll get more people to know about the auction so you’ll probably get more people, therefore higher bids.

   c) more than likely, if donations don’t quite add up to half the price, the store will just go ahead and donate the television.

   d) you’ll have a cool television for the auction.

   No one is out anything – and your son’s school with have a great auction item.

   Everybody’s happy –
   p.s. (I’d go for a 42 inch flat screen at the very least.) good luck.
   References :

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