5 steps to getting in-kind donations
Create a list of leads, write your pitch, start applying, follow-up, and say thank you!
1. Create a list of companies that you’d like to target.
TheShareWay is a great place to start. See How to Find Companies that Donate for more.
2. Write out a pitch in letter format with sections that you can easily drag and drop to answer individual questions.
Every company has a different submission method. Some will require you to submit a letter while others have forms with individual questions. This format prepares you for all types of applications. See my example pitch letter.
3. Start applying to the companies with the most urgent deadlines.
Applying for donations is a big project. From working with the nonprofit community, we have learned that it is very difficult to do everything all in one sitting. We suggest breaking it up over a few days and prioritize the ones with deadlines the furthest out.
4. Follow up at least twice. 45% of the sponsors I secured said yes after the first and second follow-ups!
I won 30% of the 62 companies I contacted. Of the companies that said yes, 50% said yes from the first outreach, 22% after the first follow up, 22% after the second follow-up, and 6% after the 3rd follow-up.
5. Don’t forget to thank them after the event.
This helps you build good relationships. See my example post-event email.
Cover Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps to getting in-kind donations?
There are five. Create a list of companies to target, write a pitch in letter format, start applying, follow up at least twice, and thank the sponsors after the event. TheShareWay is a good place to start building the list of companies.
How many times should I follow up on a donation request?
Follow up at least twice. Of the sponsors TheShareWay's founder secured, 45% said yes after the first and second follow-ups. Broken down further, 50% said yes from the first outreach, 22% after the first follow-up, 22% after the second follow-up, and 6% after the third.
What should a donation request letter include?
Write the pitch as a letter with sections you can drag and drop to answer individual questions. Every company has a different submission method: some ask for a letter, others use forms with individual questions, and this format prepares you for both. The post links to an example pitch letter.
What percentage of companies say yes to donation requests?
In one round of outreach, TheShareWay's founder won donations from 30% of the 62 companies contacted. Most of those yeses needed persistence, since only half came from the first outreach and the rest arrived after one to three follow-ups.