Fundraising With Local Businesses Beyond the Sponsorship

Partnering with local businesses for fundraising—beyond just putting their logo on a T-shirt—can significantly boost your earnings while strengthening ties within your community.

While sponsorships are excellent avenues to garner funds from local businesses, they’re not the only way to gain support from such establishments.

So if you’re interested in shaking up your fundraising strategy or wondering how to ask local businesses for donations more creatively, read on.

How to find the right businesses

The first step in fundraising with local businesses is finding those genuinely aligned with your goals, ensuring a common understanding and mission. Reach out through meetings, phone calls, emails, or letters to businesses with a history of dedicating time and money to initiatives like yours. 

If they need convincing, inform them how supporting your fundraiser will boost their brand awareness while cultivating community growth. We also encourage you to prepare and practice a presentation about your fundraiser, detailing your needs, objectives, and timescale. 

4 unique ways to fundraise with local businesses

Local businesses of all sizes have the capacity to help, whether through finances, influence, or energy. By collaborating on donations, events, and combined earnings, the businesses you’ve handpicked can catapult your cause to another level. 

Giving can take on many forms, such as flyer design support or providing a space for events. Below are a few ideas for fundraising with local businesses. 

1. Donation boxes and round-ups

Have you ever dropped some spare change into a donation box or rounded up to the dollar when checking out? Whether or not a business is willing to donate directly to your fundraiser, it’s worth asking for help reaching their customers. 

Studies find that people are more likely to give money as a microdonation, especially when they’re checking out at a grocery store with a long line of impatient shoppers behind them. The average person wants to show that they care and stand in solidarity, and since most round-up donations are less than 50 cents, this action won’t break the bank.

Source: WSJ.com

2. Events and collaborations 

You might be wondering how to ask businesses for donations that go beyond dollars and cents. How about harnessing the power of what they make, sell, or do? 

Check out these service-based donations to involve local businesses:

• Marketing services—If you plan to host an event for your fundraiser, you’ll want to spread the word! Fundraiser marketing is a perfect opportunity to collaborate with a local graphic design, print company, or agency to help publicize your event.
  
  
• Raffle donations—Incorporating raffle giveaways in your fundraiser allows a local business to donate their products or services, which customers are more likely to want in a prize-oriented context. Think anything from pet treats to home improvement services or gym memberships—the possibilities are endless.
  
  
• Food and catering— No matter the event you’re hosting, you can always count on hungry guests. Solidify your fundraiser’s success by supplying locally made donuts and coffee for the 10K runners or popcorn at the drive-in movie.
  
  
• Venue—Securing a venue can be challenging and costly when it comes to event planning. Businesses that can donate their space could take a huge weight off your checklist. Seek support from local businesses by borrowing their space for your potluck dinner, car wash, or haunted house.

Fundraising takes a village. Therefore, tell local businesses exactly how they can contribute. And, once the event ends, don’t forget to send a personalized thank-you note to everyone who helped!

3. Volunteering

If the business wants to go above and beyond to support your fundraiser’s success, suggest giving their employees paid time off to join your cause as a volunteer, participant, or speaker. This can be especially empowering if you champion a cause that’s close to their hearts.

4. Win-win partnerships 

While local businesses step up to help make your fundraiser a success, there are ways to support them in return. Get them involved in shop-and-earn days or discount card and coupon book fundraisers to increase their sales while supporting your efforts in one fell swoop. 

Even better, if your group is fundraising with RaiseRight, you can invite your favorite neighborhood establishment to join RaiseRight’s retailer list. That way, shoppers can support their business and your organization with every purchase—no extra effort required. Check out our letter template to help you start the conversation. 

Gain support and grow your fundraising efforts with RaiseRight

Sponsorships just scratch the surface of the support you can gain from local businesses. For the easiest way to generate funds and support your favorite businesses—whether local, regional, or national—use RaiseRight.  

Allow us to help you take your fundraiser further. By buying gift cards, shopping online, or dining at local restaurants, you can earn up to 20% back for your organization or cause with every purchase. It’s that simple! 

With RaiseRight, fundraising is simple—just shop and dine with your favorite brands to earn effortlessly.