I am hoping for ideas!! We are holding a Pasta Supper in the fall. In the past this supper was a break even event because all items were purchased so ticket sales just paid for the dinner. I want to make this night into a MAJOR money maker for the PTO but I want the feel to still be a family night.

I know that alot of you have learned how to get supplies for dinners like this donated. I would love to know how.

I also got the idea from another post (Shop 'til You Drop) to ask groups that we would usually send home as small fundraisers (Tupperware, Pampered Chef...any others??) to set up a sales table in the entry way and do their fundraiser in person. I would ask them to donate a raffle prize and then expect a portion of the sales to go to us. (we have gotten complaints about the number of fundraisers we send home during the year. We are trying to find ways to maximize the money we take in and decrease the number of fundraisers needed)

So during the night we would have the proceeds from the dinner (very resonably priced), the raffle and the fundraising tables.

I am new to all of this (Kindergarten mom) and need advice on how to solicite donations (by mass mailing, in person??) when to solicite, what to ask for...basically anything you can contribute would help me.

Thank you in advance!!
Juliana

The pasta dinner we have in the fall consists of our Scholastic Book Fair along with Fazoli's spaghetti dinner. We supply the soda and have parents bake brownies. We make $1.00 off each meal sold. Everything comes prepacked so all you do is hand it to them. As far as donations, you need to have a committee set up and have those members call on restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, radio stations, etc. It doesn't have to be in person, they can get out the phone book and make calls. I hope this was helpful.

Regarding donations...Generally "chain" stores & restaurants (K-Mart, Applebees, Blockbuster, etc...) require a letter. You'll need to call a local store to find where to send it. Be sure to follow up though!!! You won't always get contacted, but that doesn't always mean they won't donate.
I usually like to stop by local businesses (delis, shops, grocery stores, etc...) personally. I always have a letter with me however because they often require one.
Good luck!
Jo

How about sending donation requests to pro sports teams in your state. Also send requests to entertainment facilities ( science museums, zoos, childrens museums, ski lodges, etc.) Via snail mail. I would start 2-3 months in advance. Sometimes it takes that long for the donation request to be approved by the organization. We had a good response from both of these groups. Then I would personally solicit local businesses. I feel you get a better response this way. If you are wanting to make as much money as possible in this event, why not have a silent auciton-public auction as well? Also send a donation request to your parents. Be specific on what you are looking for. Remember to add your tax exempt statis on all these. Most places require this.

We have a chili dinner in the fall. We make it into a chili cook-off. Parents enter the chili cook-off, which gives us the chili to sell. Prizes can be anything from a ribbon to a ladle to an apron. Our parents seem to enjoy the friendly competition. We also ask parents to bake goods for a bake sale which are then sold for the dessert. Good Luck!

Just a note on soliciting for donations. We would promise these people we would only come at them once and that we were securing items for the entire year of events.I just happened to have the time last year and spent hours contacting everything from local museums and zoos to Big Chain Stores. I filled out forms for each one and I will never have to do it again. This is what I did. 1) Business - phone# - address 2) Asked for person to talk to about donations and listed name, phone/ext. position/department 3) Let them know what we were doing and asked for donation. 4) If they needed a letter I asked for a fax # and was able to fax rather than snail mail. Many times we were refered to their "Central Office". So I kept the Central Office info. As things came in we were able to pick and choose what we used, and when. We also let them know that with their donation we would consider them Partners in Education and we would acknowledge their generosity in our Newsletter, Web Site, and meetings. We faired very well. 5)We kept track of who sent what, sent thank you notes and noted it for next year. We are able to say "Thanks for the free movie rentals. The kids loved them. We were hoping for your support again this year....." Get a committee going. Best Wishes

[This message has been edited by plw (edited 06-07-2001).]