As far as bidding for good goes, we received a lot of no's so far but have also received about 10 yes'es from places that we would normally not think to ask and are able to put some nice travel baskets together. Also, my computer basically autocompletes the form and you can cut and paste some other information so for as long as it takes to fill out the form I think it was well worth it. It's been more succesful than a lot of the letters that I have sent out and saved time, printing, and postage.
All of the businesses that run their giving programs through Bidding for Good make the decisions themselves. They use BFG as a tool to accept donation requests. Auctions that use BFG get better access to their partners and the donations they provide, but you do not need to work with BFG to get donations. The companies that do work with BFG set aside a certain amount of requests to be given to BFG auctions, but that does not make up all of the requests given.
Soliciting donations from businesses that use BFG is all about timing. Also make sure your request is professional and includes all required information. We have received items from four companies that work through BFG: a fashion retailer, Ritz Carlton Denver, Theme Park tickets, and a Mexico vacation.
I have had success with Bidding for Good this year.
Most of my postive answers from companies/hotels using Bidding for Good came before the Holiday season/early Autumn; most of negative responsive came in January/Spring.
Start earlier.
Companies only have so much to give
Sounds like sour grapes.
I think this subjuct has been hashed out enough - time to move on.
As soon as I see that Bidding for Good offer, I know it's going to be a NO. Bidding for Good runs online auctions for charities. As an incentive to get you to sign up with them they tell you about all these different auction prizes you can get from them - like a hotel stay for $99 and everything you make above that is yours to keep. So that hotel that used to give us the free hotel stay is now giving it (free or for very little cost) to Bidding for Good, who then sells it to us on consignment. Look on Bidding for Good's auction website - you'll see all the places that used to be yes's for us little people. It's getting harder and harder to get donations.
Anyone living around the Columbus/Dayton Ohio area.... Have you tried/received donations from Fort Rapids in Columbus area? If so, what was your contact? I am hoping on their website now to research it, but thought I would ask here too. My mom works for Victoria's Secret Catalog. Their headquarters are located on the outskirts of Columbus. My mom works in one of their call centers here in a suburb of Dayton. She was just telling me about Fort Rapids, having heard about it through someone in the VSC offices in Columbus.
Jen, I got gold passports from Chelsea Piers. We havent heard back from many NYC location we solicted.
At my son's school, Bowlmor Lanes donated. Not really a show but could be packed with some other fun NYC passes for a weekend in the city. I havent had muchluck with hotels so far.
I read several pages back that Blue Man Group and Gazillion Bubbles both donated tickets.
Good Luck!
