Hi Barbara,
I'm a new PTO president and our largest fundraiser is in 30 days. Any chance you would be willing to share your list?
Thanks,
Desiree Tomasco
Culbertson Elementry School
Newtown Square, PA

Barbara2,

Please email me

rceauction at raynecatholic dot org

We can maybe exchange list.
I submitted over 120 request by email, fax or mail.


** If anyone has a large list of national companies they solicit from let me know.
I am in South Louisiana and have a few local companies**

In order to repay this site for assistance which helped us a ton, I thought I would share this approach. We made a list of 120 national places we wanted to donate to our silent auction. We looked at websites and determined whether we met their donation criteria. Next, we looked at the timelines each company has set and divided the list into 90 days out; 60 days out; 30 days out. We completed on-line applications and sent request letters according to companies' requirements. For emails, we used this subject line: Donation request 9/15/12 so that the company would know our response time. For snail mail, we used Attention: Donation request 9/15/12.

Our request letter and email included the following:
1. This is a request for a silent auction donation.
2. This is who we are: non-profit 501c3
3. The event and why it is important
4. What the donation would bring to the vender: signage, website inclusion, program mention, etc.
5. A thank you for reviewing and considering our request
6. A signature followed by address, phone, fax and email

I think we did well. After paring our list, we sent out 87 requests. We have received 36 yes responses, 16 no responses and 34 no replies. However, each day I get something deliver or in the mail. Today I got two from the no response list. That means we are at about 41% return.

I hope this helps someone who is just starting out. Now, I need to write descriptions and bid sheets--there is always something to do.

We are looking for Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky places that make donations for our PTO auction. Any help will be appreciated!!

Disney does donate out of state, just not for raffles. So if you're having a silent auction, you should be able to request a donation.

You're right about Universal, they won't donate outside of Florida. If you have plane tickets donated, you can present them and your accomodations to Sea World and they might donate. We got tickets from them one year.

I am in Oklahoma, but we are fortunate enough to have a condo given to us for Orlando FL for our auction. How can I get some Disney or Universal tickets to put with it? In the past, Disney has said they only donate to FL residents.

Also, anyone else in OK that has had good luck anywhere?

Thanks.