Andy.... our school has no playground or equipment. How did you go about getting donations for your playground?

Hello

. In the past I have helped at my son's school tricky. It was very easy getting donations with the tax id and 501(c)3 status.
I am currently helping my sister run a tricky tray for our friend's family. Their 2yr old daughter caught a commom virus and it unfortunately enlarged her heart and she was put on the top of the heart transplant list. We are raising money to help with medical bills.
We did not qualify for the 501(c)3 status because it is not given to indivduals. We are able to get some local donations but are having trouble getting approved for any donations from the larger businesses. Does anybody know of anyone that donates without those requirements.

Thank you so much!

Kim

Kristin,

Here's the address:

Highlights for Children
Donations
PO Box 269
Columbus, OH 43216-0269

Andy - Did you try Nike? They have a grant application for the rubber "flooring". They take the old Nike's, grind them up for surface.

Good luck!
Tina

Do you have the email or address and contact that I can send my letter to at Highlights?

I have been doing this for 2 years and send to over 950 contacts and still can't manage to figure this one out!!

Thank you,
Kristin

Our school is working on a new playground. I think we have all the playground stuff covered, but we would really like to install a running track around the playground and large field we have. Anyone know of companies that would donate supplies for that? We've already hit up local companies for the playground supplies.

Thanks!

I wanted to share a couple of ways that I've found success. I've found out that if there is a success story on here I try to stay away since they will get hundreds of letters. However, when I read an idea I try to find something similar. After hearing an author giving a book, I googled local authors and put them on my list. But I have found a "wealth" of information on Trip Advisor. I put in my local city as well as the larger city that is close and I looked up hotels, then restaurants, etc. It's a lot of leg work, but I've had the most success that way.

I also took my Entertainment Book and went through it page by page and started looking up businesses etc. My husband laughs because when we are out on the road I have a note program on my phone and I'm constently adding either an attraction or a product, or something from a billboard sign. And whereever we go I am always picking up either the local "penny saver" type paper, travel brochures, etc. to add to my list. We get "val-pak" coupons about once a month in our mailbox. Each month I take those and add on any local businesses that I don't have. Another good one, Groupon and Living Social. I check to see if their deals of the day are on my list or not.

This is my third year - I've decided that if I get a "no" more than 2 times I put them on a seperate sheet on my spreadsheet so that we have a record of it and don't ask again for a while.

I do have to agree with the other posters, I'm behind this year, I'm only around 800 contacts but I get about 1 yes to every 3 or 4 asked.

I just love this post, it's so helpful - thanks to the original I found out so much information and was able to expand our raffle and auction. Thank you to everyone who posts. You all put so much work into these events and before I worked on this I never realized how much everyone does to put on just one raffle or auction. Good Luck to all!