Advice please-how to handle donation requests.

Since I was made manager I handle all the donation requests at the two locations.

First of all, all the leftover bread and other baked goods get donated daily to area food pantry which then they distribute to other food pantries. We also regularly donate to local homeless shelter (weekly) and a church group takes some donations on Sundays.

We receive many donation requests for fundraisers/benefits from community organizations and school groups etc. These usually get some BOGO certificates/gift baskets or sometimes some small amounts of baked goods.

But then we also receive requests that frankly are unrealistic. For instance some group is having a walk and want donations of cookies for instance to feed hundred of people. Or an appreciation lunch/dinner where there not a budget for providing any food and would like a large (20plus) loaves of bread or specific (meaning more expensive) types of breads to be donated.

I've discussed with the owners and they said I can tell it like it is-we donate all our baked items to the food pantry. We can donate a small amount (5 loaves) but not all they request. I'm sure to upset people as I'm sure people are upset that they cannot afford to buy some of our breads but people at the food pantries can get it for free.

I'm looking for some good responses to tell some of these groups/individuals.

I understand that the economy is bad and some places are trying to keep costs down but its really overwhelming at times the volume of requests I receive.

As always thanks!!

Occasionally, the place where I work requests a donation from a grocery or department store when we are having a dinner (say honoring our wonderful volunteers). I am not the person in charge of asking for donations, but I know we submit them on letterhead. And the gentleman that asks isn't pushy about it...he pretty much tells the manager how many people are going to be there and says "anything you can give is appreciated...." That's what I've done in the past when asking for door prizes for Employee Appreciation day, also. I've had a store manager tell me "I would love to help, but at this time we are doing the Boy Scout fundraiser...." And that was fine. People should realize that businesses get a lot of requests and can only do so much. I know this isn't much of an answer, but IMHO you should just tell them nicely what your store is able to give, if anything. If someone is kind enough to donate, whatever they give should be appreciated.

PM'ed you

Every little bit helps. "We can donate 5 breads. Good luck with your fund raiser." Tell them what you can donate asap so they know what they have to still get and have plenty of time to do so.

People with shoot for the moon and hope to catch a star.


Kim

I would say that to be fair to all the people requesting donations that you have a specific allotment that you are able to donate like 5 loaves of bread and its a specific kind. I would think that rather than getting upset the people requesting the donations would be ok with receiving what they can...But then again people are finicky so you never know. Atleast though if you set a specific amount for all requests that come to you then noone can say you are treating so and so unfairly or giving so and so special treatment, its fair to everyone who is asking for donations.

Just be honest and say that you are sorry, but that you already support a number of local and international charities.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Just be honest and say that you are sorry, but that you already support a number of local and international charities.

Click to expand...

The business co-owner and I came up with a phrase that we will be repeating will that type of verbage (no international charities though! )

We feel we don't have to explain ourselves.

And honestly, I would rather see the homeless shelter get the food or whatever than my organization...even if I am the one asking for the donation.