Once you have established some potential business contacts, make time to visit them in person. Here are a few tips on how you can improve your chances of getting a donation for your organisation.
Present your organisation professionally
Create an information pack that includes a history of your organisation, profiles of the artists and performers, attendance numbers and demographics, reviews or media, other success factors, and what the business can expect from you.
Follow the links below to get some ideas about what to include:
Use simple language
Make sure your message is clear and easy to understand.
Be audience-specific
Tailor the information to the person or people reading it. For example, your message to a business will be different to your message to an individual.
Research your potential donor
Business donations are often based on an interest or passion of one of the directors or executives. Take time to research other organisations that have received donations from that business. Show the business what your organisation is doing in the same field.
Pick the right time
Most businesses will make decisions about making donations around the same time as their budgets are worked out (in September/October or June/July, depending on when their financial year starts).
Keep them informed
Let your business contacts know your organisation is an Inland Revenue Department -approved donee organisation. Also let them know about the New Zealand tax changes for donations. Tax regulations for donations are different in other countries, so international companies may be unaware of the benefits when making donations to a New Zealand organisation. Have a fact sheet about the New Zealand tax changes ready to hand out – like this one from Philanthropy New Zealand.
Tax changes making giving easier
Make it easy to donate
Have all of your organisation account details and receipt books ready. Explain to potential donors how they can make a contribution.
For information about what to include on your receipts, see page 30 of IR255 - Charitable Organisations on the IRD website.
Following these tips, you should be able to find the right donors for your organisation. The next step is to maintain a strong relationship with them .