Click here to see the entire list of Commonly Asked Craft Show questions.
Click here to see the answer to “Why does your soap cost so much?”
Click here to see the answer to “Cool! How is this made?”
Click here to see the answer to “Cool! Can you teach me to make this?”
Cool! I want product for free for my VERY GOOD CAUSE! Can you donate?
Your answer requires you to be able to articulate your personal philosophy about donations. I’ve got some general skeleton answers for you but they will only work if you’ve figured out what your approach to giving is.
I have a varied approach: at Otion, we say “Yes” to a maximum of 7 events per month for donations of goody baskets. At Bramble Berry, we say “Yes” to most soap gatherings and donate a flat % of net profits every year to nonprofits.
Having a clear understanding of what you are comfortable in giving will help you answer this question.
If saying “Yes“:
“Thanks for asking! We’d love to help out. When would you like to pick up the gift basket? Do you need my logo for any sort of recognition in the programs or signs?”
If saying “Maybe“:
“Thanks for asking. We do get asked a lot and I actually end up having to prioritize our giving because we’re a small company. Can you tell me a little bit more about the opportunity? Do you have a tax exempt number? Will you be able to give me a receipt? How many people will be at this event? Will you be acknowledging donors? If the recognition will be in a program, can you use my logo?”
If saying “No”:
“Thanks for asking. Your XYZ cause sounds amazing and I am so impressed that you are putting time and energy into it. I love donating my time and money when I can but unfortunately, this month I’m tapped out. We get asked a lot and I definitely do as much as I can but I can’t do any more right now.”
Great suggestions! Thank you for sharing them! I have been asked and have donated in the past, but it helps to have other ways to respond.
I love your Maybe answer (well, all the answers are great), and wish I had that in my arsenal when I used to run a home-based biz and was approached to donate to a variety of causes. I have a hard time saying “no.” Uh-oh, I shouldn’t have confessed that to the world! 😉
Thank you a million times, A-M! I’ve been approached for donations more in the last month than in my life!
It’s sooo helpful to have some key phrases to pull up!
You make us all better business people! Thanks for all of your help!