How To Set Up A Donation Drive

Hosting a donation drive to benefit Children'due south Center is a powerful (and fun!) way to requite back to your local community. Your donations will help vulnerable kids and families right here in Clark County. We're here to support yous and help you make your event a success! This stride-by-pace guide breaks downwardly the planning process into seven easy steps, to make your drive abundant and stress-free. Plus, here's a handy checklist y'all can print off to keep yous on rails!

one. Get started early.

Starting early volition make planning your bulldoze like shooting fish in a barrel and stress-costless. The almost successful drives allow for three to six weeks of advertising, so you need to start planning at least a calendar month in advance of when y'all want to host the bulldoze.

donation drive sign

Sign advert a donation drive at WaferTech

2. Pick an accessible driblet-off location.

Choosing a practiced location is a central office of hosting a well-received donation drive. Consider the following questions when deciding where to host yours:

Does the location get a lot of foot traffic?
Is it accessible to the public (as opposed to existence behind a locked door or in a restricted area)?
Are there other signs or stands competing for attention in the infinite?
Is there enough room for a large box or bin?
Will yous be able to use the space for at least one calendar week?

One time y'all determine, advertise the upcoming bulldoze in that space. Place a large, clearly-labeled box or bin in the space once collections have begun and empty it if the bin becomes too total so at that place'south more than room for people to donate.

3. Spread the word far and wide.

Your drive volition be much more successful if you lot create a fizz surrounding your issue and permit lots of people know. If yous're working solitary, endeavor to recruit a partner or small group. Working as a team will assist proceed the momentum going and let you to attain a wider network.

WaferTech employees in front of donation drop site

WaferTech employees worked as a team to coordinate a successful drive

Some ideas to get the word out include:

Create a social media post almost your drive on your organization's account, or your personal account. Then, ask the location where you're hosting the drive to re-post. Tag Children's Eye in your post and then nosotros can share the discussion too!
Use free graphic design tools like Canva to create attractive flyers and post them effectually the drop-off location.
Contact your local newspaper and see if they'll write an article about the donation bulldoze and why Children'southward Center is of import to you.
Utilise Facebook, Eventbrite or other online platforms to create an event for your drive and invite people to it.
Knock on doors near your home, office and the driblet-off location to let people know about the drive.
Make a live announcement at an event yous're hosting or attending, similar a business concern group meeting, company all-hands or schoolhouse assembly.

Be consequent with announcements. At each step in the process, share specific details such as:

When and where the drive is occurring
An announcement when the drive is open
Donation progress, such as how many donations you've received
A list of specific items on the wishlist
A 1-24-hour interval reminder before the drive closes
Thank y'all to donors — bonus points if y'all can mail service a photo of the donor dropping off and tag them!
Information on how someone can donate to Children's Centre if they missed the drive
Photos of yous dropping off the supplies at Children'due south Centre

four. Personally ask for donations.

People are more likely to make a donation when they have a connection to the cause. So don't be shy! Tell your friends, family, coworkers — even strangers — why you're hosting the drive. Be certain to besides give them more data almost Children's Middle and how their donation will help children and families in Clark County.

Encourage anybody to assist spread the word by sharing your bulletin with their friends, besides.

5. Provide ideas for what to donate.

Make information technology equally easy every bit possible for people to donate by providing examples of what you want to receive. You can copy this data directly from our wishlist, or our latest print newsletter. In-demand items ordinarily include:

Personal care items
Non-perishable foods
Grocery store gift cards
Gas gift cards
Healthy snacks

6. Say 'Thank you!'

At every step — and especially after the drive ends — exist certain to express your gratitude to donors. If you know who donated what, reach out to them personally. If yous're not certain who donated, post a bulletin on the event page or send an email smash with your appreciation. This pocket-sized gesture will get a long way toward making future donation drives a success, too!

group of donors drop off donation drive items

It's fun and rewarding to bring the whole team when you drop off donations in person!

vii. Recruit a team to help you lot deliver.

Hopefully, you've establish several other people who are enthusiastic about altruistic to Children's Center during the planning and execution of your drive. Then the drove period has ended, inquire those people if they'd like to bring together you when you deliver the donations. We love coming together dedicated volunteers similar you!

Donations are accepted Monday – Friday from eight a.chiliad – seven p.m. at Children'southward Center'southward Marilyn Moyer building at 13500 SE 7th Street, Vancouver, WA 98683. You may besides contact Jennie Hoscald at jennieh@thechildrenscenter.org to arrange a time for drop-off.

Gear up to get started? Download this handy Donation Drive Planning Checklist »

Get inspired and encounter more donation drive photos on our Facebook! Be sure to "Like" u.s.a. while you're in that location so we can stay connected.