Promote your Flower Business Through Charitable Donations without Breaking the Bank
Flower Duet offered 100% in-kind donation for the Raise the Barr Event in Long Beach in October 2024.
Every year, especially during October, we are tapped to donate gala event flowers to all types of organizations, from local elementary schools to college scholarship funds. In this article, we cover how to navigate flower donation requests, the types of donations we are asked to provide to non-profit groups and how donations help us be active participants in our community.
If you decide to make flower design donations for an event, choose your audience wisely. For example, if the attendees are all coming in from out of town, it might not be a good fit for your business if you don’t offer shipping or online products. Also, make sure the charity is in good standing by checking with a great resource like Charity Navigator which rates non-profits. They give organizations 4 stars if the majority funds raised go straight to the cause they are promoting and not into the pockets of the organizers.
Gala Event Flower Donation Requests Fall into Four Categories
How to navigate flower donations can be tricky. We created these centerpieces for an in-kind donation for Raise the Barr and small cocktail designs, too.
1. “In-Kind” Sponsorship Donations for All Flowers for the Event
Donations deemed “In-Kind” mean you’ll receive advertising on the program, hopefully, a thank you and mention at the event itself, links from the event website to your website AND social handles, tickets to the event, etc. It will also give you eyeballs on your business from a group you may not have access to under other marketing conditions.
For the past three years, we’ve been “in-kind” sponsors for a group who helps provide college scholarships for single parents. The charity is called Raise the Barr and was founded by an NFL Football player and his mom. We follow the purple and silver color theme of the logo for the company but the designs are whatever we want to make.
Be sure to get your logo on the sponsor board! Here we are next to UCLA and BMO!
2. 100% Sponsorship Donations for All Flowers & Designs for the Event
For 100% donations to an event where you don’t get any sponsorship credits or tickets, we recommend to not donate, however, you may decide to do it anyway for the street credibility. For example, you might be able to post about it and get really good media coverage on it.
This was a 100% sponsorship we did for CA Grown Flowers. We did not receive tickets or sponsorship in return, but could use the photos for marketing purposes.
We do offer 100% flower donations for causes we care about like California Grown Flowers. In 2017, we dsigned the flowers for a food and wine festival held in Los Angeles to promote CA Grown Flowers, wine, lamb and pears. The prunes & flowers we used for the flower lamb were donated by the farmers and we made floral designs to help decorate the booth. We did the designs and the labor of transporting for free for the event. I have used those photos from that event over and over. It was worth the effort.
3. Partial/Discounted Donations & Sponsorships of Flower Designs for the Event
Sometimes the group does have a budget for flowers and decorations so you should also ask if they have money to spend. That way, you have some of your costs covered, but you’ll also get partial sponsorship credit for the event. We did this recently for the elementary school Olympic-themed PTA fundraiser where my kids used to attend.
You might only be out the labor costs and sometimes you can handle those yourself so there is not too much overhead. It is still very smart to a ask for sponsorship coverage at the event so the attendees are aware that your flower business made the donation.
Kit created these Olympic Games themed flowers for a local elementary school PTA fundraiser. We gilded the three rings in the design to be gold, silver and bronze. The vases were gold and the organizers were thrilled with the flowers. These were partial donations as we gave the school a 50% discount on the flowers.
We have also partnered with other florists to help bring an event together. Recently, we did a Cancer Support Group fundraiser for an event planner we love to work with and donated 10 of the 30 centerpieces she needed for the event as well as the cocktail designs. We received partial sponsorship credit and solidified our relationship with the planner.
4. Gift Certificates for Auction Items
Auction items like Gift Certificates can be a good option for donations.
When our business was just starting out and we were first asked to make these types of flower donations, it was difficult as we did not have a lot of profits to spare. Often we would offer something small instead like a gift certificate to the gala auction table.
Now that we are a much more robust business, we can handle a number of donations for groups that are close to our hearts and know it will make a positive impact in our community.
Navigating donation requests as a small business can be tricky. You want to be generous and support your community, but you also need to manage your resources.
Here’s a breakdown of how to handle these requests effectively.
Set Clear Guidelines and a Budget
- Determine your focus: Decide which types of causes align with your business values and target audience. For example, a pet store might prioritize animal shelters, while a bookstore might support literacy programs.
- Create a budget: Allocate a specific amount each year for donations. This helps you stay within your means and avoid overspending.
- Establish criteria: Develop clear criteria for evaluating requests. This could include, the organization’s mission and impact, the request’s alignment with your business, the potential for positive publicity or community engagement.
- Document your policy: Write down your guidelines and make them accessible to employees. This ensures consistency and transparency in your decision-making.
For four years, Kit sponsored the flowers for her local Art at Your Fingertips groups and served on the board. This helped to garner repeat paid flower galas from a parent who works for a law firm.
Implement a Formal Process
- Request written proposals: Ask organizations to submit formal written requests outlining their mission, the specific need, and how your donation will be used.
- Use an application form: Consider creating a simple application form on your website or in your store to streamline the process. Here are some great examples of request forms from Gourmet Gift Baskets, The Dodgers and Whole Foods.
- Set deadlines: Establish deadlines for submitting requests to manage the flow and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
During the Covid Pandemic, we donated $1000 worth of gift certificates to the Beach Life Festival that went to worthy recipients. It was a very rewarding experience to hear from the people who received the gift baskets that included our services. People really needed a pick-me-up during that time.
Evaluate Requests Carefully
- Research the organization: Verify the organization’s legitimacy and financial responsibility. Tools like GuideStar or Charity Navigator can help.
- Consider the benefits: Think about the potential benefits for your business, such as enhanced reputation, customer loyalty, or networking opportunities.
- Assess the impact: Evaluate how your donation will make a difference and whether it aligns with your giving priorities.
Here is a closeup of a table with our flowers for another PTA fundraiser. Sometimes you don’t get to decide on the flowers or the style, but you can control the execution. Photo by Tracy Kumono.
Communicate Clearly and Respectfully
- Respond promptly: Acknowledge receipt of all requests, even if you can’t fulfill them.
- Explain your decision: If you decline a request, provide a polite and brief explanation, referencing your guidelines or budget constraints.
- Express gratitude: Thank organizations for their work, regardless of your decision.
Casey from Flower Duet setting up a floral design for an Elementary School PTA fundraiser. Flowers by Flower Duet. Photo by Kit Wertz
Consider Alternatives to Flower Donations
- In-kind donations: Donate gift certificates
- Swag: Sometimes events have swag bags, consider adding something useful to them like flower food and a link on how to use it properly
- Free Online Class: If you already have some online class materials, it’s easy to make them FREE to an organization to use as a fundraiser event
- Sponsorships: Sponsor local events or teams to gain visibility.
- Volunteer time: Encourage your employees to volunteer for local causes.
- Partnerships: Collaborate with other businesses to support a cause collectively.
We had a Girl Scout Troop in Pasadena order the gift box sets to make their own floral designs for the holidays. Here are sets ready to be delivered. We offer discounts to Girl Scouts since it’s a cause close to our hearts. Photo by Casey Schwartz.
Important Considerations
- Saying “no” is okay: It’s important to remember that you can’t support every cause, and that’s perfectly acceptable.
- Be consistent: Apply your guidelines fairly and consistently to avoid any perception of favoritism.
- Promote your giving: If appropriate, share your donations and community involvement on your website and social media to showcase your values.
By partnering with other vendors for donations, you can make twice the impact. The ONEHOPE Foundation gives to organizations that provide greater access to water, hunger relief, health, and education – while also supporting local non-profits across the country. We teamed up with them for an industry event.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively manage donation requests, support your community, and enhance your small business’s reputation.
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