AmeriCorps Week Resource Development

In-kind donations (goods and services) are a great way to get support for your AmeriCorps Week activities. Often, in-kind donations can happen in a much shorter period of time than financial donations, but can be just as valuable. Below are examples of in-kind donations that can make a big difference to the success of your AmeriCorps Week event, service project or activity.

Donated Venues

A restaurant or banquet hall may donate space for you to hold an AmeriCorps Week opening or closing event. Also check with civic organizations such as the Lions or Elks Club that often have banquet space.

Donated Food and Beverages

Grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, large beverage suppliers and any place that sells food wholesale or retail may donate refreshments for an AmeriCorps Week event. Wholesalers as well as local divisions of national food and beverage companies are good places to solicit large quantities, if needed.

Donated Services

The local Staples, Kinko’s, or other printing store may donate copying or printing of publicity materials. A silk-screening business may print T-shirts for volunteers with your logo, theme, and a list of corporate sponsors - including the silk-screening business too, of course.

Donated Materials for an AmeriCorps Week Service Project

Ask local home improvement stores to donate supplies for renovation projects, nurseries to donate plants for beautification projects, or office supply stores to donate supplies for your school supply drive. Depending on the nature of your AmeriCorps Week service project, there are a multitude of possibilities.

Donated Time and Expertise

Donated professional services are another great way to engage business partners. A technology firm may develop a website or social networking pages to promote your AmeriCorps event or recruit volunteers. A graphic design firm may assist with the design of marketing materials to promote your event as well as T-shirts or other incentive items that will be given to volunteers.

Donated Items for Raffles or Silent Auctions

A wide range of businesses such as restaurants, jewelry stores, spas and salons, movie theaters, electronic stores, and department stores may not be able to donate cash or supply the materials you need to carry out an AmeriCorps Week project or event, but they can offer attractive prizes to help raise money for your event.  Always check on the laws governing raffles and auctions in your state.

Donated Discounts or Volunteer Incentive Items

Local businesses may be interested in donating items or offering discounts that can be used to thank volunteers while also attracting people to their places of business. For instance, the local ice cream shop may be willing to give each volunteer a coupon for a free cone.

Additional Tools for Resource Development

• Fundraising on the Go
  Suggestions for how to incorporate fundraising into regular, ongoing activities of a busy organization with busy staff.    
• Asking for Donations
  Step by step suggestions for how to prepare for and approach a prospective donor. Focuses on financial contributions but can be used for in-kind requests too.    
• Preparing a Case for Support
  Describes how to develop an effective case for support of your program.