[Malrex]

I just got an email about a fundraiser for somene who is fighting lung cancer. They asked if my business would be willing to donate something for a silent auction to help this guy out. My business consists of just me, doing everything...very small operation. I enjoy giving back to the community, in fact, my company donated some money to help a little league baseball team get their field fixed up.

The problem I'm having is that the "gift card" will be given away through a silent auction...and I'm not sure what the best approach would be. I'm a little leery of giving say a $250-500 off a landscape or something along those lines when I don't know what the project will be, etc. I really want to do something because my business has been running very sllloooowww this month and perhaps this would be a way to drum up some business, not to mention I would be helping someone battle their lung cancer. It's been really dry..the driest it's been since 1991 and I think that's causing a decline for demand for landscaping--other companies are slow too.

Has anyone done something like this before? I'm a small operation so I want to give something, but don't want it to be so small that it's laughed at (if that makes sense).

Ohhh brain fart. Maybe I could donate a japanese maple or Henry Laudin's Walking Stick tree...the tree, planting, and mulch ring or something. What do you think?

[Greensmith]

Around here its pretty common to donate the planting of a specimen tree and all labor for it.

I went to one auction for a wetland fund and there was at least 6 companies donating red maples.

[Stonehenge]

That's a good option.

Be sure you put very finite parameters on your donated gift, or it could quickly grow well beyond the scope of what you'd planned to give away (voice of experience here).

Planting of a specific plant of a specific size within a specific date range (without a warranty) would be a good gift. But don't hold your breath for it to turn into much more than that. Don't look at it as a marketing investment, because it's usually a very bad one. Look at it as something you're doing for free to help someone, and only give away what you can afford to.

You'll get a good feeling for doing something good, and if it doesn't bring in any new work, it won't matter because you weren't expecting any. And if it does - then it's a good karma bonus.

[Pelican]

I donate a 3 yard load of screened topsoil to our church's annual fundraising auction. I give the auctioneer a list of zip codes that are eligible to bid which limits my delivery distance. You'll also want to specify a time restriction in which the item you choose must be delivered, otherwise you can be strung out indefinitely.

I don't do it expecting any marketing value from it, I just do it to contribute to the church.

[Cochran]

We get asked to donate items/services as well as a few organizations that we're involved in that we donate items to as well.

The best thing I have found is to donate a plant item in the 5-15 gallon range without installation. We take the item to the auction/silent auction/fundraiser and it's there for the winning bidder to take home that day. I include a picture of the bloom, care instructions, planting instructions, and my business card if they require additional information.

We've done 15 Gal Phoenix roebellini palms that have gotten over $500, 5 Gallon Bougainvilleas, Bird of Paradise, Hibiscus have brought $200+, and even a 1 Gallon Bougie has brought $150!

We've learned that this is a simple way to contribute, doesn't need to involve location parameters and all involved are happy: you've made a donation, the organization made money, and a winning buyer bought a nice specimen. Also, after the day is done so are you and you don't need to worry about contacting the buyer, scheduling the planting in or anything else.

Like Stone said, these donated items usually don't turn into much more than just that--a donated item. Yeah, it gets your name out and you may get more out of it in the long run, but probably not much.

I wouldn't offer anything off services because not everybody is needing landscape work done and the silent auction could prove to be a bad place to give $500 off work as the winning bidder may only buy that service for $50-$75 bucks....

[Hamons]

I have had very good luck offering a free lawn tune -up of an aeration, fertilizer and weed spray.

Usually bering a couple hundred dollars to the charity, takes me a couple hours to do and out of 12 that I have given away - 9 have become full time annual customers.

[Terre]

Totally amateur thought here, what about a free design consultation? Limit it to a couple hours or so? If someone is thinking of getting work done, perhaps that could turn into a job?

[NCSULandscaper]

we donate a $200 computerized design with 1 hour consultation to charity auctions and we actually get a fair amount of work from it, most of the time the people get us to install the design we give them

[stonebear]

I agree with Pelican about putting a time limit on the donation.

A few years ago, we donated a one hour consult to a charity auction with no time constraint. About a year later a lady called to set up the appointment!

[Malrex]

Wow guys! thanks for all the info and ideas. I'm running through the process of making sure this whole thing is legit...my first year so being careful (ok, ok..the wife is suspicious and doesn't like the idea--we've been burned before with other things.).

I really like the design and consultation idea. Thanks for all the tips and safeguards.

[Dot Pecson]

At this time of year, dry as things have been - I agree that the design and consultation idea is the way to go.

As for a tree donation... In the spring or maybe fall you could donate a tree. Let them plant it. That way, if it doesn't do well, you aren't in the jay-bird seat as much. I once won a container-grown ornamental grass and was totally delighted.

And the free lawn tune-up could work. But here, you don't know whose yard you'll be tuning... the neighborhood B***? A big corporate's building grounds? Too many variables.

But I agree with you that this is one very good way to get great name recognition and publicity.

Dot

[HRLand]

I did this a couple of years ago at a charity ball held by the company my wife worked for. Our donation was an American Express gift card worth $200.00. It was included in a basket with similar items and labeled "shopping spree". Like others have said, I didn't expect any business from it.