Beggars by Trade

In my internship experience this summer, one of the first tasks I was asked to complete was soliciting donations for meals for professional development. When the principal asked, my heart sank. The idea of calling businesses and asking for something for free was so completely out of my comfort zone. I asked my mentor for some guidance of where to start and began calling. 

As I dialed the first number, I was totally expecting to hear "no." But, to my surprise the very first business I called said yes! I was elated, it made my confidence shoot in the air, "I am amazing," I thought! However, after the business said yes, they wanted to know exactly what I wanted from them...in detail. 

Because I started the task expecting to hear no after no from the businesses I called, I had no idea what exactly I wanted from the potential business partners. I knew I needed food for forty people, but I had not thought about what that entailed. Luckily, I had a very patient business manager working with me. I told him I wasn't sure and that I just needed to feed 40 people breakfast, he asked me to look at their catering menu and to give him a call back. 

I was very embarrassed by this situation because in my nervous excitement to start this task  I had not taken the time to think about what it would entail. I had the opportunity to find three additional donated meals for the two-day professional development. I was turned down by many businesses, but by the end I had found all of the donations and gained a lot of confidence in how to approach a business to make a potential donation contact. So, to save any other future donation solicitor the embarrassment I faced I offer three pieces of advice. 

First,  if you are going to ask a business to partner with your school, you need a clear vision of what you need and a well thought out presentation that you can quickly put across. .  I learned quickly that I needed to research what the company had or could potentially provide and then ask for those specific products or services. I needed to make it easier for the business owner to say “yes” instead of “no.”

Second, going along with the first is to create a relationship of mutual respect. A big part of this is being organized, efficient, and professional in your dealings with the local business which have expressed an interest in helping the school.  Being well prepared for meetings with community partners is of utmost importance. Both parties in the partnership, the school leadership and the local businesspeople, have many commitments and like to feel that their time is not being wasted.

 Finally, It is important to establish the most appropriate methods of communication. Communication breakdowns can cause frustration and bad feelings on both sides of the partnership.  Having a plan for communication and a clear understanding of the best ways and times to be in touch with your business partner makes the relationship effective, convenient, and more beneficial to both parties.

Schools need community and business partners for many things. School leaders often have the task of “selling” their school, program or idea in order to gain support for it. Business partnerships and donations from the community are a way to help support the students and programs at the school. Creating these avenues of communication with businesses can create long term partnerships that can benefit both the school and the community.  

Happy Soliciting!

-Ellen