Consider reaching out to businesses that you may already have a personal connection to. This may include a business that is already supportive of other school initiatives, that have a connection to an individual in the organization, or that has already reached out to you about working together.

An important activity, to repeat at the beginning of every year with your entire organization, is to make a spreadsheet of community businesses and partners. You can then use the spreadsheet throughout the year whenever you need something. Make sure to do the following with your spreadsheet:

• Make sure to write which businesses or partners someone has a personal connection to, like if they or their parents work there, if they know the owners, if a place works with the school or other school orgs
• List out all different types of places, like stores (i.e. Kroger, Walmart, Costco), restaurants, movie theaters, and more! Most places usually have a charitable quota that they are willing to give out but it usually gets smaller at the end of the year
• Don't shy away from big brand places like Donatos, Kroger, Condados, Swensons, etc. Big or small, most places will be willing to support you if you present a valid need and make an effort to connect them to the cause
• Make sure to mark places that have helped you in previous years, and maintain that connection with them every year. The more a company is comfortable with you, the more they will continue to support you, and may even increase their level of support over the years
• Don't overask! If you've already received something from a place this year, mark it and wait to ask again the following year. Spread around and ask different places throughout the year versus asking the same place repetitively