While your first impulse is to help these organizations, you recognize that your budget has limits and that you can't respond to every request. So how can you still help some out and not upset those that you decide to pass on?

One tip that has worked well for me is to ask that all requests be put into writing. I have found that this significantly cuts down on the number of donation requests and still allows you to still put a good foot forward.

Inform the person asking for the donation that you have their information on file and will consider them when putting together your donation plans next year. I like to decide each year what my budget will be and who my store will support.

Ideally you want to arrange a joint promotion with the charitable organization where your store holds a special event that is marketed to the charity's donor list. In return you donate a percentage of the sale event's receipts to them. This method allows you to have low marketing costs and you only pay for buyer performance - a marketer's dream.

Another tactic that some retailers use is to create gift certificates or dollars off coupons to give out. As an example, you could offer a free $25 gift certificate with any purchase over $75 or a coupon worth 40% off. In this way you not only give something of value, you also have a opportunity to create a new customer for your business.

The benefit of doing this is that you are able to offer something of value to every donation request and create a win/win situation for both your store and the requesting organization.

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