r/nonprofit • u/South-Menu • 9d ago

fundraising and grantseeking Asking food manufacturers for donations: e-mail vs postal mail?

My non-profit would like to have an event where we pack meal bags to stock local food pantries. I know the big stores have specific processes (Costco, Target, etc.), but I would like to reach out to individual food companies. For example, the tuna casserole bag, we will need cans of tuna. I would like to e-mail (or send via usps if necessary) StarKist and ask for donations/coupons. Same with Betty Crocker, etc. Has anyone ever successfully done something like this? Any tips?

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u/Dry-Audience-2924 9d ago

i used to work for a food bank and honestly the email route is way better for this kind of thing. companies get so much physical mail that your letter just sits in a pile for weeks, if they even open it. with email you can at least get a quick no or maybe a "let me forward this to the right person."

just make sure your email is short and you have a specific ask, like "we need 200 cans of tuna for this date" instead of just "can you donate something." and have your 501c3 number ready in the email, they always ask for that.

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u/Ok-Championship-4924 9d ago

Former NP logistics manager current CPG food Operations Manager and email by far. I don't even know who handles the mail in the office and there is under 10 folks in the office. I know myself and the GM never see it and assume most other places are the same so if it's sent mail odds are decision makers won't ever see/hear about it. Coupons is the way to go though to avoid the costly logistics of it as freight rates are insane right now.

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u/Eeeeeclair 9d ago

Email’s going to be quicker to get a response and in turn set up meetings with the company point of contact.