Presenting

Cost + is is as simple as it gets. X dollars of a purchase goes to your chosen charity. But there are many ways to execute this. You can simply add on a dollar amount (x dollars per arrangement), create a charity-themed arrangement to sell or share x percent of a day's revenues to your chosen charity. e "cost +" approach prob- ably gives you the most flexibility and clarity on costs. It can be used to raise funds for local nonprofits or episodic disaster relief (like flood or tornado victims) as well as nationally recognized organizations (breast cancer research, children's hospitals, etc.). Extending the impact of your and your customers' donations depends on your ability to connect with the cause. Product/service donation Contributing arrangements for a gala fundraising event, hosting a class for teens or grief groups, or assembling a gift basket for a silent auction are all product donations. But be warned that costs can quickly spiral on pure dona- tion requests. It may seem simple to contribute items on hand, but remember that there is an opportunity cost in what you donate—you can't sell it. When agreeing to product donations, make sure the organization and event are a mission you heartily support and that you can incorporate into your cus- tomer communications. You can reduce costs and extend your contribution by inviting industry partners to join you in support. Donate space If you have a retail location or studio, offer your space, after business hours, to host an event(s). To draw retail traffic, allow charitable pop- ups at your location (think Girl Scout Cookies or pet adoptions). Be clear about property restrictions if you rent. And think through parking and traffic patterns, especially if adverse weather could become a factor. This opportunity has more "soft" costs to it than a pure product donation, but also think through what impacts (positive and negative) an on-site event can have for your space, especially for liability concerns. Collect donations If your space is in a high-foot- traffic location, you could be- come a drop-off spot for win- ter coats, holiday toys, pet blankets, school supplies or items for a women's shelter. It helps to have some specific context for the cause. Here is your opportunity to share a personal message about a specific group's significance in your life. Tell the story. Make sure to provide good in-store signage on the drop- off location and that store employees are well-versed on the intake process. Have a designated (preferably cor- ralled) location for items, and know the pick-up schedule for the charity. Make sure the group will take all items donated so you don't have to sort through them or dispose of leftovers. Create an employee/ client team Consider starting a char- itable team for a local 5K run/walk or another team event. If you're looking for a team-building activity with employees, partners or cus- tomers, these types of events are great ways to spend time together and show your sup- port for a cause—and they are great add-ons to other types of material donations like event arrangements or product donations. Repurpose event flowers e historical and tragic waste of event florals has given rise to an entire army of amazing nonprofit organi- zations rescuing and reusing bridal and event flowers. Many of these organiza- tions cover everything from breakdown to distribution and end-use reporting. Some of these organizations charge a fee or request a donation to cover costs, so understand the nature of the business before committing. D O N A T I O N F O R M A T S

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