Donating to schools

thekitchendesigner · May 27, 2009

If you were to advertise in a local schools parents magazine/newsletter, and offer to donate £xxx or a %age of the order value, to the schools funds, for anything sold as a result of that ad, would this be ok??

I know that donations to schools exist, and cant see any school turning donations down! Just wanted to check it wasnt illegal or anything daft!

Thanks, Mark

Zeno · May 27, 2009

Personally, I wouldn't advise that you do it.

My view is that all the benefit that you think will come out of it will be reversed when a single customer phones the school to check if they have received your donation and any the following happens:-

1. The school either can't or won't say
2. The timing difference between you sending the cheque and the phonecall happening means they say "what donation?"
3. The customer has gotten the wrong end of the stick with regards to exaxctly what % of what (Order value - net or gross, gross profit, net profit etc) you agreed to donate.

Then before you know it, your reputation is mud and you are being chased down the street by an angry PTA mob with torches and pitchforks.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions...

thekitchendesigner · May 27, 2009

I can see where you're coming from, but as i see it, the figure of donation will be clearly stated in an invoice - this will be decided before approaching any schools to avoid confusion.

Once the donation is made, a letter is produced by me, and signed by myself and the head (or similar authority) confirming the donation & amount, and sent to the person in question (regardles of whether they ask for confirmation or not)

MyAccountantOnline · May 27, 2009

thekitchendesigner said:
If you were to advertise in a local schools parents magazine/newsletter, and offer to donate £xxx or a %age of the order value, to the schools funds, for anything sold as a result of that ad, would this be ok??

I know that donations to schools exist, and cant see any school turning donations down! Just wanted to check it wasnt illegal or anything daft!

Thanks, Mark

Hi Mark

Just a thought for you what about a slight change of tact - rather than a donation of £x or a % of sales to the school what about sponsoring say the school football team - buying the kit with your business name on? It saves potential problems which Zeno points out and is advertising (allowable for tax) for your business?

Zeno · May 27, 2009

thekitchendesigner said:
I can see where you're coming from, but as i see it, the figure of donation will be clearly stated in an invoice - this will be decided before approaching any schools to avoid confusion.

Once the donation is made, a letter is produced by me, and signed by myself and the head (or similar authority) confirming the donation & amount, and sent to the person in question (regardles of whether they ask for confirmation or not)

Just playing the devil's advocate here however you may like to consider the following:-

1. Say you have a nightmare job that the client chops & changes, messes you around and you end up losing money. Will you still make the donation?
2. What about if you have to take legal action to recover the money owed - will you still make the donation?
3. Say your business takes a turn for the worse. How will it look when you say you are discontinuing the scheme?

Nicola points out that the donations will not qualify for tax relief. This may mean the scheme turns out to be more expensive than you had planned.

This may sound like I am against charitable activities which is not the case. I just don't think you should mix it with your business.

thekitchendesigner · May 27, 2009

Hi nicola - this has crossed my mind before, but wouldnt the costs be very high for supplying all the kit plus printing of names etc?

MyAccountantOnline · May 27, 2009

thekitchendesigner said:
Hi nicola - this has crossed my mind before, but wouldnt the costs be very high for supplying all the kit plus printing of names etc?

I wouldnt have thought so just for one set of say football shirts.

Another suggestion what about a lump sum contribution for a piece of equipment on which you have your company name or a plaque with your name on it - a client of mine did this recently and got great feedback from it.

Involve the local paper and get some good advertising from it as well. The local papers here like good news like this and you will find they will usually gladly put a piece in the paper which is a great advert.

I suspect you'd get more advertising value from this than the donation of sales and no problem then claiming tax relief on the costs.

thekitchendesigner · May 27, 2009

Do bare in mind we're talking smaller value donations.

Zeno said:
Just playing the devil's advocate here however you may like to consider the following:-

1. Say you have a nightmare job that the client chops & changes, messes you around and you end up losing money. Will you still make the donation? - Of course. This is a highly unlikely situation as margins allow for some last minute things, and once clients deposit, they rarely muck you around to this level.
2. What about if you have to take legal action to recover the money owed - will you still make the donation? Yes as this fact doesnt interfere with the pledge. Again, very very unlikely to happen. T's & C's help!
3. Say your business takes a turn for the worse. How will it look when you say you are discontinuing the scheme? Of course it wont look good but no business lasts forever! The only way this would happen is if the busines ceased trading. This happens all the time and wouldnt be a first!

Nicola points out that the donations will not qualify for tax relief. This may mean the scheme turns out to be more expensive than you had planned.

This may sound like I am against charitable activities which is not the case. I just don't think you should mix it with your business.

Just trying to be creative and keep things local - something thats even more important in times like these!

MyAccountantOnline · May 27, 2009

thekitchendesigner said:
Do bare in mind we're talking smaller value donations.
Just trying to be creative and keep things local - something thats even more important in times like these!

Absolutely!

I wasnt thinking of huge sums - my client donated £150 towards some kit and the local paper were very happy to come out and take photos run an ad etc.

Good luck with whatever one you choose.

ethical PR · May 27, 2009

I think sponsorship either towards sports kit, school minibus etc would be a great idea as would offering a discount on your services/products.

I would talk to the Chair of the PTA as they have a lead role regarding fundraising and if you can get their backing for your scheme, it will give you more credibility with parents/The School.

thekitchendesigner · May 28, 2009

Thanks Helen - will try that. Typical i look into such a thing during half term though!!

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