Hey guys, I'm helping out with a March of Dimes bass tourney at the end of March and I'm trying to find some companies or individuals to help out by donating fishing stuff or fishing apparel to raffle off and to give away as prizes to the winners. Any of you guys ever put on a benefit tourney where you had to do this? If so, were companies willing to help out? I'm kinda stumped...

I can tell you a few tips from my personal experience.....

1) Go to the Expos or local tackle shops in person and talk to people.

2) Reach out to the sponsors here and call them or at least have a form letter with specifics on the event.

3) Make sure any winners of the items come back to this forum and post up their thanks.

4) Encourage the winners to contact the vendor directly through their site or email. You'd be surprised at how many companies read every single comment or email and will respond to you personally.

5) A photo of the winner with the products for the posting here on the forum is a nice touch.

6) Provide the forum link where the comments and photos are posted to the contact person from each vendor.

7) See if the vendor would consider sending a representative in person and have a dedicated space for them at the event.

8) Lastly, if you will be doing mutliple events, approach the vendor with the intent of obtaining support for the whole year to avoid going back to them multiple times for smaller portions of assistance.

awesome info...thanks.