[George G]

basketball team with low income player I have a AAU organization in Clarksville TN that serves kids from low income families. This year we signed up for our 501(c) 3 non profit status. I have been sending out letters to companies for donations but I'm not having any luck. Can anyone give me some suggestions or some contact numbers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Adorabilly]

Here is the trick.
You need to write your letters on some company's letterhead.

For example, I worked with the mentally ill. During the time I worked with them, we would get free tickets to local sporting events (including the professional games for football, basketball, baseball), lots of local events, even free movie tickets.

what I had to do was write to the local companies explaining that I worked for a NON PROFIT corporation serving the mentally ill, and ask for the donations I wanted (tickets to see the sports events, movies, concerts, etc) and it had to be on company letterhead.

You can do the same thing. Find out what the letter head for the AAU organization of Clarksville Tn looks like, and write your letter on it. Ask for specific donations/sponsorships for your team. In the letter explain who you are, what you do, what you want, and how it will help your low income kids play basketball.

You can also work it from a very personal view, go into local kids spots like Mcdonalds, BK, Walmart, sams club and speak directly to the managers of the stores. Tell them who you are and ASK them what they need from you to sponsor a team, or give donations. Most managers are very receptive to helping out people in their communities. So ask and you will be surprised how much they will give you to help out.