If you want your charitable event or campaign to have real impact it might be a good idea to get some backing- someone to stump up cash for leaflets or provide bibs for a 5-a-side tournament, for example. This is where businesses come in.

Businesses and companies often get involved in charitable causes that involve local communities, because they like to be seen getting positively involved. Still, it's a two-way process and having a business provide you with backing can work wonders for your activity.

Ways in which companies will be prepared to help are through...

• Cash donations made directly to your charity, campaign or community project
• Sponsoring you or your event, for example providing some cash for the running of a charity sports day
• Donations in-kind, where a company would maybe lend you some office equipment or give some of their products to use as prizes
• Lending employees who could use their skills and expertise to help organise or run your activity

So how do you go about getting a business interested in what you are doing? Ask yourself...

• What is your campaign or activity exactly? What is it trying to achieve?
• What you need to reach your goals? In some cases you might need some money or maybe materials. Whatever it is there will probably be a company in your area that can help out.
• What will a business get out of involvement in your activity?

Once you've sussed this out all you need to do is get asking. The best way to get a company to part with its money or stuff is to send them a written proposal letter, in which you should clearly state your aims.

• Make sure you know exactly who to send the proposal to and what their job title is (find out by calling up).
• Tell them who you are- your name, age and where you're from.
• Don't be too detailed- your proposal is only something to grab the company's attention. If they like the idea, they will ask to know more.
• Show your determination and know-how. Be lively and polite.
• Explain what the cause is, why it is of importance and what you hope to achieve.
• Make it clear what you want from the business- be as specific as possible.
• Make sure they know of any important dates.
• Include all your contact details.

There's nothing to say that you can't get more than one business involved. Get as many as possible but remember not to have more than one of a kind- companies don't like being in competition with each other.