Guys,

Before I begin, I hope no-one considers this a loaded question - it's not. I'd just honestly like some clarification.....

I recently had an e-mail from one of the US Chapters asking me to donation a hunt......I've never done this and don't know the form. When I asked how it worked, ie if I make a donation what do I get out of it? - do I get a percentage of the auction price back?, do I get publicity?, do I donate some free trophy fees and keep the daily rate? etc - the guy didn't even have the manners to reply...... could someone there tell me how it works please?

Steve,

If the form (or accompanying cover letter) doesn't provide details, throw it out.

Some Chapters send out hundreds of these letters, hoping to snag donations.

George

George,

He didn't even tell me which chapter or even which hunting association it was until I asked........

Steve:
YOu have a PM.

Steve,

Our chapter normally gets "donated hunts" at a discount ie a package deal done say 50/50 or some have a base price and anything over that amount we keep. We also have had hunts exchanged for a table at our fund raiser. The main benifit to the donor is often the purchaser will have another hunter or more book with the outfittter at full rates. I was on our local board for 5 yrs and now serve as regional treasurer. We also get many letters offering to donate hunts by outfitters and to be honest we are very weary of these and check them out with a fine tooth comb. Also we announce at the dinner we are not reponsible for the outfitter ie no gaurantees on our part.

Thank you all for the helpful advice both here and by PM. To be honest I doubt we'd make a donation but it's interesting to know how it works.

Shakari,

I am the president of the Pineywoods Chapter of SCI in Texas. Any info I can supply to you I will will be more than happy to help. We are a chapter of just under 100 and have been around for almost 20 years.

Please PM me with any questions or ask here for all to see.

Steve

I rec'd one as well ( hunt donation request) from the following /

Rick A. Fabricio
Annual Fundraiser Chairman
SCI Miami Chapter

On the form there are two donation boxex marked /

100% donation / or 70% donation

Regards, Peter

With the response you got from your questions, I'd shit can it. If they won't answer question, they get no donations. Simple.

Shakari; Please don't consider the response from one volunteer individual to represent SCI or the 150 chapters. I am a board member and officer of the Oklahoma Station Chapter. We offer reciprocal website links and recognition in our fund raiser hunt books (magazine) and depending on the true value of the hunt, we provide booth space at a local (15,000) hunt show, hotel accomodations, display at the banquet, banquet tickets (nice dinner), etc...... It all depends on what you are offering... PM if you need more info. We promote our member to support our donors.

Shakari,

It would behoove you to get established with three or four viable chapters in different sections of the USA. Go where you get the most "bang for you buck" and spend a weekend with them. Some chapter can give you a lot of exposure for a 100% donation!

I've known PH's that have made a living for 15+ years through their association with two SCI Chapters. They would donate one hunt and book four or five more each year.

Some Chapters are in a position to be quite selective as to who they accept donated hunts from. My home Chapter (Detroit) routinely turns down 10-15 African hunt donation offers each year. We maintain loyalty to those who have been working with us for a couple years.

Find a solid chapter and establish a long term relationship with them. It's a win-win-win for everybody involved; the chapter, you, and the chapter members that buy your hunts

Steve, I will second what Matt said. We do in fact turn down many donation offers. It is set up in such a way that everyone comes out a winner. If you have any specific questions please pm me. We are very loyal and take good care of those who we have working relationships with. We try to arrange it so that the chapter obviously makes money, the outfitter or ph makes money, and the membership gets a quality hunt. There are obviously too many variables to pin anything down to a cookie cutter formula. As such there isnt a pat answer to your question. There are various levels of donation as others have already stated, and depending on the type of donation lots of perks that go with it. We obviously must be doing something right as we have people who are repeat donors year after year. Also as stated we have to turn away many African donations each year. I really wish we could accept them all but we cant or rather wont. We made the decision to limit the number both from a logistics stnadpoint but also from a competition standpoint for the exhibitors. It wouldnt be fair to the ph's to bring in twice as many and dillute opportunity to do buisness.