Donation Towards Customer XMAS Party

[Buster0881]

My customers ask me every year to donate towards their company holiday party. Cash, checks, gift cards, merchandise, etc. I'm curiose to know how other small business owners handle this situation and how do they determine an appropriate dollar amount???

[Freelancier]

That's a totally inappropriate request of a vendor unless you are "sponsoring" the party and get to advertise yourself there.

On the other hand, if they're inviting you to the party and you're supposed to bring a "toys for tots" gift that they'll turn around and donate, that's all good.

[nealrm]

If they are asking me to sponsor the party and I get advertising, I treat it as an advertising expense. It get standard cost / benefit analysis. If they are just asking for me to give them something, then they get a polite no.

[Harold Mansfield]

I can't say I've ever heard of this before. Why would it be your responsibility to finance their holiday party? Seems strange to even ask someone to do that.
If you're donating to a charitable cause, it make sense. But forking over cash and merchandise to help people at someone elses company eat and get drunk...yeah, I'm not feeling that.