Open to ideas

So far, we've made do with earned funds to cover the cost of moving 110 up from Georgia, and personal donations to defray the cost of getting the drawings and buying a few parts at auction. A "$110 for 110" idea was tossed around and promptly ignored, where people would commit to donating $110 to the project at specific intervals to provide a war chest for getting needed parts and materials when they were available. My sense is that a formal funding campaign involving the public and private sectors is coming up, and perhaps our own active membership is waiting to see how that works out. I'm not as happy leaving the future of the project out of our control to that extent, but that's just me. We're also exploring trying to involve the 75% of our membership that isn't active to help us network our way to in-kind donations. This is scheduled to kick off at the beginning of June in our newsletter.

Anybody with a strategy in mind that has worked or might be worth trying for raising funds, interest or in kind donations please post it here.

I understand this section of the project will be down the road a ways, but as far as fundraising efforts go, I believe something along this route would be a great way to raise money for the various projects to get to completion. This idea came from the AT&SF 2926 group that has asked for sponsors for many items, linked below is their flue tube sponsorship program where they asked just above the tube price plus a bit extra for installation each. They've also had a "Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes" program for new brake shoes and one for superheater tubes.  

http://www.nmslrhs.org/Shop/FlueTubes/fluesheet.php

We have a lot of members in our group that could be reached specifically for this small type of fundraising. It's small amounts, but the givers know exactly what goal it's going for so they're more likely to open their wallets.

Thank you - there have been some broader efforts to starting an official grantsmanship and development program for not only the 110 project, but for the several capital projects the museum needs to undertake such as restrooms, an enginehouse, and an improved train for the ride. We have had a proposal from one professional fund raiser - and I'm awaiting some discussion and a decision about proceeding from the BOD.

I'm not sure where the funds to do the tender tank repair are coming from.

I like the targeted approach - I think it could be very successfully rolled into the broader effort.

Dave

How about the "Feed the hungry, grocery bag strategy"? You know when you check out at the grocery store and they ask if you would like to donate $1 to buy groceries for the poor? Could we make it part of the ticket sales (internet and booth) that it is an option to add $1 or $2 to the price of each ticket to support the restoration efforts? I am much more likely to say sure to spending $35 instead of $31 for my family to ride when the transaction is right there, than I am to go to the website just to donate. It isn't a huge sum of money, but if half the riders say yes for the whole year it could be a decent stream of cash. Those who donate this way could be given a nice 5x7 print of the restored paint job look she had before we started tearing it apart. Those could be fitted with the NHVR logo and year and things by a graphics professional and mass produced for a reasonable fee. I think we need lots of ideas on the table and then sift them all out.

Thanks - I think this "spare change impulse buy" idea could generate some serious funding over time. I'll recommend it, but the ticket sales people, marketing people and BOD need to approve it.

FYI we have gotten a proposal from a professional fund raiser who is willing to work with us on preparing us to apply for large funds from granting organizations and foundations, working on the applications, and generally helping us with a formal development strategy, but I can't seem to get a consensus on getting that effort under way.

Dave