Non-Firearm Related, brainstorming session

[<MADDOG>]

Plenty of ideas to raise money, but have you tried to reduce the cost?

Does Disney have any special programs?

[BigBear]

Plenty of ideas to raise money, but have you tried to reduce the cost?

Does Disney have any special programs?

Very good question! I've been running with several different tour operations (as well as trying large group things by myself) and it seems like this number ($1200 based on 34 kids) is the cheapest I can find that is all inclusive (travel, hotels, meals, park passes, etc). I could lower it slightly by having the kids purchase their own meals but most of them don't get a decent meal at home to begin with and would probably spend that money on junk, candy, etc, lol. If I get more kids, then the price DOES drop slightly due to group discounts. Current number is based on a (high) estimate of 34 kids. Again, I teach at a small school...

But interesting thought... wonder if I can open it to neighboring schools as well?... research time again.

[Wulf202]

Would it be possible to do a multi year fund?

[CHA-LEE]

Its hard begging for money to fund a vacation. The parents should be the ones shelling out the $$$ to send their kids on vacation. As you said, at $1200 each kid that isn't a lot of money each family has to save up for a year. Plus, what does doing all of this for the kids for free really teach them? I hate to be a pessimist about this but I wouldn't give a dime to fund a frivolous vacation for kids I know much less ones I don't know.

[BigBear]

Its hard begging for money to fund a vacation. The parents should be the ones shelling out the $$$ to send their kids on vacation. As you said, at $1200 each kid that isn't a lot of money each family has to save up for a year. Plus, what does doing all of this for the kids for free really teach them? I hate to be a pessimist about this but I wouldn't give a dime to fund a frivolous vacation for kids I know much less ones I don't know.

Very good point. I truly agree with you. Then I think of where they come from and though yes, it is a "vacation"... it's also an amazing learning experience that they probably won't get anywhere else.

But I'm starting to think it won't be possible anyways, so... all good.

[OctopusHighball]

My boy scout troop when I was a kid had a fireworks stand as our sole fundraiser for the year and we made a TON of money. We did a lot of activities throughout the year, and this one event funded them all. Obviously this idea is not going to work for this year and timing may not work for next year, but it might work out going forward.

We as kids were involved pre selling fireworks to our neighbors but we were not allowed to work the stands, I don't know if that was due to the laws at the time or because of the state we lived in or if it was a policy thing with our troop. As a result (or maybe by design), parent participation was mandatory.

I've always kept it in the back of my mind a great fundraising activity if I ever needed one. I was just a kid when this all went down so I don't know the economics of it (perhaps capital is needed up front to purchase the inventory, I don't know), but it might be worth checking into.

I get that some people are going to see your event as a vacation of sorts, but really sell them on the opportunity aspect, especially by tying in your experiences with it. Good luck!

[wctriumph]

I would suggest looking into educational grants, perhaps some letters to philanthropic organizations, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, the Koch brothers, there are certainly organizations dedicated to the Arts with big money to help disadvantaged children achieve.

Good luck.

[BigBear]

Junked cars. Offer to pick them up for free and potentially save on taxes! Scrap price is lower right now, but assuming you can bend this under non-profit rules somehow to provide a tax incentive. All you need is broke people that want to get crap off their property. Take it to the right place and each car you drop off at the right yards might net you $300.00+ (or even $400.00+ in some circumstances) - lots of groups do this such as the ReStore, etc. You just need someone with a winch and trailer willing to help out, a lot. If they are in really shit shape then they still have scrap value.

Interesting idea... could be fun too...