In your case you are slightly better qualified--so figure 5%.  So if you are asking for $8000 (covers the cost of the mailer too!), and you can reasonably expect 30-50 people to respond, you are likely to need to ask for $160 each in donations.  If these are individuals on the list that's probably a little steep.  1.) I'd get a few companies to donate--starting with the one you buy the seats from--even 10% off is major savings.  Go to lumber yards, printers, the landlord and others that you buy from during the year and ask too.  2.) Then I'd approach my biggest individual donor and ask for a special thing--ask him to match the donations.  If you  think he will donate $1000, ask him to set that up as a match of other people's donation, so you motivate the others. Then go on radio and announce the match.  3.) I'd point out the tax savings to major donors and offer them for 2007 or 2008 (your timing is good for this).  If you are lucky a few will donate for both!  4.) Consider taking things as donations.  Cars, etc..especially if you can sell better than the current owner. 5.) If you fall short, then write again saying your are very close and it would be a shame to miss out--and offer season tickets at a discount for an incentive.

 

Good luck!

 

We implemented the ability to optionally donate as part of the ticket buy process into our system last quarter and I have been very surprised at the number of donation our customers have received.  The even more interesting note is that people are giving on average about $9.00; when they give. 

 

I think most of the patrons to community theater or performing art events really enjoy the shows and really want to see the theater group be successful.  If they can give a few dollars above and beyond the ticket price to ensure success or just say thanks I've see that they feel its well worth it. 

 

Keep posting the results of your donation campaign.  I think readers will definitely benefit from hearing your story.

 

So you're with Actors in Ames, Iowa.  Great!  We went through a similar experience back in 1997 attempting to restore seats in our 472 seat theatre.  We sold "naming rights".  I'm sure you've seen name plates or placks either on arm rests or on back of seats.  We sold all 472 seats at $100. a piece and paid for the seat restoration.  People could have their name (or someone elses) engraved on a nice gold plate, and we have it screwed into the arm rest.  A company came in, took all of the seats out, restored them and brought them back and re-installed for about $47,000.  That's the good news.

 

The not so good news is that we had some marketing involved because sending some press releases wasn't cutting it.  And, it took about three years to get them all sold

 

John