I need immediate help
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Money Talk
Forum Discription: Questions about fundraising and promotion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3469
Printed Date: 5/18/24 at 1:31am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: I need immediate help
Posted By: sonshine
Subject: I need immediate help
Date Posted: 9/17/08 at 8:30am
| Hi everyone. I am wanting to write a letter to a person who I know owns a building that has been on sale for about three years. I would like this to be our new home. Has anyone else has to write a letter asking for a building? What did you write? I need to have this letter sent out by Friday or Monday. Thanks http://www.geocities.com/sonshinetheater - http://www.geocities.com/sonshinetheater |
Replies:
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 9/17/08 at 10:47am
| Do you mean asking for them to give you the building? |
Posted By: sonshine
Date Posted: 9/17/08 at 11:26am
| Yes. |
Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 9/18/08 at 2:26pm
|
Good luck on having them give you a building. I'm no financial expert but I suspect even though it's been on the market for three years that there's greater incentive to keep it than to give it away. Other than being a philanthropic gesture what's the incentive for them to give it to you? What do they get in return for this gift? A lifetime subscription and free refreshments? ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 9/18/08 at 3:49pm
|
Another option: Instead of asking for the building free-of-charge (which is a huge thing) offer your theater as a permanent tenant.
Although I'm no financial whiz or legal expert, this would benefit the owner of the building (assuming the building is now vacant or unused) as there would be people using the property and tending to its upkeep AND he could still keep it on the market if somebody (including you) someday intends to buy it. You could negotiate rent or lease, while paying for utilities (and getting donors to foot these expenses would be immensely easier than having someone just GIVE you a building). As long as you don't plan to permanently alter the structure or gut it and remodel, the owner can keep his building intact, while getting some relief from the monthly expenses of owning an empty or unused property. Seek the advice of a good real-estate expert or attorney. ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 9/18/08 at 8:05pm
|
You could have a word to your groups bank & purchase the building, by only paying the lender the interest + the outgoings. A number of groups have done this here, over the years. One group i know did this for about 10 years & reverted it to a purchase loan. The value of the property had risen to about 5 times the original price, in that time. So they loan they signed up for with the bank, was at the original principal sum. So in retrospect they got for a song & they are quids in.
As Topper suggested offer to pay the out goings to the owner, however you would be a temporary Tennant. Having little notice to move out, if it is sold!
Frankly I'd door step & front the bod up, to ask the question? Rather than stuff about writing letters, that only may be acknowledged & filed in the rubbish bin.
Do a title search of the property & arm yourself with all the relevant details, to ensure you will be talking to the correct owner/party & not just some front flunkies flunky or other.
I don't know but I feel you should also check with local City Council, as they may be some form of redevelopment in the area or some future happening with the area in the works. Which may be a factor, which is why the owner is having trouble fogging the building off.
------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 9/19/08 at 10:36am
|
First, I wouldn't write a letter at all. You need to meet face-to-face, and your first meeting , in fact your first several meetings, shouldn't be "the ask". You have got to meet him, educate him, win him over, and build a relationship. Then you can mention the building.
Even then I wouldn't write a letter. You might sign it, but don't write it. You need a lawyer to do that. Do you have a lawyer on your board, or one that will do pro-bono work?
Are you a non-profit corporation? It might be hard to get a donation of a building if there is not a tax incentive for the owner. ------------- KEB |
Posted By: sonshine
Date Posted: 9/19/08 at 12:11pm
|
We are not a non profit yet. But the owner asked for a written request which is why I wanted to write a letter. |
Posted By: imamember
Date Posted: 9/19/08 at 8:34pm
Wow, that's quite the information that would have been helpful in the original post. Are you in bidding with some other group non theatre related? Are you the only interested party? |