Need Help with Fundraising Ideas
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Printed Date: 5/11/25 at 6:15pm
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Topic: Need Help with Fundraising Ideas
Posted By: Guests
Subject: Need Help with Fundraising Ideas
Date Posted: 10/30/02 at 5:52pm
Hi all...
I'm new to the Community Theatre game. I've recently been invited to sit on the Board of a theatre in my hometown, and the more research I do, the more I'm finding that our group is VERY far behind other theatres. It is in it's 21st season, but has no annual proposed budget, it selects its plays one and two at a time, rather than planning a whole season, and doesn't have a standard method of marketing and advertising. Along with myself, there are two new board members who are very interested in helping to turn the theatre around, and know that we need to do it one step at a time. I've been asked to do some research on fundraising. Recently we've done some food sales during intermission that was relatively successful (they used to only accept donations for soda, coffee, etc...), and we are now working on a Holiday Poinsettia Sale that is going fairly well. My hunch is that while we will raise funds, these are funds on a rather small scale. The theatre is small. It is only 90 seats, but seems to have a regular following. I'm looking for advice on marketing and fundraising from other people involved in small theatres. I would appreciate ANY suggestions and help. Thank you!!!!
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Replies:
Posted By: Chris Polo
Date Posted: 11/03/02 at 4:59pm
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Our theater does an annual musical/comedy show in a cabaret format. One of the things that makes this successful is the physical layout of our theater, which seats 100. It was converted from an old church, and the seats are installed over three slanting platforms to give us a rake. For the fundraiser, we take out the theater seats and remove the slanting supports from under the platforms so they rest flat, giving us three tiers. We then put tables for eight and folding chairs on the tiers for the audience -- that allows us to serve drinks and snacks throughout the show. The show itself is written by me, Mike and our friend Bruce Leister -- for the last three years, we've produced "Delaware Unleashed," which features satires of popular songs, twisted to give them a Delaware slant. (Our local newspaper editor, after seeing a show by the Washington, D.C. group the Capitol Steps, noted in his column that our show is similar to what they do, if that gives you an idea of the flavor). We have a magical musical director, who also accompanies us on his keyboard, a drummer, and usually a cast of about 20. Granted, it's a LOT of work -- it takes us 4 to 5 months to write the 30-some songs and come up with the comedy bits and patter in between, but it's highly successful. This past summer we sold out three weeks before we opened; cost is $15 a head (we raised it this year from $12.50 after too many people told us we weren't charging enough), we sell beer, wine, sodas, mixed drinks and snacks throughout the evening (folks volunteer to wait tables and bartend), and local businesses donate nice stuff that we raffle off. All in all, it brings in a nice enough sum so that we don't have to worry too much about paying the mortgage! There are photos of a couple of the shows available at http://www.kctg.org/fr_photos.htm - our theater , the Kent County Theatre Guild.
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 11/17/02 at 1:42pm
Hi, Lilly,
Once a year, usually in the spring, our local theatre hosts a silent auction. It runs through the entire run of a with dozens of donations from businesses and individuals. These items are new, not used, and range from certificates for pedicures to weekends at a B&B. We've had handmade quilts, gift baskets, artwork, and giant stuffed Mickey Mice. This year it was expanded so folks could follow and place bids online. The theatre gets funding, businesses and artists receive publicity, and the patrons get some terrific bargains.
Hope this helps!
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