Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Money available! :o)

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Nanette
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Topic: Money available! :o)
Posted: 10/04/06 at 8:06pm

A friend who was a Boy Scout leader told me about this one ...

Wal-Mart gives away money to worthy causes! I visited one today and asked about getting some stuff donated, or reduced in price, to help out my children's theatre troupe and was asked to fill out a short form describing what I needed and who would be benefiting. By the time I got home, an hour later, there was a call from the store saying I was approved for $25.00 worth of merchandise!

I was told it's best to ask early in the fall as they only have a certain amount to give away and once it's gone, it's gone. Hope everyone else who can use a little for this and that at the theatre is as lucky. Every little bit helps! :o)

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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Gaafa
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Posted: 10/04/06 at 8:47pm

This is always a good idea Nannette!
As most Companies have what I think you bods call a ?Community Chest? for donations - always worth investigating & giving a call.
What ever our needs for the theatre, we contact suppliers & initially request, not as begging, but to be able to purchase products at their cost or special discount prices.
This works great in most cases & can save the theatre heaps for materials.
Also in a few cases they contact us to either give them a lot price or donate gear if we could use them, on products that are damaged or they are about to chuck out. Get a lot of useful gear this way!
Also we become a known entity within the company & it always helps to drop a few comps on them now & then.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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castMe
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Posted: 10/04/06 at 9:20pm

Hit 'em up folks. Wal-mart makes gazillions.

Investigate. Imagine. Choose.

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MartyW
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Posted: 10/06/06 at 12:29pm

We have "heard" that many coorporate types; Walmart, Burger King, etc.. etc... have a fund that they are to use to promote general good will in the community by sponsoring things like this... We have had a couple of banks in the area sponsor shows or portions there of in the past..

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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tcpmatt
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Posted: 10/08/06 at 11:30am

A few more to add to the list:

Pizza Hut has fundraisers that they do for 501c3 groups. You get a % of the sale.

Target does donations

The key to walmart is to put it in about 2 months before you need something, explain what you are doing and who will benny from it all. Even some towns will give money to support community organizations, its worth a try.

I have been very sucsessful getting over 18, 000 for our theatre group in a 3 year period of time by just applying for grants and pounding the doors at the major stores and even a membership champaign

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MartyW
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Posted: 10/09/06 at 9:24am

Walmart was very cooperative in donating craft materials for our summer theater camp this year... I guess it is out there, if your willing to look.. at least on the small scale...

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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alexander2008
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Posted: 11/13/07 at 7:00am

Hi,

I'm Newbie here and impressed with this thread.

Good bye

alexander

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Nanette
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Posted: 11/13/07 at 8:04am

Another one to try is Dollar General. You have to write a letter to corporate, but they will give hundreds to local organizations.

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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vickifrank
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Posted: 11/13/07 at 10:43am

Lowes and Menards (and HomeDepot?) have grants for local community organizations. You have to write the grant, but they ought to consider it favorably--after all most theaters go through the lumber and paint. So you are customer and a community organization.

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Linda S
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Posted: 11/13/07 at 2:06pm

I have found that most business, large and small, have a certain amount of money to give back to the community. Banks, restaurants, lumber companies, hadware stores, furniture companies, doctors, law firms, shoe companies, car dealerships, plus lots more have all given generously to our little theater. Recently some of the larger companies have said that the local branches have to become more diverse in support community projects. They have been thrilled that we approached them because they had to find a community organization that was not a sports team to give money to. When a large bank opened a branch in town they approached the theater with a $500 check. They wanted people to see that they were supporting the community. It never hurts to ask.

Linda

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Money Talk
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Theater Administration :Money Talk

Author	Message
Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Topic: Money available! :o) Posted: 10/04/06 at 8:06pm
	A friend who was a Boy Scout leader told me about this one ... Wal-Mart gives away money to worthy causes! I visited one today and asked about getting some stuff donated, or reduced in price, to help out my children's theatre troupe and was asked to fill out a short form describing what I needed and who would be benefiting. By the time I got home, an hour later, there was a call from the store saying I was approved for $25.00 worth of merchandise! I was told it's best to ask early in the fall as they only have a certain amount to give away and once it's gone, it's gone. Hope everyone else who can use a little for this and that at the theatre is as lucky. Every little bit helps! :o)
	In a world of margarine, be butter!

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 10/04/06 at 8:47pm
	This is always a good idea Nannette! As most Companies have what I think you bods call a ?Community Chest? for donations - always worth investigating & giving a call. What ever our needs for the theatre, we contact suppliers & initially request, not as begging, but to be able to purchase products at their cost or special discount prices. This works great in most cases & can save the theatre heaps for materials. Also in a few cases they contact us to either give them a lot price or donate gear if we could use them, on products that are damaged or they are about to chuck out. Get a lot of useful gear this way! Also we become a known entity within the company & it always helps to drop a few comps on them now & then.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

castMe Celebrity Joined: 11/02/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206	Posted: 10/04/06 at 9:20pm
	Hit 'em up folks. Wal-mart makes gazillions.
	Investigate. Imagine. Choose.
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 10/06/06 at 12:29pm
	We have "heard" that many coorporate types; Walmart, Burger King, etc.. etc... have a fund that they are to use to promote general good will in the community by sponsoring things like this... We have had a couple of banks in the area sponsor shows or portions there of in the past..
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
	IP Logged

tcpmatt Walk-On Joined: 10/03/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/08/06 at 11:30am
	A few more to add to the list: Pizza Hut has fundraisers that they do for 501c3 groups. You get a % of the sale. Target does donations The key to walmart is to put it in about 2 months before you need something, explain what you are doing and who will benny from it all. Even some towns will give money to support community organizations, its worth a try. I have been very sucsessful getting over 18, 000 for our theatre group in a 3 year period of time by just applying for grants and pounding the doors at the major stores and even a membership champaign
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 10/09/06 at 9:24am
	Walmart was very cooperative in donating craft materials for our summer theater camp this year... I guess it is out there, if your willing to look.. at least on the small scale...
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
	IP Logged

alexander2008 Walk-On Joined: 11/13/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 11/13/07 at 7:00am
	Hi, I'm Newbie here and impressed with this thread. Good bye alexander
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Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 11/13/07 at 8:04am
	Another one to try is Dollar General. You have to write a letter to corporate, but they will give hundreds to local organizations.
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 11/13/07 at 10:43am
	Lowes and Menards (and HomeDepot?) have grants for local community organizations. You have to write the grant, but they ought to consider it favorably--after all most theaters go through the lumber and paint. So you are customer and a community organization.
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 11/13/07 at 2:06pm
	I have found that most business, large and small, have a certain amount of money to give back to the community. Banks, restaurants, lumber companies, hadware stores, furniture companies, doctors, law firms, shoe companies, car dealerships, plus lots more have all given generously to our little theater. Recently some of the larger companies have said that the local branches have to become more diverse in support community projects. They have been thrilled that we approached them because they had to find a community organization that was not a sports team to give money to. When a large bank opened a branch in town they approached the theater with a $500 check. They wanted people to see that they were supporting the community. It never hurts to ask. Linda
	IP Logged

Topic: Money available! :o)( Topic Closed)
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