Funding

1. Applying for grants is also a great way to raise money for your district. Many grants are for non-profit organizations, so if you do not have an official nonprofit designation, you may need to find a local nonprofit to work with as a partner. Although this may be challenging to find initially, having a nonprofit partner can help you build relationships and capacity in your own community. For information about gaining nonprofit status, refer to the topic Starting a Business Association in this toolkit.

2. Once you find a grant, make sure that your organization is eligible and that the funding announcement fits with the mission and vision of your project. Don’t apply for grants just to get more funding – make sure your project ideas fit into the scope of the grant application. It will be easier to identify the best grants for your district if you already have project ideas and/or a vision for the district.

3. Evaluate how much time it will take to complete the grant application. Make a timeline and identify needs for the application, such as data about the identified need. If you have data needs, contact the Destination Districts Program – we may be able to help you.

4. Identify who will do what for the grant application. Some people might be great at gathering data, while others excel at writing the narrative. Depending on the size of the grant, it may be helpful to assign a Project Manager to make sure all of the different parts of the grant are completed.

5. Don’t forget to proofread! It is easy to make mistakes, but grant reviewers want to see that you have attention to detail. Ask someone who wasn’t involved to read your application to make sure it makes sense and there are no grammatical errors.

6. Submit the application on time (or early)!

1. Once your district has selected a project, recruit volunteers for a fundraising team. Create a list of tasks, brainstorm different fundraising events/methods (see right for some examples), and have your team members sign up for specific roles, preferably ones that are related to their skills.
2. Establish goals and make a plan. When setting a fundraising goal, be sure to consider the kinds of expenses you will have to complete your ultimate project and to conduct the fundraising. It’s often helpful to set target dates as a motivator, and it’s a good idea to write down your goals. Make them specific, but be realistic about possible constraints. Also consider how many people in your neighborhood need to participate, and create a plan for how to get as many participants as you can.
3. Create a timeline. Start with the date of your event or end of your project in mind and work backwards. Come up with clear deadlines of when things will need to get done to stay on track.
4. Focus. Keep the focus of every meeting and conversation on why you are trying to raise money, and be open to different ideas on how to get there. By keeping the focus on what you want to achieve, you can avoid group disputes that detract from the mission.
5. Work together, celebrate together. Make sure everyone knows that their hard work is appreciated, and make sure you celebrate your successes together. If you have a celebration, grand reveal, or ribbon-cutting ceremony, make sure to invite everyone who has contributed time, money, services, or merchandise to make it happen. If it’s a formal event, recognize the more significant donors and offer them a chance to say a few words.
6. Say thanks. Remember to send thank-you notes to volunteers, donors, businesses, and anyone who helps your group achieve its goals. “Thank you” goes a long way, and gives you an opportunity to tell or show them what was accomplished with their contributions. This simple gesture also improves the chances they will donate toward future projects. 

• Eat out for a cause. Ask a local restaurant to donate a small percentage of their sales for a certain day or week. It’s a fairly easy way to collect money for your cause while supporting a local business. Make sure to spread the word to your neighbors and friends.
• If your group is very organized, you can also arrange for a restaurant “crawl” wherein participants pay a flat fee to sample food and drinks from a variety of restaurants. This takes much more coordination between volunteers and multiple restaurants, but can create a fun environment and raise more money.
• Organize a district concert, market, or movie night. You can hold the event in a nearby park, or right in the district. This could be a great Lighter Quicker Cheaper placemaking project! Sell tickets to the event, or charge vendors to be there. Offer refreshments, food, or desserts for sale.
• Organize a holiday tour or parade of businesses. Recruit people who want to show off their holiday decorations, pick a date, and provide a map of participating businesses to attendees. This is a great way to increase foot traffic at businesses in the district. Solicit sponsors for the event to raise money, or charge food trucks to attend.
• Organize a paint and sip night. Recruit a local artist to lead the class. Sell tickets ahead of time and provide a cash bar with a portion of the proceeds going to your organization.
• Sell t-shirts promoting your district. Hire a local graphic designer to create a design that highlights your district, and take orders online or at local businesses.