Hi everyone, Does anyone have any experience raising funds for a town signage program? Our Town Supervisor approached me to design, find area patrons and produce four no holds barred welcome signs. I've seen plenty of them around with the small "donated by" sign on the bottom, but how do you structure the donations and how would the small contributors be recognized? Terry
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Terry, When I did them, we approached the local business association/chamber of commerce and pitched it to them. Fortunately, there was some interest, so, we ended up eating the design cost and gave a 10% discount on the sign. The township helped by supplying a map where they wanted the signs. They also installed the signs and waived any permit issues associated with the locations. The sponsor paid for the sign and it stays up until the township or sponsor says otherwise. Locations were assigned on a first come, first served basis. A lot of the leg work with promoting the idea was handled thru the business association. We did one pitch at their monthly meeting and the rest was up to them. If you end up having to do all the running around, charge more and make sure you get a deposit before you do anything related to the signs themselves.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
I would approach the Chamber of Commerce and/or Retail, Industrial or Downtawn associations, though I have to tell you, why won't the city absorb the cost or contact them on thier side since they already have a relationship with any entities? We design a lot of city entrance ID signs and wayfinding signs, and they come to us with real money and a real plan to impliment any program we can design, and get paid good money to do it. Even samll cities want to Identify themselves, we are currently working on 5 jobs like this. LIke Checkers said, charge every bit for your time, if you have to be the one to get "donors" make a marketing brochure for it, and keep in close contact with the city, so they know how hard you are working on it, and most of all have fun, it can be very rewarding an most fruterating thing to do. Rick
Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
The problem here is it's not a city. I would be stretching it to call it a town. The pop. of Bristol is 2,071 with a 6-7 medium sized businesses, one country store, one convenience store/gas station and a medium sized ski resort. Due to the lack of businesses, I'm already donating one of the signs. The Economic Planning Committee is really pushing for some larger businesses and city water is coming this spring which will make the town much more attractive to potential developers. So far there's no Chamber or business associations here.
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
Well this sounds like you won't really make any money but maybe the cost of making the signs. I think the "town needs to be involved in marketing themselves, like a business, they need to get thier marketing efforts in gear at the same time you are working on these signs. I say if you don't have this kinda work in your portfolio, you should do it, but have fun, it might be a good investment... in time. Hopefully you can design it, get budget prices and then push for donations, and see who joins in. Rick
Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
If you can't generate ANY serious interest, then consider having your sign say: Welcome to Bristol...A Great Place to Be FROM...but not necessarily AT!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
I just did two monument signs for our town last year with more promised for the future.
I didn't seek help from the real local busineses as they tend to think rather small. Some of my suppliers helped out with materials and we did all design and labor at no charge.
It is my contension that the better the town looks the better we all as business people do. And its important enough to me to put my own money where my mouth is. It was a self serving motivation, even though all the non participants also benefit as well. It was also a chance to raise the quality bar for signage in the town. It was also a chance to get my own work on display (and this has worked well) It also is just a matter of pride in my town.
I didn't put any sponsors names on the sign but rather recognition is done through the local media.
-dan
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
If nothing else, make sure the material costs are covered by someone other than yourself.
Donating design time and labor is cool, but I wouldnt put my own wallet on the line for it.. ie: I wouldnt front the money for materials. You can always rally the troops to cover materials which are only as expensive as you decide to make them. redwood and HDU is nice but Dibond and PVC is inexpensive and still looks nice and lasts outdoors.
At any rate, this is a good opportunity to get your foot in the door at the ground level - you could basically develop the sign code for the city now to favor higher end work in the future.
What you need to do to get the business owners together is have the city arrange it.. they have a city council, no? Try to get the city to have an open hearing, and invite the public where you can pitch your ideas to the whole city.. open up dialogue and even mention the idea that any and all donations to the project would be welcome - because it benefits everyone.
If you want to donate time and labor and only charge cost for materials to help hold costs down, make sure they know that. It shows them you are willing to do your own part as well and people really do respect that. Somebody might even have access to materials at a reduced cost or even free, you never know.. someone could have a brother that runs a High Density foam manufacturing plant.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)