Individual contributions Asking for contributions from local people turns fundraising into community building. People become more attached to groups, projects, and places they feel they own. Lots of books cover these approaches. Some groups make donations tax deductible by registering as a charity with the federal government. This includes donations of printing, equipment, furniture, space, services, food, and time.
Local businesses respond well to requests for in-kind donations.
Auctions Consider a dream auction. At a big community party your auctioneer sells every treasure to the highest bidder. After identifying a possibility, find out about application procedures. Getting a grant usually requires writing up a good proposal. Look for matching grants.