funding sources for UC restoration?

[chris vickery]

Sounds to me like you guys are looking for a benefactor for the project such as a corporate sponsor, group or private individual.
Always worth a shot to try Ford Canada or maybe the local Ford dealer.
Unfortunately these days, most sponsors seek some sort of recognition from their donations, whether it be through advertising or financially (eg tax receipts)I could see the local Ford dealer wanting to have it available for loan for promotion or advertising...
I think that your group may be in for a hard sell as it usually comes down to "whats in it for me" mentality.
Most museums have an extremely difficult time in extracting funds from government sources let alone the generousity of the public, hence the poor quality and conditions of most museum displays.

Just a question and maybe none of my business but I'll ask anyways...
Why did you guys decide to undertake a project out of your own pockets rather than having the appropriate funds raised ahead of time?

If the Legion has endorsed your endeavour shouldn't it be the members financing it???

[Piper]

Hi Chris

All the points you make are spot on. Our group has discussed the "what's in it for me mentality" and so forth. Collectively we've probably spent about $700 to this point. We've put in a lot of sweat equity and time as well. Why did we undertake this without $$ behind us? I guess there are a couple of reasons. 1 I'm a piper in our local legion band. Every function we stand by our cenotaph I look at the UC and think it needs some work. My friend Richard said to me one day "why don't we take a look at it". Well that began a lot of legion members saying "oh, they'll never get any help, or started, or find the manuals, or parts, or..." So, being Scottish and stubborn we took it upon ourselves to get it going. The local town has provided us with a heated bay to work in, a company provided transportation to the bay all for free.

Now that we know it'll go, we want to show people that it runs and hopefully they'll open their wallets.

I guess I was wishing (hoping) that someone on this board had a magic donation fairy that would just cut us a cheque for $10,000.!!! Our legion, like most, is pretty cash strapped. Hopefully we'll do it in 5's and 10's.

Anyway, we'll get it somehow.

Cameron

[servicepub (RIP)]

Try the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This is a provincial organisation that will often do a 'dollar for dollar' matching funds grant. Good luck.