Fundraising Dinner Proposal

[Kyle Nelson]

Group,

As discussed at the meeting, here is a very basic proposal for a set
of dinner meetings.

I am proposing that we try to schedule 5-7 of these meetings at least
three months after we have finalized a statement of purpose/mission
statement and/or secured enough funding to proceed with this project.

I am willing to volunteer my apartment for a trial dinner as long as I
have some help in planning the event. I live on Westminster/East 12th
between Glenwood and Ave. H.

Please excuse the concise nature of this proposal. I wanted to send
something out before I leave the city tomorrow morning.


Fundraising Dinner Proposal

1. Purpose: Raise financial support to sustain grassroots funding for
1022 Cortelyou Rd. Project and to raise community awareness of our
efforts and vision.

2. Who: 10-15 guests per event. Guests preferably live in Ditmas Park,
Kensington, Flatbush, or Midwood. Guests should be neighbors and
potential networking partners, who either could contribute time and
expertise towards our various needs or possess a community connection
that will benefit our project. Members of community organizations (non-
profit, social service, religious, etc.) are also encouraged to
attend.

3. What: Dinner party can either be a home cooked meal, donated
catering, or a potluck. Structure as follows: appetizers and informal
"meet and greet," dinner, desert and a short presentation of our
proposal, mission statement, and efforts. Dinner is followed by an
ask.

4. Ask: Monetary donation pledge either one-time or in the form of a
monthly sustainer. Time and/or expertise pledges are also welcome.

As I mentioned earlier, I propose that we arrange 5-7 such events
within 3 months of finalizing our proposal with the target of reaching
$3000 in total.

This proposal is by no means final and I would love to hear what
people think. I may not be able to respond until Thursday evening, but
I will be checking my e-mail frequently this weekend.

It was great meeting everybody last night and I look forward to
working with you.

-Kyle

[Gochf...@aol.com]

I really do not like being a killjoy; but it really is necessary to cost everything out at every step of the way.

 

Fund raising dinners? You would have to charge hundreds or thousands of dollars a plate. Ask the major investors who lost bundles of money on Vox Pop how much money they lost, money that was never enough to keep the place afloat.

 

Bob

[Kyle Nelson]

Bob,

You are not a kill joy, but I do not think you understand my proposal. It is my fault, though, because I could have been more clear. As I explained earlier, these fund raisers will occur after we reach agreement on a mission statement. We are still a few weeks away from producing a statement to present to the group from what I understand, so our time frame for these is very vague. I intend these fund raising dinners to serve as an organizing tool, however. Utilizing this model, the dinner itself brings people together and at the end of the dinner, the organizers politely and responsibly ask for a donation, either of money or time, etc. If we are lucky, we can get a few monetary contributions out of each dinner, in addition to pledges of support in ways such as maintenance advice, pro bono bookkeeping, or lobbying a politician.

I do not want to speak for the group, but my understanding is that we must raise $3000 per month to cover rent for the space and we are far short of accomplishing this goal. We are gradually developing a sustainable model,  but have not yet completed a business plan. As I understand it, we must place a hold on the space to both claim the lease and ensure that our "project" has a home. As our current efforts to raise money from this group has failed to reach $3,000, we need to raise the money to secure our stake in the building.

These dinners will serve as a networking tool, as well, allowing us to bring our vision to members of our community, increase this groups' membership, and build community support for this project. We can expand our donor base and, at least until we have finalized a business plan, maintain a grassroots funding model. We can also solidify connections and relationships in this setting to help us ease our way into implementing the plan.

As I said before, it seems as though we are at least a month to a month and a half away from developing a mission statement and/or model to present to the group, but this is a way to begin expanding our vision while simultaneously raising the funds to maintain our stake in the building.

-Kyle

[Heather]

This is a good idea.

costs of food= cost of bottle of wine or coffee urn + of cooking that
lasagna or pie spread out via
? people - about seven cooks ( wild guess ) and bringing it to Kyle's
freezer or fridge

cost of space= none, donated by Kyle or other volunteer- do we have to
put this

cost of service=none, voluntereed waitstaff or self service, volunteer
clean up crew

cost per plate and or admission TBD- not too low, not too high

TWO NEW THOUGHTS

1. If there is only room for 10 to 15 people, let's maximixe the new
people at the shindig, quite simply because
we _have _not_asked _them _before, and we want to get their money,
ideas and conections into the mix.

Priority Invitees should be people with some connection to community
organizations and more generally people who know lots of other people.

2. These dinners- at least one of them, should be moved forward in
time, to raise the 2 K we need to hold
the space.

thanks
Heather

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>
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[William Cerf]

Naw, I think we should keep the unwashed masses away from these fine dining experiences. Only invite gazillionaires, no mere miillionaires or billionaires, only GAZILLIONAIRES!!! We could open up an exclusive high priced joynt. None of this community building nonsense.

WC
I just smoked something but I ain't gonna share it with the likes of you!!!!!

--
Blog: http://newtownvision.blogspot.com/
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[ssiegel]

I think this is a great suggestion Kyle. Many small home style dinner
parties could leverage funds to hold us over.. Why not? Every bit
helps. I'd do one. A great exuse to have a party! Who else would be
willing to do one? (If the rent is paid by Oct. 4th.. otherwise --is
the space lost??)
I suggested in another thread that the business plan committee meet on
Wednesday the 13th, at Conn. Muffin to consolidate ideas and bring
them back to the group. What say ye?
Susan