Small Dance group needs sponsorship ideas!

demonicangel

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

You really are underselling yourselves. €1.50 per lesson is too cheap! Parents should expect to pay €3-€5 for after school tuition of this kind. I run after school language clubs and I would much rather have 10 children paying €3 a week than 20 paying €1.50. Much easier to manage the class, the children get better quality tuition in a smaller class and there will be less work re costumes etc. I know the price will put some parents off but then those will be the parents, as someone else has had already, that will go off on hols and let you down.

That.

I pay £3.50 per dance class and if the child has three on the same day, the get the third free. We also have the option to pay weekly or half termly.

They do a show every two years and the parents pay £20+ towards each costume which the children then get to keep.

Hard as it is, give the non payers a chance to catch up with fees and if they dont, then tell them their children cant come anymore, may give them the kick they need.

XxXfashionqueenXxX

Well 100 pupils thats really good and lucky kids for that price! Personally my friends cheerleading group is like you fundraising to compete in the nationals. Have you tried doing a sponsored walk and try to make it a competition for the kids like winner gets free snacks for a term (we have a snack bar at our group) also whenever we do a play they send a character list of costumes that parents supply and academy supply. I must say personally the parents could be a bit supportive. Also we have strict attendance say if they child misses more than 3 lessons they get a lower part than the commited ones who get a bigger part.

Amethyst_ice

Heheh no eating during dance classes we dance in a proper dance studio so no food allowed either hehe we have tried doing sponsored things but never brings in the ammount we need really. The parents are usually ok at doing black pumps (if they cant afford jazz shoes) and coloured top, black trousers etc but whenever we offer they can keep costumes etc or make them never works.

Most parents are supportive but you get a few that dont understand that kids need to go to rehersals, dress rehersals and tech etc.

I get what your saying about kids missing lessons not being in as much and with the older kids thats fine like the teens because they make the decisions but with the younger kids its not their fault if mum or dad dont bring them or dont pay so its not fair on the child in that instance. x

XxXfashionqueenXxX

kk have you tried yellowmoon if you have a look in this category at the pta fundraising page you couldpick up some ideas

Amethyst_ice

XxXfashionqueenXxX wrote: »

kk have you tried yellowmoon if you have a look in this category at the pta fundraising page you couldpick up some ideas

cant seem to find the section?

balrog92

For sponsorship ideas I can recommend Getmemedia.com.

They have a lot of opportunity for sponsorship ideas and solutions.

GilbertGradgrind

You could do worse than look at (http://www.childreninwales.org.uk/index.html) which might help to put you in touch with appropriate sources of funding. Despite the financial crisis there is lots about. Particularly in Wales: if you are in or near a former mining community there are sources of funding through the European Union (http://wefo.wales.gov.uk/?skip=1&lang=en) The horrible thing being that someone has to trawl through all of that to put together an adequate application. Which is, admittedly, a full time job.

WEFO operate an 'open call' for projects. This essentially means: "put together a really good proposal, cost out how much it will take to run it, tell us what benefits it gives to individuals, groups and communities" and then "we will take time looking at it, ask more questions and maybe fund it". To be fair, Welsh projects can get reasonable support from Europe. But be warned: "The TMF is a fund of last resort; applicants will therefore be required to show that all possible efforts have been made to secure match funding from other sources before TMF is approached." Which is why the whole fund raising process is a full time job.

If you are young enough, why not apply to the Princes Trust to get money to investigate setting up a business (it could be a Community Interest Company - hence not for profit) and use that support to get familiar with the various charitable donors available.

You say you have used people from Uni (or they have used you) for stage management. You do realise that most Universities are actually charities and may have someone who can help with working out how to fund raise.

You might also want to research what the BBC has to offer http://www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund/musicaltheatre/ (to a lesser extent channel 4) as they have a commitment to developing the arts. Yes the BBC tends to award to individuals but if you can create a case for them financing things there is potential finance available.

Finally, have a look into what kind of funding you can get due to the building you use: is it of historical interest and are you liable to get support for the practical things such as heating and lighting (ask your local energy company as they have funds for community relations).

nickj_2

if you and your mum are running the club then maybe it's now time to form a parents committee to organise some fundraising , if you are giving up your free time then it's the least they can do .

i think you need to either hold a meeting (don't be surprised if it's only you and your mum there ) or send out a letter with the facts ,ie if you are running at a loss or have to dip into your own pocket ,then you will either need to put up your fees or let the parents raise funds or close

offer upfront discounts for fees , so if you pay weekly then you get say one week free if you pay for a whole term and you have to get everyone to pay or else no dance , if parents don't like it ask them to go elsewhere .

for kids who don't are unreliable don't give them major parts , i would prefer to have someone who is not as good but who's keen and turns up every week rather than a "diva" who just turns up when they feel like it . it's a good lesson to learn for their future life .

i used to run a youth club and there are plenty of charities who can help you financially if they still have any money left , just google charities + grants and have a look ,

good luck