At the Western Railway Museum when a project is being considered, a restricted fund is set up and word is passed to the membership about the project to be funded.

How do other museums do mid-level fund raising? Such as an overhaul of historic rolling stock? I am not talking here of TEA-21 projects or the like.

Member funded projects are as old as the railroad
preservation itself. Is there a better way to raise money in the non-profit area?

ted_miles@NPS.gov

>>How do other museums do mid-level fund
raising? Such as an overhaul of historic
rolling stock? I am not talking here of
TEA-21 projects or the like.<<

Nothing helps as much as nurturing a high-level of community involvement BEFORE the money is needed. At the highest level, this notion forces hobby club museums and other groups with elected boards of directors to consider creating self-perpetuating boards composed of community leaders who have the clout and the contacts to bring in the kind of money and publicity one needs.

Short of that, you can consider forming an advisory council of corporate leaders and others interested in the community and its evolving heritage tourism. Such a group would not have any governance role, but can be a strong source of advice and help; it can bring in more modest funding than the board.

Many towns have community foundations. While these are often geared toward social service projects, they often include educational grants. If your project is going to have a positive impact on the public and if you can show that it really is educational, then this route might work.

Depending on the focus of the project, sometimes good contacts and a small amount of financial help can be obtained through your county or city historical society. Many of these groups focus on family histories, tombstones, and old houses, while others have a larger view of the events that helped shape their communities. These groups see that the local railway historical society or museum has a perspective that is more than worth considering. The society itself may be too small to actually contribute funds, but they usually either know or count among their membership many dedicated community leaders who know people who can contribute. It's a good idea to join these groups, often for a membership fee that's smaller than what you'd pay for a good steak dinner at the local Bennigans, and then they will know who you are before you arrive with your request for some of their time and money.

You probably already know that the NRHS has a grants program through which modest grants have been made to a variety of projects. I think the deadline every year is in the spring.

Good luck,

Malcolm

grinnellglacier@yahoo.com

What about the grant that Trains Magazine gives each year for preservation projects? Anyone know when the next deadline is for it?

Tod Engine Foundation
rick@todengine.org

Think Spring! The TRAINS award application is due in June, award is announced in the Dec. issue.

The NRHS heritage grants tend to be in the $5000 or less category. They are matching grants, and that provides the opportunity to spread the word! IRM received a $4,500 award for the Electroliner restoration in 2000, specifically for work on an armature. We mounted the "Electroliner Challenge" and I was astonished at the response! It's been a very successful campaign. Applications have been due in April.

beast@mc.net