Erica: This response has reminded me that when I was running the Sydney 
Maritime Museum (now Australian Heritage Fleet), we regularly received 
free help for various projects from the Australian Army, so each year we 
invited the servicemen involved to hold a Christmas party on one of our 
vessels. While this activity may not be practical, if you do not have a 
ship and crew, you might have access to a building where such a function 
(or variations involving adults only) could be held.  We found it was 
also good PR bringing people (members of the family) into the Museum 
area who might not have had any prior association with us.

Just another thought.


George Garner wrote:

> Hi Erica,
>  
> Have you considered free or discounted admission tickets for some or 
> all of their employees? Or, if you don't charge admission, discounted 
> or maybe buy-one get-one free memberships? The business would be able 
> to tie their donation to a perk for their employees, and you get 
> access to a new audience who may turn into regular visitors/members.
>  
> Special previews of the new exhibition a day or two before it opens 
> are also beneficial. It also doubles as a way to build an audience and 
> generate buzz about the show.
>  
> Also, think of places other than the exhibition you can put signage. 
> Perhaps a sign for the exhibition in the lobby can include logos? What 
> about your website? Signage at special events? The more places you can 
> plaster the business' logo, the more exposure and bang for their buck 
> they get. You might be able to bump up your range of donations above 
> $1,000 too. :)
>  
> Those are just a few of many great ways to offer incentives. I'm sure 
> a dedicated development person can offer more.
>  
> Best,
>
> George Garner
> Director of Exhibitions
> Center for History
> 808 West Washington, South Bend, IN 46601
> www.centerforhistory.org <http://www.centerforhistory.org> // (574) 
> 235-9664
>  
>
> --------
> Celebrate Historic Architecture Month in July at the Center for 
> History with a tour of Copshaholm, the 38-room mansion once home to 
> the Oliver family.
>  
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* Erica Maniez <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>     *To:* [log in to unmask]
>     <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>     *Sent:* Saturday, July 23, 2005 12:06 PM
>     *Subject:* corporate inducement to donate to exhibit
>
>     Hello, folks,
>
>      
>
>     We are currently raising funds for a new exhibit. We are thinking
>     about approaching local businesses to see if they would be willing
>     to donate $500 - $1,000 each for the project. Other than a sign or
>     plaque acknowledging their donation, I’m not sure what other
>     “rewards” we could offer them for contributing. We are a small
>     museum, and the project budget is about $17,500. Most of that is
>     the construction of new exhibit cases. The idea of naming each
>     case after a business is distasteful to me.
>
>      
>
>     How has your museum acknowledged corporate donors in the past?
>
>      
>
>     Thanks!
>
>     Erica
>
>      
>
>     Erica S. Maniez
>
>     Museum Director, Issaquah Historical Society
>
>     425/392-3500
>
>     [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>     www.issaquahhistory.org
>
>      
>
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