Parade Float Question

[teacups]

The home schoolers are going have a float in the parade! Woo-Whoo!

OK. Now I need your advice.
I have everything under control except one minor detail.... MONEY!

What is the normal process for getting funds?
We are not advertising anything, just doing it as a community event in this bummer ecomomy.

Should I try to get donations from local business owners?
Should each person who floats chip in?
I was thinking a combo of both but people were none too crazy about $20 per family to do it. I didnt think that was unreasonable at all. I mean, you pay $9 per person to go to a movie, this could be seen as family fun to me!
I am not making any money doing this. If there is money left over I'll buy donuts for everyone or divide it up evenly and return to each family.

I used to get donations for the school all the time, but people ALWAYS said they had to have that tax ID number. I dont have one of those now so I'm worried that business owners will turn me away.

Any advice from pro's out there?
WDYT?

 

[JR6ooo4]

how big is this parade? I mean how extravagant will the float be?
Like care size? Bigger or smaller?

How much do you need to raise?

Mikeeee

 

[teacups]

A SUV towing a 16 - 18 foot trailer. All dressed up, fluffed up and sparkly! I could easily spend $400...but I think on a budget I could make $200 stretch pretty far. I'm pretty thrifty.

 

[teacups]

Not one business so far has had any money to help.
I'm still plugging along though...
I was thinking maybe community yard sale?

 

[tw1nsmom]

I think it's completely reasonable to have anyone involved donate. However, before you come up with an amount of money needed, why don't you get together and brainstorm float ideas that would utilize materials that everyone already had?

It's a Christmas theme Parade right? Have everyone bring in Christmas decoration to put on the float. They'll get them back afterwards and can put them back on their house then. Is this a nighttime or daytime parade? If at night, see if anyone has a small generator you can borrow.

Have everyone look in their garage for things you can use. For instance, we have extra 4x8 sheets of rigid insulation. If we were involved, you could use a sheet or two to cut shapes and spray paint.

Be creative and you could be surprised what you could do with little or no money.

Oh, one idea if you want to "build" a house. Use someones plastic play house as a base and cover it with painted cardboard. You could even go to grocery stores and ask them for old boxes that you could break down and use. You could also use boxes and wrap them with dollar store Christmas paper. If someone has an extra artificial tree you could set that up on the float.

Have fun!

 

[teacups]

It's a Christmas theme Parade right? Oh, one idea if you want to "build" a house. Use someones plastic play house as a base and cover it with painted cardboard. Have fun!