Our model railroad club was recently informed by our landlord that the rent is going up - to a point where we need to start coming up with some serious funding to maintain the space we have. Does anyone have ideas or suggestions for ways that we can raise extra funds so we won’t have to vacate or be forced out of our current location?
Thanks,
Brian
Brian,
Would that be Somerset, Pa.? The club I belong to in Beaver County, Pa.
built a 4x8 layout complete with structures and a train set and went to a
couple of public events and sold raffle tickets and then gave it away on the
last night of the county fair. (2 days at antique tractor show and 5 days at
county fair)
One thing our club in Anchorage did was have classes for new modelers. We would have a 8 week session where we would take them through how to build a car, do scenery, lay track, build a simple building, what tools to use etc. When they left they would have a 1’ square they built with track, scenery, buildings etc. The charge for this was $30.00 and we had from 15 to 20 people for every class at the clubhouse.
Rick
What about selling club t-shirts or maybe box cars with your club name on them at shows.
My club does the following to raise money:
Custom decorate then sell club cars
Host two train shows every year
Sell raffle tickets for a donated prize or service (DCC installations, etc.)
Do a monthly 50-50 raffle for the members
Get new members
Raise dues
Sell locker space to the members
Invest in Mutual Funds
Solicit Donations as a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization
We have a donation plaque for those who donate more than $100 over a year
We do a bake sale during our shows
We also have hosted Cub Scout/Boy Scout meetings, and while we do not charge them, we do put out the donation jugs
We sell club pins, hats, shirts, sweatshirts, etc.
We sell candy to the members all year
We have a soda machine
We sell donated material on our White Elephant Table during the shows
There’s more, but that’s a good list to start with…
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
Just wanted to say thanks for all the ideas. Certainly enough options to present at our next club meeting.
Here’s one thing we do that may help other clubs. We have a “corporate train” which is a G-scale train suspended from the ceiling and goes around the entire room. The train is made up of nothing but cars with the logo of local businesses who made a donation to have their name on one of the cars. We charge $300 per year - half the money goes to the club and half the money goes to a local charity. Any company who donates for 5 years gets their cars (we place their logo on a different car each year) and the club buys them an engine to give them a complete train.
It’s a pretty good program and we have a fair amount of companies advertising. Just thought I’d pass that along in case any other clubs are looking for ways to raise money.
Thanks again for posting all the other ideas!
Brian
That would be the Laurel Highlands Model RR club in Somerset.
Let me ask you this…how difficult was it to transport the 4x8 layout to the public events? Did you have any problems with scenery, buildings, etc… getting damaged in transport?
Thanks,
Brian
Get your members and other local modelers and railrans to donate stuff and have a model railroad/ railroad collectible auction. They can not only be a good fund raiser but can be a lot of fun if you have a big enough crowd, good stuff, and a clever auctioneer. You’d be surprised what even a sleeve of duplicate slides can sell for if you get some people bidding against each other.
Dave Nelson
My local hobby shop has a large club RR in the back. On the first Sunday of every month, they have an open house from noon until 4:00pm. $2.00 to get in. Once in, you can even run a train with supervision. I bet they get 50 - 70 folks dropping in for each of these Sundays. It has become a regular part of mnay families monthly schedules!