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Think about two things: A) Where to get the money. Local banks are a start. They will usually drop $250.00 easily, and you might get more. Also, think how you can tie-in local business to your layout. Try getting a local hardware store to donate, or even supply the lumber for the layout for free (may have to use "seconds" or scraps, but it can be done. (Also look for a local business that sells plastic PVC pipe. The pipe arrives banded together with 2x4 and steel strap. They usually throw this away, and you can get a lot of short length 2x4 for free anyway.) Maybe the local utility will donate your monthly power bill up to a certain amount. Keep thinking in this line, try to tie-in local businesses in with different aspects of your layout. B) "What's in it for me?" When you go to ask for sponsorships / donations, always have a ready answer to that question. It's best if you answer that question up-front before they have to ask. Tell them how thier business will benefit from association themselves with you. For example, you might set a goal of having open houses, 4-times per year, and you will provide big signs proclaiming their sponsorship. Perhaps you may firt decide to build a small portable layout, that you can bring to their business on occasions to increase their traffic. Certanly at every show you do, you advertise in newspaper and radio ads your show/their sponsorship. Maybe go the extra mile by taking a old/scrap/cheap railcar, and mount it on a scrap piece of track on a wall plack, that will lay down on it's back on their desk, and act as a business card holder, with a plate praising their sponsorship efforts. But the bottom line is: before you go ask for donations, write out in presentation form what the benefits are to sponsoring you, then ask for the money. (most prople fail in this, because they first ask for the money, and never get to the benefits). When our club does our local show, we have all our expenses paid with donations before we ever open the doors. Good Luck!
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