"It isn't in the Budget ..." Ideas for Obtaining Support for projects that Realy Matter"It Isn't In The Budget" Ideas for Obtaining Support for Projects that Really Matter!

By Don Treffinger

Originally appeared in the International Creativity Network Newsletter, volume 2, number 3, 1992, page 7.

Many times we hear people say, "I would really like to attend..." a certain conference or seminar, or "I'm really interested in working on a new project", or "There are some excellent new resources I'd like to obtain..." Then they add, "But it's just not in our budget. I won't get funding approval for it. " Here are a few tips to consider the next time you're in that position.

• Seek support from a local, regional, or national Foundation;
• Locate other organizations in your area (professionals, small businesses, corporations, etc. ) who might join in the project with you and provide support;
• Seek support from local service agencies or clubs (e. g. , Kiwanis, Rotary, etc. );
• Look for pieces of support in several different budget areas, by breaking the project or proposal down into separate budget segments;
• Seek ways to share activities and costs with other budget units (e. g. , other departments in a company, or other schools in a school district);
• Seek support from special interest groups related to your field. For example, educators might turn to parent organizations or community groups such as Mensa or Phi Delta Kappa chapters; businesses might seek involvement of ASTD chapters;Seek support from civic organizations in your community (e. g. , Junior League, AAUW, Chamber of Commerce, etc. );
• Non-profit groups such as schools might ask area businesses to donate products which could be sold or raffled to raise funds, rather than direct monetary support, or even to barter in your behalf exchanging some of their products or services with the contractors with whom you wish to work;
• Challenge employees or students to do some Creative Problem Solving on fund raising possibilities;
• Raffle or auction employee or student services (on their own time) to individuals or groups in the community as a fund-raiser;
• Create a volunteer group (e. g. , parents within a school) to contribute products or services for support;
• Form a Creative Problem Solving Resource Team of employees or students, and, for a fee, offer your services to individuals or groups in your community who want to pose problems for which they need new ideas;
• Create presentations or programs capitalizing on talents of people in your organization, and offer your services to area organizations that sponsor regular programs (e. g. , choir or musical group to give concerts);
• Make and sell special products to sell at local sporting events;
• Organize and sponsor a special benefit concert, theatrical production, or athletic event to benefit your project;
• Create a special Foundation whose purpose is to support special projects in your organization;
• seek gifts, donations, or bequeaths; and Seek ways to spread costs over more than one budget period.