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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
fundraising for a documentary project
N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 2:50 AM on 10.23.09 |
->> Hi folks. I have been invited to join an expedition to Peru with a doctor's group to photograph them helping handicapped children with crutches, medical help and so on. The docs are all funding their own trip down, I would have to as well. I have always admired those who got money, sponsorship, etc from groups to help on their projects, and would love some advice on how to prepare a bid, who to contact, what to say, etc. I know some of you here have done them, and any help would be appreciated!
Thanks! |
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N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 7:51 PM on 10.23.09 |
| ->> Anyone? |
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Jim Work, Photographer
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Alpine | TX | USA | Posted: 9:18 PM on 10.23.09 |
->> Greg............are you a member of a church? Is the group associated with any national group or have sponsor group ?
God Spede.....gym |
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Larry Clouse, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 10:37 PM on 10.23.09 |
->> It sounds like your trip may be coming up relatively soon; so, that may eliminate many of the grant opportunities. Oftentimes, that route is lengthy and many foundations only award grants once each year. However, there may be some other funding opportunities very close at hand.
Many of your friends and family may want to partner with you on this project. There may be people that you know who will envy your being able to go on this trip and cover this work. More importantly, the people that you know may want to invest in you. There is an organization that is based not too far from you -- Blue Earth, I believe. Their purpose is to assist photographers in finding funding sources for documentary projects. I assume that they're still around and in Seattle. One of the most important things that I've heard them say is to not underestimate or neglect your friends and family and how much they want to invest in you. Oftentimes, people will want to invest in someone they know as much, or more, as whatever the charity or cause may be. Your contacts may not even know much about Peru or the medical needs there. They may not know much, if anything, about the work the doctors will do. But, they know you and if you can tell a story, many will want to be a part of it.
I have known some folks who have offered a select print to donors giving a certain amount or more. Another friend of my emails a Picture-A-Day from the project to let his donors keep up with what is happening on the ground. I have another friend who also went to Peru this past summer to work in the medical clinics along the Amazon and I was quick to invest in her trip. All I hoped for in return was to see some good pictures and to hear a good story. She didn't let me down.
As you think through your project, there may also be uses for your images beyond what you and the doctors have discussed. I worked on a documentary project several years ago in Belize and I am still finding uses for my images that I didn't foresee before the trip.
I don't know what you have planned for your images when you return but all of the doctors you're working with have offices. All of their offices need to be decorated and meaningful prints of their work in Peru, along with scenics of the countryside, may be of interest to them. If they are interested in framed fine art style prints, it seems to me that this use is outside any of the charity work that you're doing and that their purchase of any of these images could amount to a nice sum toward your expenses.
These are just some thoughts. Documentary work is my first love and it's expensive; but, so is anything worth doing. As awkward as it makes me feel, I've begun to invite my friends and family along in this work. In the long-run, it keeps the conversation going and the project alive long after you've returned home.
Best wishes on your project. |
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Jay Drowns, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 12:13 AM on 10.24.09 |
->> Larry,
I love the print idea. I know of several dentist and doctors who love photography and drop some good change for art in their office. They can write it off as a business expense. |
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N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 3:53 AM on 10.24.09 |
| ->> Larry, spectacular. Great answer. Let's hear some more. I should be meeting next week with the doctor leading the expedition, so this helps a lot! |
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Darrell Miho, Photographer
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Los Angeles : SFO : HNL | CA | usa | Posted: 2:06 PM on 10.24.09 |
->> research, research, research. i can not stress enough the importance of research.
1. while friends and family may support you blindly, other individuals and organizations will not. both groups will have questions. people you don't know will have lots of questions. you need to know your stuff inside and out.
you need to know who you're helping, where you're going, why you're doing it, and most importantly, the benefits to the recipients and how it will enrich their lives. the more pertinent details you can give them (without boring them), the better your chances of getting financial support.
2. dig deep. research will reveal potential donors. whether it be non-profits, NGOs, private donors or corporations.
3. know your competitors. while charity projects are all worthwhile projects and should be commended, you're still competing for funding. similar projects are often seeking funding from the same resources.
google your project. if there are similar projects, why is your project different or better than others?
4. know your resources. personal resources can be just as important as business and funding resources. you never know who your family, friends and colleagues know and what doors they can open. a referral from a friend will be much more readily accepted than a cold call.
directly related to your project, some of the resources i would look into are the the Peruvian Consullate, the crutch manufacturer (remember, dig deep), the hospitals the doctor's work for, medical associations directly related to the ailments they will be treating, government organizations in Peru and the cities you will be working in.
that's just off the top of my head. as you research these, others will be revealed.
good luck and make some pictures. |
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Larry Clouse, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 5:13 PM on 10.24.09 |
->> I agree 100% with Darrell. Research is critical, even with friends and family. More than anything, I think that it shows respect for whatever they may invest. My friend that I mentioned who worked in Peru earlier this summer got my support just because she was my friend and I believed in her. However, another friend of mine who was working on a project in the Philippines earned more of my support because he had done some research and sent me a write-up about the goals and objectives for what he was planning to do. Because of what he wrote, I not only wanted to invest in him but I became interested in the project. Another friend was also planning to go overseas on a project but he didn't ask for any support . . . and he didn't get any. So, I think that asking + research is worth the time.
I like Darrell's suggestion about contacting the hospitals and, especially, the crutch manufacturer. The crutch manufacturer may have someone designated to handle "corporate giving". This is the end of the year and they may be looking for a place to give.
I think that your research will also be important when you meet with the doctors next week. Have proposals thought through on how your images might be used. Could the doctors use them in the marketing for their practice? I get a Christmas card or calendar every year from my dentist. There's always a photograph that shows that he has an interest in something other than digging around in my mouth. The doctors may send out "reminder" cards that it's time to come in for a physical or something. One of your images on the front of the card my add a personal touch that they may like. You might propose putting together a book (published through Blurb or iBooks or one of the other online publishers) of images from the trip that could go in their waiting rooms. (Your name will be on the front cover and you never know who may pick it up.) These are all marketing strategies and they should have a budget for it. Once you start talking about how your images might be used, they may come up with other ideas as well.
These are all little things but they add up. As Darrell said, as you do your research, other ideas and sources will be revealed.
Again, best wishes. |
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N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 1:32 AM on 10.25.09 |
->> Thanks! Some great information. By nature, I am a heavy researcher, and already underway with it. I thought the crutch manufacturers too, but surprisingly, the physical therapists that are going are "McGuyvers" they are bringing raw materials and utilizing materials to teach local medical people there how to make crutches from nothing to tide them over until real crutches can be supplied. You can think of this group as a triage team. Makes for spectacular shooting potential, but confounding for the prospect of manufacturers investments.
THANKS THANKS THANKS |
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Brad Camp, Photographer
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Bainbridge Island | wa | USA | Posted: 11:15 AM on 10.25.09 |
| ->> Lake Oswego may have a pretty active Rotary club and some the travelers may be members. This is right up the alley of the Rotary mission. Find out if they are involved, if so, they may have funds to help get you there and document the project for the club and the organization. |
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David Bailey, Photographer
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Flower Mound | TX | USA | Posted: 2:27 PM on 10.25.09 |
->> Our local church members raise their own money when off on mission trips and they've been pretty successful. Write a simple letter and email explaining what you are doing and state how much money you need and send it to your family, friends and email contacts. Its best when they can write the check to the non-profit so they can ensure the money is going towards that cause and write it off. I've had a few family members do this with great success. They have always had 100% of their trip paid for.
Good luck and make sure you share the photos when you return. |
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N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 11:50 PM on 11.02.09 |
| ->> Thanks everyone for some great suggestions. I am investigating them all! |
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Francis Specker, Photographer
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Riverside | CA | USA | Posted: 12:35 AM on 11.03.09 |
->> There is a website where you can try to get funding from the public.
http://www.kickstarter.com/
Looks like a cool idea for a lot of projects for photojournalists. |
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