I need help raising donations
May 24, 2011 8:32 PM Subscribe
Who can I ask for a fairly large donation for a "green" school project in Chicago?
Lots of background for you: I am an adult student at a City College in Chicago. I'm studying architecture and have become largely enamored with green walls (also known as vertical gardens and living walls). Out of curiosity I built a free-standing, indoor hydroponic green wall in the fall. This past semester, I decided I wanted to try building something bigger. It just so happens that I came across a grant application that my school was sponsoring for "green" ideas. I applied for the grant and I got it! Yay! I now had $1000 to build a green wall. Well, the question of where I was going to put it became an issue. I wanted to put it on the large windowless area of the school that is an otherwise very ugly site. I petitioned this to all the right people (some of them have become really supportive of the idea) and after a long process, I was given permission to build the wall "against" the school wall but not officially "on" the wall. That's all fine and good with me. I just want to build this thing. Here.->
View Larger Map . Not the building with the arches (and don't worry, "arch building" knows what's going on and is okay with it), the one to the right of it, below the rows of windows. The scaffolding isn't there now and it's actually a very large wall that I want to cover with plants. The wall would end up being 24 feet tall and about 20 feet wide. It's big. I want to try and rival the PNC wall in Pittsburgh. Rival isn't the right word, but you know what I mean.
The problem is, $1000 alone will not build this wall. I need a lot of wood, I need to irrigate this thing with lots of hoses. I need a ridiculous amount of soil and I need plants. I can spend the $1000 before I'm even done buying wood.
I think there are a few selling points that might make a company interested in donating to the cause. It's largely an experiment in vertical gardening and sustainability practices and it is primarily an educational tool for students of the school. There are several students involved in this project from several majors- architecture, biology and horticulture mostly. The wall is on a very busy street and is visible from the el train tracks on the main loop and a LOT of people would be exposed to the wall in a day. A LOT. I would definitely identify on the site the names of any companies that donate to the cause. These are the points I want businesses to know. It's a lot of free advertising for them. I assume so anyway. One of my biggest problems and hurdles right now is that I'm not a marketing/business kind of person at all. I don't know what will make these people want to give me free stuff. I have a presentation. I know exactly what I need. I have it all on a little flyer for them to see it. I just need to "sell" it. And who am I selling it to?
I realize this is a very specific question but maybe someone out there can point me in the right direction. I can't wait 4 to 6 weeks for Home Depot to consider my donation request. I realize now that I should have been looking for more donations months ago but I messed up on that front. I've never done something like this before and I didn't realize it takes a really long time for a lot of companies to make a donation. I just...didn't know that. Now I do. But I need to put this thing up in the next month. Preferrably much sooner. I need donations as soon as possible. So, to finally get to my question- who should I ask? I think Home Depot is out. Local garden stores? Can they afford to make large donations? I need at least 1200 plants. Should I ask every garden center for small donations until I have enough? Who will donate a bunch of wood? Who might have old wood that I can just recycle? I'm open to any ideas and suggestions on where to find materials for free. Do you know of a company that would love the idea of sponsoring something like this? Thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions. I really hope my next question has to do with keeping weeds out of a green wall.
Lots of background for you: I am an adult student at a City College in Chicago. I'm studying architecture and have become largely enamored with green walls (also known as vertical gardens and living walls). Out of curiosity I built a free-standing, indoor hydroponic green wall in the fall. This past semester, I decided I wanted to try building something bigger. It just so happens that I came across a grant application that my school was sponsoring for "green" ideas. I applied for the grant and I got it! Yay! I now had $1000 to build a green wall. Well, the question of where I was going to put it became an issue. I wanted to put it on the large windowless area of the school that is an otherwise very ugly site. I petitioned this to all the right people (some of them have become really supportive of the idea) and after a long process, I was given permission to build the wall "against" the school wall but not officially "on" the wall. That's all fine and good with me. I just want to build this thing. Here.->
View Larger Map . Not the building with the arches (and don't worry, "arch building" knows what's going on and is okay with it), the one to the right of it, below the rows of windows. The scaffolding isn't there now and it's actually a very large wall that I want to cover with plants. The wall would end up being 24 feet tall and about 20 feet wide. It's big. I want to try and rival the PNC wall in Pittsburgh. Rival isn't the right word, but you know what I mean.
The problem is, $1000 alone will not build this wall. I need a lot of wood, I need to irrigate this thing with lots of hoses. I need a ridiculous amount of soil and I need plants. I can spend the $1000 before I'm even done buying wood.
I think there are a few selling points that might make a company interested in donating to the cause. It's largely an experiment in vertical gardening and sustainability practices and it is primarily an educational tool for students of the school. There are several students involved in this project from several majors- architecture, biology and horticulture mostly. The wall is on a very busy street and is visible from the el train tracks on the main loop and a LOT of people would be exposed to the wall in a day. A LOT. I would definitely identify on the site the names of any companies that donate to the cause. These are the points I want businesses to know. It's a lot of free advertising for them. I assume so anyway. One of my biggest problems and hurdles right now is that I'm not a marketing/business kind of person at all. I don't know what will make these people want to give me free stuff. I have a presentation. I know exactly what I need. I have it all on a little flyer for them to see it. I just need to "sell" it. And who am I selling it to?
I realize this is a very specific question but maybe someone out there can point me in the right direction. I can't wait 4 to 6 weeks for Home Depot to consider my donation request. I realize now that I should have been looking for more donations months ago but I messed up on that front. I've never done something like this before and I didn't realize it takes a really long time for a lot of companies to make a donation. I just...didn't know that. Now I do. But I need to put this thing up in the next month. Preferrably much sooner. I need donations as soon as possible. So, to finally get to my question- who should I ask? I think Home Depot is out. Local garden stores? Can they afford to make large donations? I need at least 1200 plants. Should I ask every garden center for small donations until I have enough? Who will donate a bunch of wood? Who might have old wood that I can just recycle? I'm open to any ideas and suggestions on where to find materials for free. Do you know of a company that would love the idea of sponsoring something like this? Thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions. I really hope my next question has to do with keeping weeds out of a green wall.
Response by poster: Oh, those are the exact kind of places I need! Thanks, Hydrophonic. Sadly, it's too late for seedlings. That would've saved me about a gajillion dollars. Alas.
posted by smeater44 at 9:31 PM on May 24, 2011
posted by smeater44 at 9:31 PM on May 24, 2011
Is it time sensitive?
Could you delay the planting date by a year, do more research (are you using native plants? those might need less water in the long-run), pitch your spiel to all the right people with money/resources, get the structure in place, and start from seedlings in the right season?
posted by aniola at 9:46 PM on May 24, 2011
Could you delay the planting date by a year, do more research (are you using native plants? those might need less water in the long-run), pitch your spiel to all the right people with money/resources, get the structure in place, and start from seedlings in the right season?
posted by aniola at 9:46 PM on May 24, 2011
Could you do a smaller, demonstration section of the wall now, with the funds you have, and have a plan to do the rest once you get funding? A good demonstration (maybe 1/4 of the wall -- a vertical section? Two?) will make the project attractive to potential donors.
I realize that the costs may not divide well, but it's just a thought.
posted by amtho at 9:55 PM on May 24, 2011
I realize that the costs may not divide well, but it's just a thought.
posted by amtho at 9:55 PM on May 24, 2011
Well, I have two suggestions:
Think more about how it will benefit possible donors. You're saying it'll be a lot of free advertising for them. But having their name on a small sign isn't going to get much attention. So develop some kind of plan for that, so you can give specific information to people who support you.
As to who to approach: find a large, locally-owned garden shop, and see if you can get them to give you some plants for the project. It's often much easier for stores to give you product/merchandise instead of cash (since I'm guessing you're not a registered non-profit at this point). If you get only one store, that makes it more valuable for them too--one sponsor can be highlighted more easily than ten sponsors. This being a cool project isn't enough. Also, being so ambitious isn't necessarily going to help you... people might think you are in over your head.
Next, I think you're going to learn an awful lot with this first project. I suspect the people who built that incredibly gorgeous PNC Wall weren't doing their first design. I'm guessing it was designed with the help of a computer. I know you want to go all out, but I'd suggest doing a small demonstration project and staying as close to your budget as possible. Then, use that project to generate donations for something bigger. You'll be in better shape down the road to know how much things cost and how much you need.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:41 PM on May 24, 2011
Think more about how it will benefit possible donors. You're saying it'll be a lot of free advertising for them. But having their name on a small sign isn't going to get much attention. So develop some kind of plan for that, so you can give specific information to people who support you.
As to who to approach: find a large, locally-owned garden shop, and see if you can get them to give you some plants for the project. It's often much easier for stores to give you product/merchandise instead of cash (since I'm guessing you're not a registered non-profit at this point). If you get only one store, that makes it more valuable for them too--one sponsor can be highlighted more easily than ten sponsors. This being a cool project isn't enough. Also, being so ambitious isn't necessarily going to help you... people might think you are in over your head.
Next, I think you're going to learn an awful lot with this first project. I suspect the people who built that incredibly gorgeous PNC Wall weren't doing their first design. I'm guessing it was designed with the help of a computer. I know you want to go all out, but I'd suggest doing a small demonstration project and staying as close to your budget as possible. Then, use that project to generate donations for something bigger. You'll be in better shape down the road to know how much things cost and how much you need.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:41 PM on May 24, 2011
Have you promised the grantor or school a certain amount of size? Was that a condition of the grant or of building it where you want to build it? I wonder if you can slash the budget by making it smaller.
posted by J. Wilson at 5:03 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by J. Wilson at 5:03 AM on May 25, 2011
"..it is primarily an educational tool for students of the school. There are several students involved in this project from several majors- architecture, biology and horticulture mostly...One of my biggest problems and hurdles right now is that I'm not a marketing/business kind of person at all."
Are there marketing/business type students at your school? Get some of them involved!
posted by animalrainbow at 8:35 AM on May 25, 2011
Are there marketing/business type students at your school? Get some of them involved!
posted by animalrainbow at 8:35 AM on May 25, 2011
Facebook page, Kickstarter, blog about the site--all the usual social media stuff. Why not make it more interactive with the students--maybe people can save seeds or donate materials. Can you partner with a local high school or grade school?
Have you asked on Freecycle? Do you have a friendly journalist who can help publicize it?
There must be smaller, non-chain outfits around that would probably donate materials, rather than Home Depot, etc. Do you have an "elevator pitch" ready?
Also, try local garden clubs, County extension, etc.
I don't think you need 1200 plants--you need seeds for 1200 plants--let this be an experiential project, not a fait accompli.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:06 AM on May 25, 2011
Have you asked on Freecycle? Do you have a friendly journalist who can help publicize it?
There must be smaller, non-chain outfits around that would probably donate materials, rather than Home Depot, etc. Do you have an "elevator pitch" ready?
Also, try local garden clubs, County extension, etc.
I don't think you need 1200 plants--you need seeds for 1200 plants--let this be an experiential project, not a fait accompli.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:06 AM on May 25, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for all the advice, everyone. It's true, I might have to scale the whole thing down. But I was able to find some great free stuff already with your suggestions. Thanks again!
posted by smeater44 at 10:52 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by smeater44 at 10:52 AM on May 25, 2011
I've just throwing this in here as an idea, but understand that I don't know the limitations.
1) Can you easily but up a wordpress blog and link to it in your profile? It is a start (here is my plan, goal, etc.) Give it a face as it progresses.
2) Are you allowed to link in projects (I don't know the rules, if it has to be completed or in progress, check the rules, first).
3) Can you approach the chair of each department (you mention biology, horticulture) and just tell them that you have your $1000 grant, this is what you want to do, can they suggest any additional resources (point you to them). There maybe more grants out there, or maybe they know who would/could donate resources, all you want is for them to point, that's it. I think the other poster's opinion above about a student or students from marketing and or business is brilliant, but taht department on the list, too.
4) Once this gets off the ground and you are actually moving towards building, I wouldn't mind throwing in $20. This looks cool and as a former undergrad and grad schol bio person, I love the idea. I'm sure there are other MeFis who would have the same opinion, too, but I don't know how you can stay in contact with this idea.
posted by Wolfster at 4:22 PM on May 25, 2011
1) Can you easily but up a wordpress blog and link to it in your profile? It is a start (here is my plan, goal, etc.) Give it a face as it progresses.
2) Are you allowed to link in projects (I don't know the rules, if it has to be completed or in progress, check the rules, first).
3) Can you approach the chair of each department (you mention biology, horticulture) and just tell them that you have your $1000 grant, this is what you want to do, can they suggest any additional resources (point you to them). There maybe more grants out there, or maybe they know who would/could donate resources, all you want is for them to point, that's it. I think the other poster's opinion above about a student or students from marketing and or business is brilliant, but taht department on the list, too.
4) Once this gets off the ground and you are actually moving towards building, I wouldn't mind throwing in $20. This looks cool and as a former undergrad and grad schol bio person, I love the idea. I'm sure there are other MeFis who would have the same opinion, too, but I don't know how you can stay in contact with this idea.
posted by Wolfster at 4:22 PM on May 25, 2011
Best answer: You might try talking to people at Archeworks -- they may have ideas as they do similar projects (over a longer time period). Maybe try asking Perkins & Will? or another green design company for support?
posted by ejaned8 at 5:41 AM on May 26, 2011
posted by ejaned8 at 5:41 AM on May 26, 2011
Response by poster: ejane8. Yes. These are the kinds of people I'm looking for. Thank you.
posted by smeater44 at 11:22 PM on May 26, 2011
posted by smeater44 at 11:22 PM on May 26, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
And yes, you should be talking to home depot and local garden stores. If they can't give you plants, maybe they can give you seed trays. Do you have time to start seedlings? A seed tray has 28 cups. If you got 25 volunteers to tend to two trays each, that's 1200 plants. What kind of plants do you need? Whole Foods lots of different seeds in their bulk foods aisle.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:10 PM on May 24, 2011 [1 favorite]