A memorial sculpture is a timeless piece that demands respect, delivers praise, and touches lives for generations. Many times, organizations feel overwhelmed with the thought of fundraising for such an important memorial.
Fundraising for your memorial doesn’t have to be intimidating. On the contrary, it can be an important and integral part of the conception process. It will bring awareness and generates excitement for the beautiful and meaningful memorial that is being designed.
Many times, when I am commissioned for a custom piece, I begin by sculpting a small replica of the memorial, called a “mockette”. (For more info on the full process of how I create a sculpture please visit: THE PROCESS – austinweishel.com). Using this sculpture, you can create excitement on social media! Show your followers and community members the beautiful art that will soon be life-size. You can also create a meaningful video, describing why this piece is so important to your community. I often do this on my Instagam as well: Instagram photos and videos
Ideas for fundraising
When asking for donations, one way to honor those who donate gifts is by a memorial brick, inlaid within the sculpture’s path, or a bronze plaque. These are great ways create an incentive for giving.
A fun way to generate funds is a hole-in-one tournament or a golf outing. These bring people out, and you have a chance to communicate in person what your memorial is bringing to your city.
Lastly, a great resource for fundraising is your city officials. You may be able to apply for grants to help fund your sculpture. You may also be asked to use a 5013C for these funds. Information about grants and non-profit status is easily accessible online.
Fundraising for a project may seem daunting. Remember that each little bit helps create a beautiful piece that a community will be proud to have for generations. Please do not hesitate to ask questions or contact me for assistance. I am happy to help in this crucial piece of your journey.
