Before you even look at how to fund your project, try to work on exactly what you're going to need-in resources as well as money. Remember, the more time, talent, supplies, and equipment that are donated, the less money you'll have to raise. People are your greatest asset. Find out what each person on your organizing team or in your neighborhood can contribute. It may be extra soil, scrap lumber, a contact in city hall, or donuts for planting day. It may be a large, unexpected check.

Get donations from as many sources as possible. From a good deal on a load of gravel to getting someone to provide coffee or cookies for your meetings, donations can really stretch your dollars. It's usually much easier to seek in-kind donations than cash, and every penny saved is one penny less you have to raise, so be tight with that cash.

Analyzing Costs

Tree planting isn't free. It costs about $85 to plant a street tree - more if you need to cut concrete. Rest assured that it typically costs much more when local government or private contractors plant on streets. Be sure your funders know that.

Here are some rules of thumb to help you figure costs. Take into account that different planting sites require varying tree sizes and equipment. In budgeting for your planting consider all possible expenses, then turn that into a per-tree amount to use in proposals.

Tree expenses

• 15-gallon container tree (6-10 feet tall): $35
• 24" box container (8-15 feet tall): $130

Related expenses per tree

• Root barrier (needed in City of Los Angeles): $5.25
• Removable metal stakes: $22
• Extra tree tie: $3.50
• Mycorrizae Fungi (beneficial for roots): $3.50
• Soil Amendment (1 cu. ft.): $5

Cutting concrete

• Concrete cutting (36" x 36" hole): $60-90.00 (the price will drop for large orders)

Remember to include general expenses like photocopying, telephone, stamps, gas and transportation, equipment rental, recruitment costs, and publicity, as well as miscellaneous items like film for cameras, water, cups, name tags, and refreshments.

Cash for Tree Care

Tree care for young trees is fairly inexpensive. As a tree gets older and needs more pruning, expenses grow. These costs are extremely variable but are only incurred every three to seven years, and by the time public trees are this large, many cities assume responsibility. This is another good reason for working with your city officials right from the start, so they know what and where you're planting.

Borrowing and Bartering Equipment

Equipment is reusable. You won't need it forever so borrowing is best - and it can be borrowed from many sources. The more creative you are, the easier you'll find what you need.

Does someone owe you? If they have something you need right now, now's the time for them to return the favor!

Contact TreePeople or another local tree-planting group for help with equipment, supplies, obtaining trees, getting permits waived, and other services. Existing groups have been through this before, so you won't have to reinvent the wheel.

Other important sources are the state, county, or city forestry departments. Your street-tree division, street-maintenance department, fire department, parks-and-recreation or public-works department, or general services may also help. Don't view them as strangers; they're there to assist and might loan equipment such as shovels, hoses, brooms, trucks, water trucks, skip loaders, bulldozers, augers, or even jack hammers.

Do you have a state or local conservation corps? They have a good reputation for volunteering support for environmental causes. Utility companies can be interested in getting involved, because the proper placement of trees affects their ability to function. They may support your project by providing volunteers, printing or equipment.

Begging and Buying Resources and Money

Supplies can't be returned, so they're not as easy to come by, but you can still get them. Many businesses make regular in-kind donations to community projects. For the times when you actually have to shell out cash, here's a radical suggestion: pay for it yourselves! The resources that exist right there in your neighborhood might surprise you. By circulating a list of your needs to all neighbors and participants, you can either raise cash or cut costs significantly.

Get everyone to contribute what they can so you can buy supplies. Whether it's $1 or $1,000, everyone should look in their wallets to support something they believe in. If you can't rely on your closest circle, how can any of them ask others to give? Giving time is great; giving money at some point becomes essential. Raising money from your own circle reduces the amount you must raise from the outside.

You'll receive wholesale prices if you buy in bulk. If up front cash is a problem, try spreading out payments so that everyone in your tree-project group can give a small monthly amount. For example, $5/month for seven months buys a tree.

Discovering your neighborhood's financial power is another important lesson of community organizing -- and it's a great test of a group's commitment. Still, hold on to as much of money as you can for the things that are not donated. Try to interest a supplier or nursery in donating resources. Perhaps you can attract a sponsor. Think about what's in it for them. Many businesses, big or small, are looking for ways to show their commitment to the environment. Tree projects are a safe and popular option. If a planting benefits an entire community, they might be persuaded to join in.

Local developers with an upcoming project may be looking for a way to give back to the community. Are there any other advantages for businesses? Invite them to tell you what they'd like. Offer media exposure, their logo on your flyer, their banner at your planting, an on-site plaque or acknowledgment sign (build the cost of this into what you ask them to pay for), or a commendation from the mayor or city council representative, who should be accessible if you're doing neighborhood improvement. Remember to have the acknowledgment fit the contribution. (Give a lot for a lot and a bit for peanuts.) Also, be prepared to say no if you sense something unethical or think you're being used unfairly.

Others that might consider raising some cash for you include local business associations like chambers of commerce; service clubs such as Rotary; campus organizations like sororities or fraternities; and groups attached to churches, temples or mosques.

Fundraising events can be a relatively easy path to quick clean money, especially if a couple of people with a little experience will take responsibility for it while you're organizing the rest of the project.

How about selling tickets for a car wash? If you want to go bigger than a donated parking lot, try talking to a neighborhood gas station. They could recruit new customers on the day, especially if they can offer special deals.

Try a bake sale or a garage sale. Choose a house on a well-traveled street or post signs at the nearest intersection. Use the event to recruit volunteers and advertise what you're doing.

If your city doesn't offer curbside pickup, start a recycling program for cans, newspapers, and bottles. By turning in these items for cash, you've raised money for your project and kept recyclables out of the landfill.

Parties are another way to bring in funds. You could throw a block party or organize potluck dinners or spaghetti nights with a ticket price.

Everyone understands how raffles work to raise money. You can offer small trees or handmade items as prizes.

You could even try an auction. People like a deal. Gather donated products or services like babysitting, homegrown plants, or dinner for two at a local hot spot. If you have a lot of merchandise and can serve a simple dinner or even just refreshments, you can charge admission too. Ask business contributors for an all-out donation. It's better than having to return the wholesale value to them. It also gives them a full tax refund and it advertises their store, service or product.

Think media. Put together a commemorative magazine, newsletter, or book and sell ads to businesses and individuals. What about selling T-shirts, visors, or buttons with your community-group logo? Haven't got one? Get one!

The Fairy Godmothers

Committing ourselves to sustainability gives us the chance to recapture our power and self-sufficiency. Instead of complaining that government won't meet our needs, we can redirect our attention to our own resourcefulness. The truth is, there will never be enough outside help. Never. What's more, we know better than anyone else what's needed. So let's show them. Let's just start doing it.

Contact local corporations, foundations, and small businesses (the more local the better) to see if they'll look at a proposal. You could be lucky! The bigger the entity, however, the more time it will take. Allow at least six months for a corporate giving program or foundation to review and make a decision regarding your proposal. How much do they usually give? Who have they funded in the past? Would a proposal from you make sense? Add every endorsement for you and your group that you can muster. Raising money is just like getting approval to plant. You've got to sell yourself. Don't send anything cold. Phone before you write. You might be able to have your request squeezed into an upcoming meeting-or you might have just missed one.

Your city or state department of forestry may also provide funds for tree projects but beware! The apparent availability of grant funds can sometimes lead us to forget about our ability to raise money from within our community. Grant funds are always limited and often very restrictive. They usually don't cover the entire project.

Be sure that you don't pin all your hopes on one big pot of cash, and that this potential pot is not your only source of money. It's better to get lots of small donations than to hold out for one big fairy godmother. So stay creative.

Eyeball to Eyeball

That said, still the most successful -- and the most difficult -- way to raise a large amount of money in one fell swoop is to make what's called a face-to-face solicitation. The thought of such a confrontation is so daunting that most of us will do anything to avoid the single most effective way to enroll others in our work. Actually, asking for large sums of money is just like asking for small amounts of donated items or requesting volunteer help on a planting. The only difference is that the stakes are higher, and it involves that touchy subject -- money.

Who are your prospects? Work with your committee to identify them and try to get as close to them with your contacts as you can. Does anyone see them at the football game or sit on a school committee with them? How much should they be asked to give? This figure should be realistic. Don't insult them by asking for too small an amount, but don't show your ignorance by being in fantasyland either.

Here are some rules for you or for the person who makes the "ask." When you set up the meeting, let your prospect know you're coming to talk about the project. It's not fair to place an unexpected request on someone from whom you hope to gain support. Don't try to turn yourself into a super slick salesperson. Your openness, commitment, and knowledge will influence your prospect far greater than a canned performance. What is your motive? It's more than just the funding of your project. You want to inspire your prospect and find a way to share your vision so that it becomes real for both of you during the meeting.

Breathe deeply. Take some props if you like: maps, drawings, photographs, news clippings. Do more listening than talking. Answer questions. Acknowledge any idea your prospect may have. If they're good, pursue them. If they're irrelevant, try to bring the conversation back to the need for funding. Turn around objections, which are a natural part of the process. Remember to tackle the objections, not the prospect! Finally, make a specific request like, "Would you consider a contribution of $xxx to help make this project happen?" Then stop talking. Wait for a response, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel. Try to leave the meeting with a commitment-and thank your prospect regardless of the outcome. The sign of success, even if it takes more than one meeting, is to witness the transition from "you and me" to "us."