Community Association Seeks New Fundraising Opportunites

The Chestnut Hill Community Association considered several new fundraising initiatives at its June 27 meeting as it looks to raise roughly $20,000 to cover 2012’s budget deficit.

“We recently had a brainstorming session,” said Chestnut Hill Community Association Board Member Mike Chomentowski.  “We came up with about 40 ideas, and we’ve whittled them down to about a half-dozen.”

In 2012, the community association faced a budget deficit of about $20,000.  In order to balance its budget, the association took $20,000 from the Chestnut Hill Local revenues with a promise to return the money through fundraising campaigns.

The new fundraising proposals included a community wide yard sale, a 5k run, a calendar, a garden tour and a food and wine festival.

“We need to be careful we don’t step on the toes of other organizations,” said board member Richard Snowden.  “The food and wine festival sounds a lot like what the Chestnut Hill Business Association does in the fall.”

Of the suggested new efforts, the most popular seemed to be selling Chestnut Hill themed merchandise and the garden tour.

Several board members suggested that the merchandise not be limited to a calendar but also include tee shirts, mugs and stickers.

Another board member also suggested adding a “tasteful product placement” component to the holiday house tour.

“We’re just in the preliminary stages of planning these events,” Chomentowski said.  “We’re open to any suggestions or guidance anyone might have.”