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I am starting a pageant. Miss Pennsylvania Queen of Charity. I need funding to get it up and running. So far I have thought of sponsors, ticket sales, program book sales and contestant registration fees. How else can I obtain funding for this pageant production?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $8

First of all - could you give us some additional information to give us an idea what kind of pageant you are looking to start.

What age range are the contestants?
What is the basis of the judging - beauty, talent, combination?
How long will the pageant be? One night - several days?
Is this a multilevel event - local pageants with winners then going on the the State and then a National competition?
How will this pageant be DIFFERENT than any other pageant?

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Reply to FamilyPhysician's Post: We are still in the developmental stages, but I will try to answer your questions as accuratley as possible.

What age range are the contestants?
A: Teen Category- 14-18
Miss Category- 18-25

What is the basis of the judging - beauty, talent, combination?
A: Evening Gown, Personal Interview, On-stage Interview, Swimsuit (Miss Category only) so far

How long will the pageant be? One night - several days?
A: Teen Category- 1st night
Miss Category- 2nd Night

Is this a multilevel event?
A: For the first few years, no. When it becomes bigger, it might be a preliminary to the Miss Pennsylvania USA pageant

How will this pageant be DIFFERENT than any other pageant?
A: This pageant is all about charity and the contestants' inner beauty. The interviews are a big part of the scoring and we will be giving awards for top fundraising and community service as well as the crown.
I would also like to give the top 5 winners scholarships

I would like this pageant to eventuallly take all of my time and be my full time career. How can I raise money for a non-profit pageant, and pay myself a salary at the same time? Should I include my self in the pageant expense list as an event coordinator?

First of all, if you are thinking that this pageant would eventually be a preliminary to Miss Pennslvania, USA - you would need to check with the Miss USA organization or the Miss PA USA organizers to see what the specific requirements were for being a preliminary/qualifier for that competition. You would need to comply with all their entry criteria, judging rules, fundraising rules etc.

You would need to decide on the financial business model - For Profit (Proprietership, Partnership, LLC, or Incorporated) or Non-Profit Organization.

Next you would need to consider where the INCOME for your pageant would come from - from sponsors, entry fees, or donations. If you are FOR PROFIT - you aren't going to get much in the way of donations. If you are non-profit, the idea that you will make it a full time job - tends to contradict the idea of a non-profit since a board is going to have to control that organization, and unless you stack the board with people you "control" there is a chance-likelyhood that you would get pushed out. (The IRS has rules on non-profits and boards etc.)

You say that you are going to raise funds for a charity - and there will be prizes for top fundraising - how are they going to raise funds. It sounds more like a walkathon than a beauty pageant.

Non-profits can and do pay their "staff" - but I'm not sure how a PRELIMINARY event would become a FULL TIME job.

I think you need to focus a bit more on what you can/hope to do before going further.

FIRST - WHY A PAGEANT as a "business"?

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Reply to FamilyPhysician's Post: First of all, I have been involved with this pageant for years. I have competed, won and after the owner passed away, he gave the responsibilities of the pageant to myself and my Aunt (who works for the Miss USA system). He made the pageant a full time job. However, he did not share with us before he passed, the ways in which he made it his career. Obviously this pageant is dear to our hearts, and we would like to keep it going.

It was very successful in the past, as far as combining charity events with the beauty pageant itself.

My main issue is this; I want to invest all of my time into this pageant. How can I afford to make this my full time job?

When you say "owner" - was this done as a corporation (non-profit or profit) or as a sole proprietorship.

Do you have access to any records (fiancial or tax records) for the pageant?

Is his wife still alive? Does she know anything?

You say that it was successful in combining charity events with the beauty pageant itself. How was this done - what kind of events were combined with the pageant?

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If you AREN'T satisfied, please ask for clarification or more information.

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