We could .... Or, we could put on a professional event that would draw great sponsors and competitors alike.
Here is a point we agree upon, and I don't think our disagreements are not as far apart as it sometimes seems.
Your list of expenses for an event similar to what we are talking about, I think you have a good list and there might even be a couple that have been left off. I also hope that a lot of those expenses we will be able to control with good planning and partnerships.
Not surprisingly, I disagree with Andy. Sponsors don't care if an event is put on by a charitable organization, a group of individuals or a for-profit corporation. They care about two things:
1. How many people will attend
2. How professional will the event be
Sponsors are looking for as much exposure as possible and they want the event to reflect positively on them.
We can agree that these are two very important concerns for sponsors, but having an organization such as the NFOA directly involved would expand the exposure because not only would/could the sponsorship have exposure to those competing but it can also be shared with the NFOA membership through the web site, social media and emails. Also there is a desire from some larger corporate concerns to support the NFOA, but they need something to support (a reason to donate) and putting something like this on could open the door to getting support there (in the past both Hornaday and Cabela's have been contacted about supporting the NFOA and they have asked us to give them something specific to support, this could be it).
As with most first-year events, sponsors will be hard to come by. There's no track record for the event. The good news is that we have several businesses that are NFOA sponsors who might also be willing to sponsor an event like this. The further good news is that I have a fair amount of experience getting sponsors for events ... and have sponsored a fair number of events. The further good news is that my digital magazine, Trek Tech Black, usually has some cool SWAG laying around from the vendors whose products we have reviewed and I am willing to donate some of these items for the prize table.
I agree with what you have said here, yes the first year even those who could give large amounts of support would most likely limit their input and if the event is successful it would lead to increases in support later.
With all that said, I seriously doubt that an event like this will produce much in the way of cash flow/proceeds to be donated to the NFOA. The expenses - particularly in the first year - are significant and - again especially in the first year - the number of competitors should be limited to make the event more manageable.
Here is where we have some disagreements, but not as much as I feel you are placing on it. I agree we will need to limit the number of competitors, and if the resources are there the limit could be raised. Your starting point mentioned of 50 competitors is probably as good of a starting point as any for initial planning and budgeting at some point a number needs to be set to plan everything else around.
Our point of disagreement is more in what the goal is, it appears yours is simply to have a fun, safe well organized event, and I agree with that. But I would add a fundraising goal to the event, there have been lots of fundraising shoots that have produced large amounts of income for charities. politicians and others not only held here in Nebraska but nationwide, These events would not continue to happen if there was not money to be brought in by them, some of these events happen annually from the same people so there must be some income there.
Could the event be started in the way Mudinyeri describes it and it be expanded and picked up by the NFOA in later years if successful, yes it could. But even if starting small and without being "Officially Sponsored" by the NFOA it should have a fundraising goal, and not disparaging your abilities to get sponsorships but hoping to build upon them, and if we need to include outside help to achieve those goals it is available from people that make their living by tracking down corporate sponsorships and fundraising. There is a cost to that but there are fundraisers who are "Friends of the NFOA" who may provide some advice or even do the work for a reduced rate. It seems we always set our goals to just have fun and if something comes from it great, but I think we need to, at some point, shoot for something a little higher.
