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I served on the Corp Board as an undergrad when I was facility manager. Since then, I have not, however there is an overlap of some of the Advisory Board officers and Corp Board Officers as some of them have dual rights, so we're kept right in the loop of what's happening.
That being said, our chapter is quite possibly in a similar situation as yours in terms of some major updating needed on the facility. When our numbers were down, our Corp Board in order to keep the chapter open and afloat reduced the rent to the collegians and as a result - remodeling that would have normally taken place got shifted to more of an emergency basis. Remodeling projects got a lot smaller and cheaper.
Last spring our Corp Board had an inspector come in and check the house out to get an idea of how much life was left in everything - windows, furnaces (we have at least 4) etc., so that could be factored in to future updates. Last summer updates started with replacing windows on one side of the facility, repainting it and ordering new furniture for 11 members in the house to be placed in four rooms. This summers project will be more of the same.
Since then, our HQ had a conference for Corp Board's and AB and after returning from this our Corp Board members sat down and laid out a 20 year so that everything would be completely updated.
Within the next year, the Corp Board is going to start fund raising for our living room (which really needs it). We have the advantage that normally there are at least a few alumnae who went to Iowa State for Interior Design and are willing to lend their skills to develop a new insert item here. Another that was picked up was a plan to show the alumnae why a renovation was needed, i.e. here's some picture of the dated room and here's what the plans are with it. Something about them knowing were the funds are going and how they are going to be used will help.
I couldn't find another item I was searching for, but I know for awhile there was a measure in Congress about contributions made for chapter improvements being tax-deductible. That might be something to research and see if it passed and could be used as another angle to get some donations. Just a thought.
Good luck on your project!
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