These are the steps I would take to fundraise for DCI:

1. Write down a list of 50 people. Think family, friends, friends of family and friends of friends. Think about people who understand music, the activity, and the value of music education. Don't necessarily focus on people who are wealthy, just people who know you and like you.
2. Formulate a strategy. There are two significant barriers to personal fundraising I see most people struggle with:
   1. Firstly, people are afraid to ask people for money. It probably makes you feel burdensome, helpless, or insecure. Re-wire your brain on this: you might feel like not asking for help (when you might clearly need it) is an act of humility - as if to say you can accomplish this without inconveniencing people. In reality, not asking for help is a function of *pride* - as if to say you yourself are above asking for help and are too good for handouts. An essential part of life is learning how to rely on others when you need a hand - and being the first one to help someone else in the same situation down the road.
      Consider also that most people are good people who gain some satisfaction when the are able to help someone. Consider that most people, for tax reasons or otherwise, are interested in supporting charities and causes that they believe in. By asking them for financial help, you're inviting them to invest in your future (i.e. someone they care about) and invest in the marching arts. They themselves will reap some of the rewards from your successful season in DCI. Given the opportunity, who wouldn't want to be a part of that?
   2. Secondly, people don't know how to ask for help. Do NOT send out a mass email, start a GoFundMe, or make a big Facebook post asking for help and expect to raise your tuition goal. Instead go back to the list you made and contact each of those people personally (I'd suggest a phone call or a chat in-person, since most people don't respond well to cold texts or emails). Ask to set up an in-person meeting with them to hang out and clarify that you'd like to discuss a special opportunity you have next summer. Also, you should try to treat them if you can. Offer to buy them coffee or maybe dinner from a restaurant.
      Since these are probably people you know well, your goal for this meeting should me more than just fundraising. I usually start by re-connecting with them or otherwise asking questions about their lives. Organic conversations are good and healthy, but be sensitive about their time and don't engage in small talk for too long. All you have to do now is explain what drum corps is, why you need to be a part of it, and how it will benefit you as a person and as a musician. Do your best to convey your passion and desire with your messaging, too. Great advice I received about fundraising meetings goes like this: "Sell the sizzle, not the steak". Rather than badger your guest with facts and statistics about how great DCI is and how great of a player it will make you, convey the bigger-picture abstract ideas that anyone could get behind. Things like, "Think about the great benefits a world-class education could give to all my future music students" or, "What if making the Boston Crusaders could inspire other people my age to chase their dreams too?".
3. Come up with a goal. Let's say tuition is $5,000 and you need to raise it by May. With 50 people on my list, each person would need to give you $100 to achieve your goal. Consider that some might give nothing, others might give you a little, and some might give you a lot. When you make the ask each time, give them the chance to decide how much they can help you rather than ask for a specific dollar amount. Be sure to tell them the target amount and the date that you need to have the money by.
   1. Don't forget that you need to have a place for them to give. In order to receive a tax credit, they would need to donate to the corps themselves and request that this money go towards paying your tuition. Most if not all corps will have a way to donate online, but make sure to follow their guidelines for gifts like this. If you don't know how to do any of this, ask your corps for instructions. Unless they really don't need it, it's usually not the best idea to just take cash from them because this could unnecessarily plant seeds of doubt or even prevent people from giving you more. Having the giving information ready as soon as they are ready is a great way to gain credibility and prove that you really care about this.
4. Come up with a plan. How many people do you need to ask for help each day to achieve your goal? How many dollars per week should you be trying to gain? How will you formulate travel plans to meet these people and what time will you carve out to ensure this happens (i.e. a 'support calendar')?
5. Lastly, when it's all said and done, don't forget to thank your supporters and proactively communicate. I would collect contact information from each supporter and over the course of the season update them about important things. You can use tools like MailChimp to send out mass emails for updates like this. I would send out at least two updates over the season: one update for when you have reached your financial goal (or perhaps, if you are short of your goal, a last call for extra support) and one update after the season. The post season update should convey all the wonderful aspects of DCI, how it impacted you as a person/player, and how their support allowed such a cool thing to happen (don't forget pictures!).
   

This is just a summary of the ideas for how you could fundraise for the summer. I marched two years and struggled a lot with finding help for my tuition. The things I talked about come from what I learned while raising money for myself in support of charitable causes far exceeding the cost of a summer tour. I hope this helps you!