Advice for Instrumental Funding

[BluRose]

ok so
hi guys! i need some advice.
a great friend of mine said that she would love to start playing the alto flute next year, but our band director has said that the band fund is already strained (8 new tubas for 10 new players next year bringing total up to 24 players/15 tubas, record high) so he will not be buying an alto flute.
bam, crazy idea, why not get her one?
https://www.flutes4sale.com/search?q=alto+flute
company names i recognize are in the $1900-2500 range.
i'm 16 without a job and will not likely be getting one over the summer ("family trumps money" and "summer is family time"). i do, however, have ~$200 right now in cash.

so, the point of this thread.
do i scratch the idea?
or do i start like a gofundme page to attempt to raise the amount necessary?
what do you suggest i do?

i'd really love to get her an alto flute, but it's not like i have any obligation to do so; i have not told her (or anyone) anything of my intentions, and she probably doesn't even know that i am aware of her situation with our director.
thanks for any and all responses <3

EDIT: also mods, if this isn't supposed to be here, please say so! i looked at the rules and all and didn't see anything wrong, but that doesn't mean i didn't overlook something, of course~

 

[Overlord Drakow]

Hmm, is there anyway you can split the cost up among a group of friends / family or something of that nature? There's a piano shop I frequent that offers a concept of dividing the total cost of a piano by 88 (the number of keys) and then sponsors would contribute to paying for the keys to the piano. It's a scheme used by school who are looking to get a new piano for their students and this concept would then be targeted at the parents to chip in. Could you not take this concept but then downsize it to your needs?

 

[Alex]

No ones going to a support a gofundme for this type of thing. Your best bet is to get a job. You could even busk the streets if you live in a big city. I dunno how quick youll raise money doing that but at least youll be playing music!

 

[BlazingCobaltX]

Don't. You don't have the money; a GoFundMe won't work and with a summer job you'll never get enough to buy your friend one in the near future. In the meantime the band might actually have enough budget to buy her a cheaper one. Price-wise, it's not a purchase you should be making at your age and in your position as high schooler (don't forget your own expenses). Investment-wise, will your friend appreciate this in the long future? She might feel burdened due to the effort and money you'd have put in it, and it might make it seem as if you're buying her friendship. Would she do the same for you in another situation? Finally, would you even consider this if it were any other friend? I think no, but because of that you have to consider whether this idea is reasonable.

The thought is very nice, but I don't want you to make any decisions that will only pain you in the future. I think it's best she pursues another instrument.