Team Funding
 

Well, here we are, three days away from the registration payment deadline. Due to one of our mentors' over-reliance on large grants and my own ignorance towards the fundraising process, we are at this point with exactly the same $2,500 we started this school year off with, left-over from a grant we received last year. Our school district has been adamant in its refusal to put any money into our team, and none of the grants we had applied for this year were accepted.

With the funding deadline looming so closely, FRC team 4301 stands on the edge of dissolution due to a lack of funding. It saddens me to think that our team may end up existing for only two years before disappearing forever.

I would like to ask the FIRST community what can be done to gain the necessary funding to complete registration before the deadline so that we may continue competing in FIRST. Any help is very gratefully appreciated!

Re: Team Funding
 

Contact your regional director and/or senior mentor. They might be able to help you with funding. (Sometimes they'll help your team ask FIRST for an extension)

Good Luck!

Re: Team Funding
 

Do you guys have a tax-credit program, like in AZ? If so, use those to fund you. With tax-credit, we can get $400 per person, and they lose no money. It is payed back to them in the taxes!

Re: Team Funding
 

Yeah your local senior mentor would be your best bet to get things smoothed out. They probably have ideas of who to talk too.

This depends on how your school is and how many students you have but when i was on 766, we charged a fee on the team. I think it was $200 at first but could be waved if a student has finical hardships. i think 3309 does $100 I don't remember. I will have to ask another mentor.

Now this may sound weird but its a fairly standard practice in high school sports especially ones with a lot of equipment. I think I was charged a couple hundred to play lacrosse in high school. i think it was like 20 bucks for track. That could get you some money in a hurry.

The next step would be to pretty much gather the team and start calling potential sponsors. Visit potential sponsors. Let them know your situation, bring lots of pictures and videos and show exactly why you need their support. contact everyone, restaurants, car dealerships, local banks, and etc. Find non-profit organizations like a local rotary club. Pretty much you need to do this as much as you can. If you can get ten dedicated people to each contact 10 companies a day for 10 days. Thats 1000 companies. Also talk to the parents, someone may know a potential sponsor. I think half of 3309's sponsors came from that.

Re: Team Funding
 

We do something between USD 35 and USD 45!

Re: Team Funding
 

Many times, clubs such as Rotary and Kiwanis have local business leaders in their membership. So you could actually kill two birds with one stone.

Re: Team Funding
 

Thanks! I will attempt to contact my regional director and senior mentor tonight. Hopefully we can get something worked out there.

I'm not entirely sure whether or not Texas has a tax credit program. Where would I need to look to find out?

With only 15 people on our team right now for free, I'm not sure that we would be able to put a team fee in place without compromising our student base. I will have to ask my teacher about whether or not we would be able to do so.

Thank you all for these tips! Hopefully 4301 will be able to pull through this and compete this year!

Re: Team Funding
 

Your local state legislator may also have discretionary money to give in emergency grants - they do in some states*. It may only be a few hundred, but every little bit helps.

* according to my brother, a PA state representative.

Re: Team Funding
 

Start here: http://www.odessachamber.com/

There is a directory listing available under the "Chamber Directory" http://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/...spx?dbid2=txod

I did a filter for engineering companies and got two. I'd recommend calling or emailing them, explaining what your team does, the mission of FIRST, and ask if they are willing to be a sponsor. Also emphasize how you help them! Remember, your robot is a rolling advertisement that will get their name exposure to tens of thousands of engineers, scientists, contractors, and business owners. You might be able to get machining time, fabrication help, or new mentors as well!

Don't stop with those two companies, either! Speak with anyone who will answer the phone! We have been sponsored by a BBQ restaurant, realtors, and other local businesses. Often, it is better to rely on several small sponsors in the community as opposed to a few large sponsors.

Re: Team Funding
 

I would take a few steps:

First, I would go ahead and start the process of getting an extension. This will take a bit of the pressure off of you and make it easier to see past the deadline.

Secondly, I'd get the students to help approach smaller sponsoring groups. Heck - we had a Taco Bell offer to donate to us because the manager thought what we did was cool. The trick to this, though, is to have the students approach the smaller company directly. Have them go to insurance companies, lawyers, small tech firms. . . you never know when you will meet someone that robotics will just 'click' for.

Hope this helps. Also, if you need help developing a sponsor packet, I can send you what we use for ours and even help in the formatting if needed.

Re: Team Funding
 

I checked this out and also saw there was a section for Oil/Gas and Manufacturing. In Texas (and Louisiana) Oil and Gas companies are always a place to start. Almost half of our sponsors are oil and chemical companies. I know for a fact that many large oil companies have offices in Odessa and Midland.

Re: Team Funding
 

Alright, I have contacted both my regional director and head mentor about help with funding, but I am unsure about what the best way is to approach a potential sponsor.

If you could send me your sponsor packet, that would be great! I'm sure we can use it to bring in at least a few sponsors.

Re: Team Funding
 

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...aising-toolkit

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2871?langid=2

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2777

Re: Team Funding
 

After you get a packet made. Try calling this number: (432) 571-8600

It's Halliburton's office in Odessa. Ask to speak with HR or a Office Manager. They sponsor some other FIRST teams and maybe they can help you guys out!

Re: Team Funding
 

Well, I finally received a response from the FIRST financial department. We will not be receiving an extension to the deadline. We are still in the process of having a packet made, and are applying from a FIRST in Texas Sustaining grant. What else can we do before tomorrow?

Re: Team Funding
 

Sorry for the bad news, they're usually more lenient.

Re: Team Funding
 

Please keep in mind that if you do happen to not make the deadline, that doesn't mean your team will cease to exist forever. It would be totally reasonable to participate in a cheaper competition, such as VRC or FTC, for a season while you gather funds for 2015. These cheaper competitions still offer valuable engineering experience and a FRC-like game.

Another option to consider alongside an FTC / VRC team would be building a robot to compete in only off-season competitions. This could be done in the late spring after the regular season for much cheaper than FRC regionals, albeit without the value of the "full experience" of a build deadline, secret game, etc.

If you aren't in touch with your RD or FSM, definitely do that. Get out the phonebook and start soliciting sponsorship from local businesses. You need five $500 sponsors, or ten $250 sponsors, or 25 $100 sponsors... If you work really hard, you never know what's possible.

Re: Team Funding
 

What exactly did they say? You can also essentially take a loan from FIRST in Texas, I know this is possible in MAR in the event of an emergency. The main stipulation is that teams must pay back MAR otherwise it is unfair to other teams.

Other than what Chris said below, a risky way to go is to ask people to make temporary donations to pay registration, with a written agreement to be paid back by a certain date. These internal transactions must be very well documented and should be a last resort.

If you can't participate in FRC this year, it's really not the end of the world. :) plenty of other options as Chris stated.

Re: Team Funding
 

For the previous two years, 225 has relied on mentor credit/donations to fund ~$2500/year of robot components (i.e. we did not have money, so the mentors floated the debt for six months to a year or outright forgave it). I floated $1000 worth of Championship entry fee for several months until we found a second sponsor to help cover it after-the-fact. If the individuals on the team are passionate enough about it and willing to take the risk, the program WILL continue.

It wasn't until this year that we 'cracked the code' on fundraising, so we won't have to float expenses again next year. The way that works (for us, anyway) seems to be to a) start in May, b) Sell FIRST with a 'we want to get people involved' pitch as opposed to a 'we need money' pitch and c) Try to get into as many company meetings/festivals/events/etc as you can (we averaged about 1 every week and a half or so during the off-season this year). If you can inspire individuals in this way, the money WILL come.

Re: Team Funding
 

I will see whether or not we can get a loan from FIRST in Texas. Who will I need to contact in order to make that happen?

Re: Team Funding
 

Again, the first step is always to reach out to your FIRST Senior Mentor and your Regional Director.

Quoting Richard Sisk -
"Senior Mentor contacts
http://www.usfirst.org/community/vol...mentor-program

Regional Director contacts
http://www.usfirst.org/regional-contacts

And if all else fails contact:
frcteams@usfirst.org"

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FiTApp2013 - Texas Grant App - I suggest you call/email Benjamin Holquist immediately.

FIRST in Texas Grant Administrator
bholquist@skillpointalliance.org
(512)814-3255

Please make sure your mentors are the ones making communications with the people involved. Keep everyone in the loop.

Also, look back at Ben's advice. If a few folks can float the bill temporarily, this will be much easier on the team as a whole. However, you must be very diligent in raising funds to pay back the people floating the money.

Re: Team Funding
 

I have to agree with Chris. If you got a couple grand in money, you could run a very successful VRC or FTC robotics season. My team is still trying to implement another robotics competition to compliment FRC. we feel like we are missing a key component. Perhaps this way you can grow your team with a strong base with VRC/FTC. We noted that programs like these give you great benefits. I hope we can implement a program for next year. Right now we see a desire for students to work in a small team, likely made up of their friends. Typically its senior students who want to try different things that they normally would not have time for during the FRC season. Secondly, we need a system to transition younger students into the robotics team, and competitions like these would be great for that. Lastly, they look like fun.

I guess I am always relating stuff to high school sports. Often with a school adds a new sport, it will start at a JV level and once the program gain momentum, it will move to varsity level.

Its no fun not having enough money to build what you want, its worse if you can build what you need. I think being in VRC/FTC will be a much more positive experience with the monetary resources you currently have.

Re: Team Funding
 

What email did you send your extension request to?

Re: Team Funding
 

I sent the request to ar@usfirst.org

Re: Team Funding
 

I applied for the FIRST in Texas grant. What exactly should we tell the FIRST in Texas Grant Administrator?

Re: Team Funding
 

Your situation. Tell him you need a "loan" to pay your fee tomorrow and that your team will repay it by a certain date. Ask him what can be done.

If your team is having such a hard time dealing with this crisis situation, I think you are way better off doing VEX or FTC this season, as Chris said. In your time off, get your team's fundraising act together. Talk about building a robot to play in offseason events all over Texas. Discuss how to build the proper foundation needed to run a sustainable FRC team.

Re: Team Funding
 

Texas Robot Roundup - Austin
Houston Robot Remix - Houston
Red Stick Rumble - Baton Rouge, LA

I'm sure there are others but there are at least 3 in the general area

Re: Team Funding
 

Team 4063 would like to graciously offer FRC Team #4301 (New Tech Narcissists) a $2500 loan. Please let us know how we need to go about doing this. I would imagine we can call FIRST Finance and pay on your behalf, be we both might want to call them and check tomorrow. We can work on repayment details later, we just want to make sure you get registered for the Hub City Regional.


Sincerely,

Mr. B

Re: Team Funding
 

Wow this is true Gracious Professionalism!

Re: Team Funding
 

Now that's cool.

Re: Team Funding
 

I'm currently working to compile a list of possible sponsors in Odessa for Team 4301. Hopefully we can get them some permanent solutions.

Re: Team Funding
 

I usually start off by doing this: http://goo.gl/maps/DFizh

Replace "engineering" with practically anything.

Re: Team Funding
 

Well, it looks like we will be competing again this year! We just received word from the school district of funding they were giving us from Chevron's JASON Project to cover our registration this year. We have learned our lesson, though; we will be locating corporate sponsors much earlier next year, and will be working this season to find some sponsors to help cover the trip and robot costs.

Mr. B, we are very thankful for 4063's extremely gracious offer for a loan. Having not heard from FIRST in Texas, we were ready to accept the loan until we were notified by our principal of the funding's availability. We can not thank you enough for your offer, and for all of the help your team provided during the Hub City Regional last year to have our robot finally scoring points. It is an honor to compete in this program with teams like yours, and we hope to someday be able to return the favor if TRikzR4kiDz ever needs assistance.

Thank you to everyone who helped us to locate alternate funding, and especially MysterE for providing us with his team's sponsor packet to modify with our team's info. We feel much more prepared now to seek corporate funding, and will be doing so immediately after the conclusion of our competition season in coming years. I would also like to thank Akash Rastogi, Geomapguy, Ben Martin, Chris is Me, Mark Sheridan, Carol, stinglikeabee, and everyone else who responded to this thread for all of your helpful tips for fundraising. Your tips have been taken into consideration and will be utilized during our next attempt to find sponsors.

Wishing all the best (And a merry kickoff)

Luis Trueba

Re: Team Funding
 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

Here's the list I've started to compile

I urge you to start asking them now. Many of them are manufacturing companies so they can actually help you build your robot too! I believe one of the companies produces pneumatic cylinders and another makes CNC machines.

Best of Luck and congrats on the support from Chevron.

Re: Team Funding
 

Luis - glad this worked out. If the school is not able to put that money into your team account soon enough to pay the deadline, be sure to have your school administration write up a letter recognizing that they will be putting in the last bit of funding for your team. A letter like this is considered promissory and can be faxed to FIRST. An invoice or check can also be faxed and sent into accounts receivable at FIRST.

Good luck in 2014. If you need additional help finding sponsors, feel free to drop me a line at akash.rastogi11@gmail(dot)com. Biggest lesson you should have learned is that fundraising is a year-round responsibility.

Re: Team Funding
 

I know school funding can sometimes take more than a couple of days, so if it does not come through early tomorrow, I sent you a pm with my number so we can take care of it for you.

Looking forward to seeing y'all again in Hub City. You have my number, feel free to call if we can be of any assistance.

Mr. B

Re: Team Funding
 

You are fantastic!

Re: Team Funding
 

I suggest contacting your local extension office and get into 4-H. 4-H has teams nationwide (and is one of FIRST's strategic partners). My team I was on was kicked out of their school and picked up by my county's 4-H program. Check out http://ector.agrilife.org/ for contact information.