[treffk]

Yesterday I took 2 of my students out with a mission to raise money to buy a 4 slot cRIO, since we only have 8 slots. We went around to about 10-15 businesses and only 1 committed to donating. At the others we left a sponsorship letter explaining what we were doing and who we are. We were trying to hit locally owned businesses or were managed by people with ties to our high school and community. It is a lot of hard work but it can pay off.

Another thing my team does is in previous years we have helped setup, run and tear down our local craft show that is held 3 times a year and got a small donation for our help. This year we gained "rights" to call the craft show our own and we do everything and can keep all the money earned.

Other local teams host a spagetti dinner/auction once a year. Everything is donated and they sell tickets to attend. This has been highly sucessful for them.

We have always done demos for our local clubs (PTA, Booster, Optimist, etc.) and have asked for money to pay for something specific like our shirts or a giveaway. PTA is a big one that you should ask since they are now working together with FIRST just like Boys and Girls Club. It may not have trickled down to local chapter yet but by doing a demo you can spark their interest which can get them asking those above them.