[TedG]

I don't know about tools but we have written a sponsor request letter to our local Home Depot asking for donations of equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, fire extinguishers, and other things like that.

A mentor has handed it to the appropriate person who handles such things as philanthropy and community service.

We had done this a few years, some years we were lucky to receive items, some we weren't.

It's a lot cheaper for a store to give you items instead of money, but you need to catch them when they're in the position to donate. Most companies will only donate so much a year to any non-profit organization.

So to answer your question, a nicely written sponsor request letter with non-profit, tax exempt information is very helpful in these cases. Ask for items you need but let them know you'll take anything to help your non-profit, very important high school educational STEM organization.

My opinion is it should be hand delivered to the appropriate person with a sales pitch from mentors and/or students. You can even promise a team demonstration of your robot(s) if the donation is worth it to you.

HTH