Broke

[SoyStuff]

Team 1257, Parallel Universe, is practically broke. Last year, we got by with almost no money, but this year our one and only mentor (the school will only pay one teacher per club) is feeling discouraged for some reason, and doesn't want to proceed unless we can collect around $5,000 on top of the $5,000 that we presently have. She wants to leave First and do the Vex competition. Most of the club feels that this would be a serious step backwards, and I would be heartbroken if it actually happened. I'm a programmer, not a fundraiser, so I have no idea how to collect funds (I already tried my parents' employers). Well-funded teams of the Universe, I ask you: What is your secret? We don't need to be rich. Most of us were okay with being penniless, but our mentor isn't, and if we don't get some money fast, 1257 is no more. I welcome any advice you can offer.

**For the record, I'm not blaming our mentor. Being the only mentor for an FRC team isn't easy.

We're not a well-funded team, but I know the secret: Never stop trying. There's money out there, waiting for an inspired group of students to come get it. Ask everybody and anybody. The worst that will happen? They decline, and you teach someone about FIRST.

The battle is only lost when you've stopped trying.

[rcmolloy]

I firmly believe that it is an initiative by all parts of the team to want to compete and want to earn the funds to make their best effort to do so at all costs. I am not saying your team isn't doing the right things but there are certain things that you can do before build season begins. There a countless amounts of fundraising efforts to gather within your community and region that can help you guys out. These don't have to be just manufacturing facilities or large companies. They can be your local pizza shop or burger joint.

Trust me, there's no need for you guys to have to switch to Vex because of funds. 1257 can gather enough in the next 3 months to raise enough money. I know this because we have established a large fundraising goal headed by the students we have here and they are a bit behind but they understand that. Right now they are making the effort to raise enough that they can before Nov 1st.

Overall, there is no secrets to fundraising. Just establish yourself in your community in multiple places and things will catch on!

[Nuttyman54]

Back in 2005 and 2006 when Team 971 had no money, we ran a "Build-a-thon" fundraiser. Similar to a jog-a-thon or the like, each student was sent with form letters and information on how donations could be tax deductible, and asked for friends, family, companies to pitch in what they could. The goal was set for each student to try to bring in $500 (some were able to get more, some less). If you were able to get $25 each from 20 friends and neighbors, you made your goal.

Part of the donation benefit, besides the feel good and the tax deduction, was an invitation to an all-day lab open house on a Saturday of build season, so that the donors could come see the robot in production.

With about 12 students we were able to raise almost $7000 in 2005, enough to cover our season expenses and ensure the continued existence of the team.

Several teams do yearly fundraisers like Spaghetti dinners and have published whitepapers on how they run these. There's typically a very big return-on-investment for that type of fundraiser if run well, so you could check that out too.

[KelliV]

Times are tough, and finding money is tougher. I would take a look at what type of fundraisers your school will allow... and then do all of them you can.

I also wouldn't rule out VEX. It could provide you a way to build robots while you fundraise for next season. It's not a "step backward" as you may suggest. It is an incredibly well run competition and some of the most competitive teams in FIRST also work with VEX. In the current economy it is an affordable solution to your problem. There is so much you can do with the platform, and if you want to stay within the FIRST realm then why not check out FTC. I hear you can weld things these days? Sorry but I've never actually done FTC so my info is based on murmurs on CD.

Back when FTC was VEX I was on WildStang's team and thought it was AWESOME. Seriously, at the end of the day robots is robots, I'd rather take a year off of FRC to fundraise and compete in VEX than not have any robots at all.

[IndySam]

As you see, there are lots of ways to raise money, a driven group of students can easily raise $5000 if they work together.

But money isn't your real problem. You have to have more mentors. One mentor just can't do it alone even with all the money in the world. Recruiting mentors should be you primary goal.

Sit down with your team and work out a plan. You can do it.

[Pat Hart]

Spread your net wide and look for community sponsorship. There are many local companies that are willing to support local organizations. Put together a good handout that explains who your team is, what it does, and how their company can support. Be professional and persistent when you speak with companies.

Also, look for ways to be visible in the community. Demonstrations are an excellent way to build visibility and may bring your team into contact with potential sponsors. The demonstrations do not even have to be particularly STEM related. 234 recently had a demonstration at a health fair.

Stay positive and hopefully there will be many more years of 1257!

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by SoyStuff

Team 1257, Parallel Universe, is practically broke....

You have your location as Brooklyn but:
FRC 1257 is in Scotch Plains, NJ.

http://www.team1257.org/

You are Parallel Universe from Scotch Plains, NJ right?

Union County Vocational Technical?

Please contact me I'll see if I help you out.

[Jon Stratis]

It sounds like you have two issues here: lack of funds, and lack of mentors.

Fortunately, you can work on tackling both at the same time! Get everyone out in the community, talking to local businesses - especially non-retail businesses that produce something. You're there to sell your team and make them want to be a part of it. You want them to donate money, and in return get advertising to hundreds of area students and families (remember, sponsors go on your robot and shirt!). Different levels of contribution can result in different amounts of advertising. For example, $100 gets a name on the shirt and robot. $500 gets a small logo. $1000 gets a big logo. $5000 gets them listed as a primary sponsor with the biggest logo available, AND their company name introduced with the team as a primary sponsor.

While you're talking with them, you can emphasize that FIRST is all about mentors working with students. Convince them that, even if they can't give you money, they might have some engineers interested in donating time to the team (most team mentors aren't paid, even if the school does offer a stipend to one or two teachers). Once you hook a new mentor, get them involved with your fundraising. They might know individuals at other local companies that can help!

Keeping a robotics team running does take a bunch of money. Registration fees for your regional will eat through what you have pretty quickly. Then you need to look at travel, food during the build season, supplies that go on the robot, spare parts, new tools, replacement parts for existing tools (for example, new drill bits or saw blades)... the list adds up quickly, and the students aren't necessarily aware of where all the money is going. It could make sense for you to ask your mentor to sit down and go over the teams budget. Working together, you can figure out where you really need money, and where you can afford not to spend it. You might also be able to find some areas where, instead of raising money, you can ask for "in-kind" donations, where the company donates their product to you. The easiest to get is typically food - pizza joints are great for this, and I've historically had success with Chipotle. They won't donate food, but they can donate a meal to your team! You can also set specific fundraising goals - for example, ask a local company to donate $100 for a new drill for the team, or $400 for a new cRio, or whatever "big" purchases the team needs to make. You'd be surprised how specific goals like that can change the conversation with a sponsor... We used that strategy to buy our team a trailer last year!

[JustinRueb1891]

I'm surprised no one here has mentioned grant writing yet. If your team has some experienced writers, it is possible to raise $5000 or more with a single grant. Off the top of my head, Boeing and NASA give out large grants to FRC teams each year, and I'm sure many others exist. Do this in addition to the things everyone else has mentioned, and you should be able to sustain a team for years to come. Keep trying and good luck to you and your team!

[SoyStuff]

Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas, guys! The build-a-thon sound promising. We might be able to do something like that. Also, techhelpbb is right. Team 1257 is based in Scotch Plains, not Brooklyn. Not sure what happened there...

[AdamHeard]

Although it isn't the bulk of our fundraising (we cover all student travel, which adds up!) our kids routinely make lots of money on bake sales. They'll have 3-4 kids work 4 hours or so in front of a grocery store and make a consistent $500.

$5000 is a really easy goal to hit if the students are willing to work at it. What helps for us is each student is explicitly responsible to fund-raise X amount.

[Akash Rastogi]

Hit up the following places with a well written sponsorship letter or call them up and see if you can arrange a demonstration for them.

http://www.ekaassociates.com/
http://www.gleicher.com/
http://www.ngkengineering.com/
http://www.ltk.com/
http://redcomllc.com/
http://www.starcomfiber.com/

That was through a simple google maps search of "Engineering near Scotch Plains, NJ"

Edit: actually, your city has made this very simple for you - http://www.visitscotchplains.com/members.html

Just make sure you write up a great sponsorship letter. Many examples are here in CD Media if you need examples. Check out this one that I helped a team with - http://team2495.com/index.php?page=donate

If you spend time researching, you can find plenty more place to contact. Visit doctors, dentists, law offices..etc..

Couple this with doing demo's in front of grocery stores and supermarkets as Adam suggested. By simply standing outside one weekend with your robot and talking to people about the team, you can rake in $400-$800 at a decently busy store.

Shoot me an email or PM if you guys need more direct help. Your teacher is doing the right thing by saying the team should be raising more money otherwise should participate in a different event. Rise to the challenge your teacher is presenting you. Find more mentors, find more money, I am pretty confident you can do it.

[SarahBeth]

Every year, team 157 sells a calendar with daily prizes. We get the prizes donated from local businesses and we sell the calendar for $10. Usually do it in the spring. This year we're selling calendars in February for March. If every kid sells 10 calendars, that brings in a fair amount. Its not a lot, but it helps!

You definitely need to get some more volunteers for your team - even if companies can't donate funds, they may have some people who can donate their time! One person can't do it all themselves.

Good luck!

[BrendanB]

When our team was low on funds last season our team invested about $300 into Boston Bruins tickets and raffle supplies. Our students camped out at the town transfer station, convenience stores, elections, etc. anwhere we could sell tickets to groups of people. The result was phenominal! We raised just over $3000 in three weeks! We were inspired by another local team who raffled off gas cards to raise funds for their St. Louis trip. Considering the NHL lockout, our team is looking into finding some local gas stations we have personal connections with (through our Bruins raffle sales) to raffle off gas and heating oil cards.

During our raffle, all students participated (roughly 15 students) and they worked hard! Fundraising should be seen as a team activity not a sub-team depending on your team size.

There are a ton of ways to get funds without needing corporate sponsors but your team should find a healthy balance.

I agree with what others above have said, try to find more adult mentors!