Team Sponsorships

[MrJohnston]

Things to emphasize in the packet:
* Preparing students for careers in STEM
* How much major companies - especially Boeing and NASA support the program
* Hands on training for kids with professional mentors
* How teams do a lot of outreach to young kids (elementary and middle schools)

Other ideas:
Make sure your team and robot are visible. We have picked up sponsors by going to parades, participating in local community events (think: farmers' market, county fair, whatever you have)... Do you have a local rotary?

We do a letter-writing campaign in which every one of our team members writes a letter to six people or businesses they know requesting support. WE include the school's tax-id number (non profit status) and highlights of our program. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends are obvious. However, we found that family doctors, dentists and, especially, orthodontists can be quite generous..... Some states have grants that you can apply for directly from the Department of Education....

Just being present and showing off your robot at an elementary or middle school science fair can lead to sponsors... Basically, the more you interact with the community, the more the community will interact with you.