asking for tool donations

[protoserge]

I prefer to have mentors ask in an organized fashion. As long as your efforts are coordinated, it shouldn't matter who (mentors or students) ask. If finding a local store, ask to speak with the manager and initiate a conversation about the team, your plans, and how to form a partnership.

Find products you want to buy that are made by small and medium sized businesses and email their company. I've been successful in this on a few cases.

I format my emails as first a background of who I am on the team, the name of the team, and direct them to our website to learn more about the team and FIRST. I then clearly state that I am asking for sponsorship from them and if they would be willing to donate product x, y, and z. There is no need to make a drawn-out statement about how you help advertise the company, provide a great program for the students, etc. It is just a conversation starter and the more concise it is, the better.

[tylerc102]

I sent this to the original poster, but we just finished up setting up for our summer camps this year to the tune of 172 students that will be attending and almost gaining six figures in revenue.

If there is any advice we can give to teams that are trying to start up there own camps, feel free to shoot me a PM or email at tyler@team3128.org