Broke

[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!

[F22Rapture]

Team 3737 built a robot with $400 last year... granted, all it could do was drive and drop the bridge, but we placed 17th out of 53 teams because we consistently did coopertition every chance we got.

It was mainly due to time mismanagement than shortage of money.

[treffk]

Team Stealth has done many things over the years. We ask school clubs like the optimist club, PTA, and booster club for donations to cover certain items we purchase. The booster club normally pays for out wristbands that we pass out at regionals.

In addition to that we send out hundreds of letter to local, national and international companies. A very large portion of these do not ever respond but a few of them do. As others have mentioned we have a tiered donation scale.

After this weekend we are taking over the school craft fair that happens in the Fall, Winter and spring. For each of these events we should make at least $1000. Previously we only did set up, tear down and helped run the event for $300 per event. Maybe there is a community event that you can have the team help with that they will donate money in return.

We also are given the opportunity to have parents work a concessions stand at a high school football game to help raise money. This is open to any club at the school. Maybe there is something similar you can check into.

Applebee's offers a pancake breakfast fundraiser that is fairly simple. We have never done it but I have known other programs who have and found it successful. Many food restaurants have a fundraiser night that schools and programs can take advantage of.

Other local teams have a yearly auction where they collect donations of items and hold a silent auction and dinner.

Recently I have seen teams try to fundraiser on kickstarter.com I do not know how successful this has been though as we have not tried it.

I hope these give you some ideas if you would like more information about any of these feel free to send me a message.