Next Tuesday, our team has a table at the schools 8th grade orientation night.
What kind of fundraiser could we do? We don’t have anything to raffle. I read on here something about an “Adopt a tool” thing, where you pay a dollar or so to write your name somewhere on a tool. Thats all I can think of on short notice.
Try Hexbugs from VEX Robotics. I think if you sell them for $10, then there’s a sweet profit.
Well, depending on the space you have, and the condition of your robot, you could do a “Pay $X, Drive a robot!” type deal. I know that might attract people to your booth and make you money 
Have a donation box on the table.
I think it is important to look at who will be at the orientation. Will there be parents with the 8th graders? If not, I think you should forget about making money and focus on getting the 8th graders interested for when they are in high school. If there are parents, I would also give out flyers to the adults that contained how they could help the team (mentorship, getting their company to sponsor…).
That is a true statement, but I also think it’s a good idea to try and make money where ever you can. I know that for my team, we would love to have any income we could get.
Whatever you decide do, make sure your attempts to raise money for your team don’t conflict with what the night is really for: interesting/informing possible future team members.
On 33 we always try to keep these two very important areas separate from each other. I very honestly would only have a donations box if anything at all.
If you are seriously interested in raising money, I would suggest putting together a series of papers, pamphlets, a powerpoint, ect and a team of older experienced students and start contacting companies for sponsorships. Send them the handouts on what your all about, ask to meet with them personally and bring the robot. If you’re not sure where to start looking, ask parents to introduce the team to whatever company they work at. Its also important to remember that you don’t need to look for just money. New mentors, food, supplies, shop space, ect are all very valuable to a team. Its a lot of work, but it seriously pays off in the long run and will make your team more competitive.
Sincerely, Bryan
It is 8th graders and parents. We will defiantly do the pay x dollars and drive robot, we have a goal and a soccer ball we can use also.
Hexbugs we’ve done every year and I just printed out the order form. I don’t think they’ll be here by Tuesday though. (By next, I meant the one coming up, the 16th) I will defiantly try though.
Any other ideas? I love you guys, your so creative 
Donation box is also simple enough. We have enough space, we could have a drive-a-robot/hexbugs table and a information for parents/incoming students table
Check to be sure you are allowed to solicit at the event. Some schools would frown upon that. It gives the new students and their parents a message: Oh, everyone’s just out to get money.
Along with the other ideas, how about the basics? Have a bake sale at the same time - 8th graders are always hungry. Get your parents to bake cookies, bags of popcorn, etc., and sell them for 50 cents a pop - you may only raise $100 or so, but every little bit helps.
Update!
Just got back, We did pretty good I’d say. Sold about 11 hexbugs @ $10 each and made about $20 off of “Drive the robot for one minuet for one dollar!” (And we let kids go for free if they didn’t have a dollar, figured it was worth it to get them involved). We had a soccer ball and a goal set up and they had tons of fun.