Help: Rookie Team Grants Nebraska Area

Hi!

Some alumni are coming together at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to create an FRC team in Lincoln, Ne. We are starting our fundraising right now, and are looking for sponsorship and grant options. I come from Kansas City, so I’m familiar with companies that the KC area. However, Nebraska is new territory. There’s like 3 FRC teams in the whole state, and not as big STEM companies like KC. Does anyone know of nationwide grants or regional grants that we could look into?? I’ve been looking for the NASA app for this upcoming season but can’t find it.

Thanks!!

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NASA should be back, I think–this page will have an announcement when applications open, usually in the next month or so.

We did receive a grant from Olsson Associates for $1k last year and they are headquartered in Lincoln. http://www.olssonassociates.com/community-involvement

Lincoln Industries has a $500 community connections grant – https://www.lincolnindustries.com/sites/default/files/_images/content/communityconnectionsapplication-2018.pdf

I’d probably look into the variety of local sponsorship opportunities, just look up top employers in the area and go from there or check with student’s parents or other contacts to try to find connections. Grants aren’t easy and probably harder at the outset.

  1. NASA grants will only pay for your registration fees so don’t pay that until a decision is made on your application. The application hasn’t come out yet. It usually opens up in October for 30 days or so.

  2. FIRST Rookie grant decisions are made after the NASA grant decisions are made. You can accept one or the other but not both. Apply for both regardless. FIRST rookie grants also can only be applied to registration fees. And both of these decisions are usually announced in the weeks just prior to your registration fee being due between Christmas and Thanksgiving.

  3. Do not limit yourself to STEM focused companies. There are lots of companies that sponsor teams that are not STEM focused. Banks usually have charitable arms for community engagement. Media conglomerate Gannett Publishing, American Honda Foundation, Comcast also support FIRST teams. If you are going to need to travel, contact a hotel chain about comping your team rooms for events.

  4. Ask for pledges if you advance so they aren’t putting up so much money up front. These aren’t guaranteed but it at least conveys that you are seriously invested in this team and you want them to invest too.

  5. If you are not a 501©(3), talk to your regional FIRST director about how to funnel money to the team using the FIRST umbrella so that the sponsors give to a 501©(3). Or form your own non-profit organization.

  6. Parents are your booster organization.

Good Luck.

Is there going to be some permanent mentor on the team that will not be rotating out every 4 years or is it all going to be college students? If it’s the latter I’m going to be pretty blunt here, don’t do this.

Feel free to PM me; I’m happy to share lessons learned from starting 6844 last year (also alumni-driven; no school support). Be aware that it’s not easy. I walked away from last year thinking to myself that starting a rookie team is something everyone should do once – but only once.

How far along are you in the process of starting a team? Do you have any students or teachers you’re working with?