FIRST works because of thousands and thousands of sponsors. Every sponsor, from the big companies sponsoring regionals and the championships, to the smaller companies who sponsor a team or two, to the local hardware store that gives a team discount, to the pizza place that gives you a deal because you are in there so much, has a part in making FIRST work for all of us.
So, what have you done to say "thank you " to one of your team sponsors?
Maybe sent a letter, a picture of the team, even just a thank-you note?
In addition to being the right thing to do, sending a thank you and some recognition for their support will make those sponsors much more willing to say “yes” when you call on them again in the fall. Remember, you are probably only one of several people that “knock on their door” every year looking for money. Help them want to say yes to you.
So, what have you done to say thank you?
Share your activities here so others can get some ideas of what they can do.
675 has sent out a picture of the team (Circa last year) holding letters that formed “Thank You”.
I’m also pretty sure that we’ve sent letters to the companies.
And don’t forget our newest banner with a picture of our robot in action and the phrase “Thanks, MV Transportation, for making out Atlanta Dream possible!” We had that above our pit in Atlanta, too.
When they announced that we could take keepers off the field in Atlanta, I took the opportunity to grab a few. A student and I cut them into eight pieces that each said FIRST. I plan on writing a little “thank you” note on them and framing each one to give to our sponsors and friends.
Each year, our team gives sponsors and mentors a personalized, engraved plaque with the team photo thanking them for their support. I’ve got them on my wall next to my NASA awards.
When I was on 269, either during the ride down to Atlanta or while waiting for a flight in the airport, our mentors would distribute thank-you cards and show us a list of sponsors and local donors. If we knew any of the donors personally or had a particularly close relationship to the sponsors, we had the option of writing them a very personal letter thanking them for their support and detailing how and what the team accomplished in the past year. The remaining names were then assigned and had similar letters handwritten to them as well. Many sponsors and mentors also receive a framed photo of the team.
Some time after the season ended, team folders were prepared with articles from local newspapers about the team, team and robot photos, and information about the team (where the graduates were headed, team accomplishments, etc) to be hand delivered to sponsors. We also held a team party to which the mentors and involved sponsors were invited.
We send cards to all of the minor sponsors signed by the team members. However, for BAE Systems, our main sponsor, a thank you letter isn’t enough.
This summer we are building Lego tables for the use of other BAE Systems sponsored FLL competitions. We’ve already made a couple during November or so before 2006.
Last year, they asked teams to come and build the table parts for FLL.
We display their logo on our robot, t-shirts, banners, anywhere our team logo is involved.
At Unveiling, something they hold before ship date so all of the BAE sponsored teams can show off their robots, we brought along our rack and carpet like they asked us. We brought our carpet to the arena for the practice field like they asked us.
We do whatever they ask us to do.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that we let BAE use some of the machines from our shop for use in machine shop at GSR.
On 573, we placed one of our uniform polos into a large frame, along with any medals, a picture of the team, and the team name and sponsor name engraved into a plate in the corner of the frame. We presented that to the person responsible for helping us get the company’s sponsorship, spoke briefly about the highlights of the season, and discussed how the contribution directly helped us accomplish our goals.
This past Wednesday, we had our annual sponsors reception. We started inviting sponsors to our shop at the school a few years ago. It gives us room to set up the robots and displays. We did a brief demo having last year’s robot climb the ramp of this year’s robot. They loved that. We set out fingerfoods and punch on the wooden work tables (complete with vises) and this year we had the added touch of the book, FIRST, Behind The Design, among the awards and the technical notebooks that we have done this year. We hang a sheet from the ceiling and project a slide show/video of the build and some of the matches onto it with music playing quietly in one section of the shop. Also new this year, was a small display of jewelry that the team made during a jewelry making workshop this spring. Earrings, bracelets, medallion necklaces - out of nuts, bolts, wire, ribbon - there were several purchases made along with oohs and aahs. We give each of the sponsors a plaque that has a letter of thanks, a photo of the team, and a photo of the year’s robot. We also give them a copy of the slide show/video and a t-shirt. It is an opportunity for the sponsors and supporters of 418 to come see the team in our work environment and everyone enjoys the evening together. The students surprised the mentors with individual customized framed photos of the team, complete with little tubes.
All of these are great ways to recognize your sponsors and I know the ones I’ve talked with really appreciate the signed team photos and letters 103 gives them.
One other thing you can do that helps sponsors see the impact of their support is to tell them about how many team graduates are going to what colleges and majors, and compare it with your school’s overall matriculation.
If your sponsor can’t come see you, go to them. Many are happy to have your team make a presentation at their facility. One of 103’s sponsors is a professional society and the team tries to make it to at least one of their meetings each year to make a presentation.
MOE sends at least two letters to each sponsor from a student, along with a team picture. Getting the students to write the letters can be hard at times, but it is a requirement to have the letters done before we leave for Atlanta or they don’t go. And we mean it. No one yet has missed but there have been some last minute compositions.
In each letter the student introduces themselves, talks about what they got out of the program, and a little about our successes that year. Some of them are really good. One student wrote his in verse form this year (It started “Roses are red, violets are blue, without your support we can’t do what we do…etc.)” Some need an adult to edit before we can send it.
All are invited to our end of the year picnic as well, although I don’t know how many ever show up.
Our team makes posters with all of our sponsors listed on it, it also states our record and awards won for the season, and a picture of our team and the robot. We send this to each of our sponsors as our own little thank you!
We also send personal letters to our sponsors to keep them informed as the season progresses.
We had a T-Shirt and Plaque made for all of our sponsors. They seemed to like them and it gave them something they could put it their office which they talk about when visitors come which gives us free publicity.
Along with many of the things already mentioned in the thread, our team usually creates DVDs at the end of each season for our sponsors to keep, documenting out team from the beginnings of the kickoff to the final post-season competition of the year.
Our 2005 Season DVD was the most popular so far; I’ve burned over 50 so far.
I remember writing those letters each year, 2 or 3 to different sponsors and supporters. It was a great way to say thank you for all of the opportunities that they were giving us by donating money or parts.
As an owner of a small business (my Wife owns a hair salon that sponsors our team) and the employee of a large corporation (Rolls Royce sponsors Nine local teams, plus the Boilermaker Regional) I would like to re-iterate Chris’ points from above. It is vitally important to show your sponsors some love.
Our team has historically had a difficult time wrapping up this most important season-ending task (which should actually be on-going). I am sure we are not alone in that regard. Please keep those great stories and suggestions coming to help us all out.
) and do a demo for them.