Hello!
We are a new team, and we are having a slight problem when it comes to funding. How does a team go about getting sponsors? this year we resorted to a basic robot based on the 2010 KoP, but this year we want to go further than that and hopefully implement other resources into our design process. See everyone at competition!
I’ve got two answers for you. One is short and sweet. The other… Well, it might take you a couple of days to figure out what all of it you can do.
A) Simple 3-step process:
- Find local company/college that you think might be remotely interested in sponsoring you.
- Contact said company regarding sponsorship. It helps to have a sponsorship packet put together, BTW–see part B.
*]Repeat until you’ve talked to every company on your list and then some.
B) See this forum, paying careful attention to the two threads at the top. Then figure out what you can do. I believe there are some things about sponsorship packets, somewhere in that forum… There may also be samples in CD-Media.
I wrote this post a while back and I went over my team’s process for approaching sponsors.
Good Luck,
-Garret Smalley
FIRST NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) has some awesome resources, including the team packet link. Check out Sponsors & Fundraisers as well as Publicity & Media. If you have more specific questions, you can always ask here. Good luck!
Also, Team 1511 sure has their act together. 
May have some info here, depending on how recently updated.
Mentor Resources Library
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=14034
Just a minor amendment to the 3rd bullet:
3. Repeat until you’ve talked to every company** within driving distance.**
Nearly every team parent works somewhere. Some of our best sponsors come from places where team member parents work.
What worked for us: Send a packet to the company, ideally to a specific person (parents are helpful here, or just call and ask for a name), but if not, then the “corporate giving office” or “Public Relations” manager. Then, 5 days later, phone them to ask IF they got your packet, and if there are any questions you can answer, and when would be a good time to meet them and possibly demonstrate the robot.
Sounds corny, but dang if it don’t work.