Our rookie team (1887) happened to be a member of the winning alliance at the Portland Regional which qualified us for the championship in Atlanta. The problem is, we never imagined that this would happen and have less than $1000 left in our budget. We decided to ship the robot to nationals but have no idea how we will raise the money we need.
I am sure that this happens to teams every year. How do people go about getting thousands of dollars in a matter of days? Do you require the students to pay for their own trip? Even so, we still need to raise the money for registration and shipping. If any of you have been in this situation, please give me some pointers as soon as possible.
I have searched and read a lot of the posts concerning fundraising, but most of them are operating under the assumption that you have months to plan, not weeks. We were fortunate enough to have done this during the first week of regionals therefore giving us more time, but the task is still daunting to say the least.
Even if you personally have never faced this and you know a team that has faced it, let me know how I can contact that team. Thank you.
On a similar note, we would like to give the cheesy poofs a huge thank you for their help this weekend. Even before choosing us as your alliance partner, we had the benefit of being pitted next door to you. All of you were more than willing to help us and loan us the various tools and supplies that we had neglected to bring. There is absolutely no way that we would be in this situation if it was not for you. Good luck at Silicon Valley and we’ll see you in Atlanta
Given the time crunch you’re on, you really just need to pound the bricks. Try to ask your sponsors for a few more bucks, mentioning that their initial contribution had quite a bang for the buck. If you’ve got some press contacts, use them to let the community know of your problem. Odd connections will get you everywhere.
That said, don’t neglect relatively easy money from selling things. Team 1020 had a fundraiser where they duct-taped teachers to a wall at their school, and it ran them just the cost of duct tape and a few trash bags. The white paper is on CD somewhere. If your school’s got any sporting events that folks go to, consider holding it there with photos (and video, if you have it) and a very roomy bucket. (Bigger is better on the bucket. You know how they say smaller plates will reduce your portions if you’re trying to lose weight? You want the exact opposite. Get a five-gallon bucket.)
Take your story to the local media and sell how this will not only help the future of the kids on your team and school but for the whole area and get local big business to get behind the team and help out (not only for the now but for the future as well). The worst thing they can say is no.
The other choice, and it’s not as distasteful as it sounds, would be to plan to go next year. Fact is, it’s hard hard hard to raise the $5k that FIRST demands by COB Tuesday - OR ELSE.
We couldn’t afford to go - still can’t. If we end up winning one, we’ll just say thanks, but no thanks. It’s not the end of the world. It’s too many $$$ in too little time. OTOH, here in S.E. Michigan, we can go to IRI $350 - Sweet Repeat $350 - Kettering Kickoff $250 - RaCahCha $100.
They’re not the Championship - but 14.2857 IRIs could put Atalanta out of business.
Congratulations! All I have to say is…strike while the iron is hot.
Contact every reporter, school board, rotary club, chamber of commerce member and get your name out there. As rookies, the success of the program is unproven within the community…but now you have succeeded your first time out, and with just a little aid to get you to Atlanta, who knows what your program could do?
Try to get in touch with the regional planning committee - now that the regional is over and they’re not so busy, they may be able to put you in touch with a contact or two.
We have raised as much as $20,000 (to cover hotels, registration, and many travel expenses) in just over one week through sheer asking-power. As a number of people have said, contact every local media station - especially those in large cities if possible - give them the name and address of a head mentor and provide some video footage (pictures, if it is newspaper coverage) if there is any available. People want to see what they are donating their money towards!
Though they have already donated generously, either personally visit your sponsors or write them all a business letter explaining your situation and asking, once again, for their support.
In the weeks to come, keep tabs on the teams in your area that are attending the Championships and contact them to see if you can arrange to travel together, even if it is just by sharing a bus to the airport. Start looking for hotels now - the Days Inn Downtown is great in a pinch and is comparably inexpensive relative to its location to the Dome.
Congratulations and good luck on your funding seach!
I agree with everyone else. Get local newspapers to cover it as much as possible. If you want, you can quote me–just send me a PM, I was another person who was on a rookie team that qualified for Nats but couldn’t go because A) we didn’t plan for it and B) we didn’t have the funds. We haven’t had a chance to go back since…
Ask your sponsors. Solicit the public. Jeez… FIRST needs to give you more time, or set up a loan fund for this situation…
See if anybody will loan your team the funds (even a bank!) to travel.
Don’t give up. There are so many avenues you can pursue–donations, fundraisers, loans, grants–that something will get you the money. And you can always find a way to pay it back later…
Actually banks are a good place to go, and not for a loan. Apparently banks have to donate a certain amount of money every year. The problem with this is that banks have to go through a lengthy process to decide where the money goes. We’ve had several banks consider giving us money, and a couple actually donate.
Something you could do (as a last resort) is ask a parent, mentor or anyone else involved with the team to front you the money and if you don’t raise all the money this year you can raise a little extra next year.
Good Luck! At least you know now that your going to Atlanta, imagine going to a last week regional and finding out that your going to Atlanta!
Actually, this is not a great idea.
I know teams that have borrowed money (school, parents, etc), gone to the Championship, had a great time, seniors on team move on, others move on, and then someone is left holding the bill. There was a team that sat out last year because of this bad decision. They owed money.
Part of FIRST (a big part) is the business plan. Have your mentor call FIRST finance to see if you can get an extension. Meanwhile the team has time to accomplish a lot. There have been plenty of teams in your shoes. Weight the pros and cons of doing this, this year vs using the funds for the future. Each team is different. Have a mentor help price out what this will cost pp. Hotels, flights, meals.
Although this is hard work, this is all part of FIRST. The decision making you have to do now will serve you well in the future.
People like to back a winner… Start with local media and see if they will do a story ASAP. Ask your school board to cover travel/housing… don’t ask them for everything or they are likely to say no. I agree you should ask a mentor to ask first for an extension. Nothing brings in money like winning.
Something really FUN, not too hard, great team building experience is a spaghetti dinner. I know last year 56 raised $2500 at theirs, and 75 is having one soon. They can be really successful, and apart from getting word out to get money, you are also getting the word out about your team. Your community will remember the great time you provided. Kathie K has a great guide to hosting one in this section of the forums, I’d check it out…
Above all, soliciting sponsors is a big part of it, people will realize your need for money if you have suddenly qualified, and many are more than willing to lend a helping hand. With enough determination, you can do anything.
Sponsors…definitely, explain to them what your accomplishments are, why u are going to Nats. What FIRST is about, and your incredible need for money,
Offer them things like names on robot and stuff, You can get alot of money like that, Ummm have a letter on hand, they will ask for it
any further questions on getting sponsors, PM,IM: rvssnake, or email, [email protected]
