Hello CD community. My team, 3929, is in a situation where we might qualify for championships (through the RAS award) at the MAR regional. However, we don’t have enough funds to pay for both the registration fee and the various travel expenses.
I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of how to raise enough money in time for championships. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I think when we were in that situation back in 2010, when we qualified for Champs by winning Oklahoma week 5 or 6, what we did was scramble and “beg” for money from anywhere we thought we could get it. In the end we got the qualification money paid for by one of our sponsors, but the team mostly had to pay for the travel expenses. (Thank you to Broncobots, 1987, for letting our team share your coach bus!)
^ This, essentially ask anyone you can, tech related or not for ANY amount possible, when its that kind of a pinch every little bit helps. being out here in Hawaii it takes a minimum of around 15K depending on how flights are at the time and typically we have from week 4 to do it so we know your frustration.
Contact your senior mentor/regional director NOW. It is likely that another team is traveling by bus from your area and has space available to share, and they might know about it. They also sometimes have some funds held in reserve for situations like this, but being proactive is always your best bet.
Wetzel
My team (1425 Error Code Xero) is raising money by 1) Selling the light bulbs from FIRST. They aren’t the best way, but we have raised a couple hundred dollars this past week selling them. 2) We are asking every business we can get to, to buy advertising space on a poster we are making. They give us their business card and for $100 they have a slot on the poster. 3) We are collecting any and all lose change. I think one guy on the team brought in over $100 in one day.
4) We are going back to our old sponsors and explaining our situation, as well as trying to find new sponsors. 5) I know that there are a couple of other things, but I hopes this gives you a few ideas. Good luck!
Try asking your team’s mentors for advice first 
We generally know what we’re talking about.
As for sharing buses, right now teams in the MAR area don’t know for sure who is going and who is not. Having already asked 341, I can tell you that they will be flying out, not taking a bus.
Also use the search function as there are hundreds of great threads about fundraising from the past.
We will discuss it at our next meeting.
Talk to your current sponsors. Tell them that you may qualify for the World Championships, but will need help to get to St. Louis if you do. Invite them to the MAR Championship to watch. As soon as you qualify, inform them that yes, you did qualify, and ask them to help you get there. (Bonus for telling them a number that you need to raise–registration+travel.) Sometimes it’s easier to plan to give extra when you know it could be coming.
Of course, if you don’t qualify, then you inform them that unfortunately you did not qualify, and thank them for their sponsorship. (And thank them again later too.)
Some of the big FIRST sponsors (Google, Abbott, etc.) have been known to give extra $$ to teams who qualify for the Championships, they understand it is a big unexpected expense. I suggest you try reaching out to them even if they have not sponsored your team in the past. I can introduce you to someone at Abbott if you like; send me a private message if you’re interested.