Sponsorship Fundraising and - Edina Robotics...Why you need their sponsorship What’s in it for them, as a sponsor Other fundraising you’ve done, and the results Maybe mention names

2019 Season

Fundraising and Sponsorship

You Have A Team - You Need a Budget

● FIRST teams need money!

○ Event Registration Fees (Regionals and Championship)

○ Off-Season Event Fees

○ Robot Fabrication

○ Branding and Marketing

○ Transportation

○ Hotels

○ Food!

Remember – start early! No one will want to fundraise during build season!

Sponsorships

Step 1 - Finding Potential Sponsors

● Anyone can sponsor a FIRST Team

● Potential donors are everywhere

○ Local businesses and retailers

○ Parents’ employers (and friends!)

○ Technology companies

○ Any major employer, regardless of trade

If they don't respond

● What to do if a company doesn’t respond

○ After 3-4 business days, re-contact the company

○ Send an email or call the representative

■ Offer to answer any questions

■ Give them more info about sponsorship benefits

■ Always thank them for their time and interest

You don’t want to pester a company, but you don’t want them to forget

about you either

● Prepare a sponsorship presentation

● Prepare print materials such as brochures and business cards to

give to potential sponsors

○ Print materials such as brochures should highlight

■ Who you are

■ What you do

■ How their money will be used

■ Any other important information

● Have a professional team contact not related to any one student

○ Our team uses [email protected]

Step 2 - Preparing Your Marketing Materials

● Practice your presentation

○ Send a small group to represent the team (3-4 people)

○ Wear your team uniform

○ Talk about

■ Your team

■ Why you need their sponsorship

■ What’s in it for them, as a sponsor

■ Other fundraising you’ve done, and the results

■ Maybe mention names of other team sponsors

● Remember

○ Eye contact

○ Stay organized

○ Be clear and concise

○ Be yourself

Step 2 - Preparing Your Marketing Materials

Step 3 - Making contact● Request meeting with the representative who has responsibility for

community outreach or handles community sponsorships

○ Call (if you have contact)

○ Email

○ Face-to-face

● If the executive can’t meet with you immediately, make sure you

mail or drop off the information packet and your contact information

for follow-up

● Always offer a presentation and robot demo

● Contact a large number of diverse companies

Step 4 - follow up

● 1 day after your meeting follow up

○ Send an email thanking them

■ Ask when you would be able to do a robot demo

■ Offer to have them come to competitions or other events

■ Offer to answer any questions

Step 5 - Thank and Reward● Display their logo dependent on sponsorship level (pit signs, robot,

website, social media, etc.) Ask for EPS file of logo

● Gift baskets (team shirts, pictures, buttons, etc.)

● Build a relationship

○ Keep them updated on your progress

○ Offer to present to their employees at corporate events

● Represent them well – mention them by name when interviewed by

the media

● Sponsors on-board by December should be entered into your

team’s FIRST dashboard the main contact. This information is used

in the FIRST Program Books distributed at competitions.

Step 6 - Engage

● Maintain an ongoing dialog with your sponsors

○ Ask if your team can attend company events and bring a robot

○ Join them for community service events

○ Invite sponsors to your team’s outreach events

In Kind Donations

● Not all sponsorships involve money! Sponsors can also:

○ Supply mentors and volunteers

○ Offer workspace and storage

○ Supply materials and equipment

○ Donate food

○ Offer a discount on needed materials and items

Often, businesses are happy to offer “in-kind” goods and services. Add

up the value of their donations to determine sponsorship level.

Fundraising

Fundraisers

● Car washes

● Open House

● Rummage/Garage sale

● Collecting recyclables

● Bagging groceries for tips

● Restaurant fundraising nights (Chipotle, Noodles, etc.)

● Get creative!

Websites and Social Media

● Websites can be an effective way to

○ Communicate

○ Advertise

○ Show sponsors how much your team appreciates their support

● Social Media:

○ Facebook

○ Twitter

○ Instagram

○ Snapchat

○ YouTube

Sponsorship Levels

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Sponsorship Levels

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Overall Do’s and Don’ts

● Do○ Stay organized

○ Be professional (and

gracious)

○ Ask many companies

○ Use your website

○ Represent FIRST well

● Don’t○ Get discouraged

○ Pester companies

○ Lose information

○ Think little work will be

highly rewarded

Contact Us & Questions?● Contact The Green Machine: https://edinarobotics.com/contact/

● Facebook: Team 1816 The Green Machine

● Twitter: @FIRSTteam1816

● Other resources

○ https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/fundraising-toolkit

■ Comprehensive overview of how to raise funds

● Primarily for FRC

● Also includes FTC materials