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Fundraising 101: Development Strategies for Robotics Teams

Learn effective fundraising methods for robotics teams, including sponsor recruitment, benefits presentation, prospecting tips, and stewardship practices. Get insights from experienced professionals in the field.

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Fundraising 101: Development Strategies for Robotics Teams

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  1. Welcome! Fundraising 101 Presented by Rose Young & Allison Lanham

  2. Introductions … Rose Young FRC Team 2199 Robo-Lions Lead Mentor for 13 years Former Senior Mentor Non-Profit PIE3 Treasurer Fundraising and financial management assist for FRC, FTC, FLL and FLL Jr teams Science and Engineering Teacher Parent of two FRC alums

  3. Introductions … Alli Lanham • Corporate Gifts Officer, FIRST Chesapeake • Professional Fundraiser for 10 years • AFP Member • Other organizations include: Girl Scouts, United Way, Discovery Place and Variety the Children’s Charity.

  4. Recruiting & Retaining Sponsors (Alli) • Overview • Develop Benefits • Prospecting • Getting the meeting / Introductions • The “Ask” • Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! • Stewardship of donation

  5. Developing Benefits • What can your team offer? • Logo on shirt • Logo/Name on Website • Logo/Name on Robot • Logo/Name on newsletter • Social Media exposure • Press Release to local paper • Content • What value/impact can you provide? • Reach? Impact to the community? • Number of people following on Social Media (who are they?) • Different level of support provides different benefits. • Can you create unique engagement? • Volunteer opportunities with team • Engagement opportunities for employees – presentation at business / team building activity for adults

  6. Presentation of Benefits

  7. Presentation of Benefits • Proposal/Packet • Overview of team (leadership roles) • Success of team (awards, recruitment numbers, competition results) • Calendar of events for team • Photos of robot/competitions/outreach event • Link to video (tinyurl) • Examples of social media posts, newsletter, shirts, robot • Levels with financial investment • Include volunteer opportunities

  8. Prospecting • Who is on your team? • Parents? Mentors? – Where do they work? Matching gift program. • Local Businesses • Potentially avoid the 10% off fundraisers • Think about business’s that want parents/students to support them • Sports shop; Fitness Studio • Bagel Shop, Deli, Plumbers, Community Bank, Local Dentist • Showcase your advertising ability • What businesses support local baseball, basketball, football? • Who supports the local library? Museums? • Community Foundation Grants? United Way Grants?

  9. Getting the meeting / Introduction • Always best to have someone provide a warm introduction. • Search Linkedin, parent’s friends, etc. • If not, student reach out … • Explain the program/team • Send video about team, an award or FIRST • Send any recent media

  10. The ASK • The students should be the ones to make the ask. • Think about the amount you’d like to ask prior to meeting. • “Would you consider making a $1,000 donation to support our robotics team?” • Make the ask, then wait… pause. • Follow up with email recapping conversation and a short handwritten note thanking them for their time.

  11. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! The donor should receive at least 3 “thank you” before being asked again. • If it is a tax-deductible donation, they will need a letter recognizing their contribution.

  12. Stewardship • Ensure all your benefits listed are met… and then some! • In addition to the benefits promised, donors appreciate additional “thank you” • Recognized on Social Media • Send photos throughout season to donor • Include photos of employees working with the robots and team • If the gift is from a national sponsor, try to find the local contact so you can personally send them information. • Small thank you gift (IE: Framed photo of team with hand written thank you note) • Invite employees to events, ask to bring in robot during off-season.

  13. Effective Fundraising Strategies from Team 2199 (Rose) • Summer “Camp” • Robotics for Hire – entertainment for Parties, Camps, Scouts • Rocket/ Activities Fundraiser

  14. Additional Resources • uTeam RUSH Toolkit: http://www.teamrush27.net • uFIRST – Toolkit for Marketing and Fundraising is worth using • uTechsoup: for non-profit discounts on software and hardware

  15. Questions?

  16. Thank you! Allison Lanham – Corporate Gifts Officer, FIRST Chesapeake Alanham@firstchesapeake.org Rose Young, Team 2199

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