I’m currently apart of a homeschooled team. In total we have 2 VRC teams and 3 IQ teams. Funding is something that we struggle with as we have to pay for everything ourselves. And due to this we may not be able to compete next year. Do y’all have any ideas on how to fundraise?
Try to get a sponsor. Ask around for companies and if they would like to sponsor you. Put forward some of your strengths and show them that, your robot, and give them some incentive to do it. Like at competitions, have a sign promoting their company or something.
6 Likes
You could get a sponsor.
1 Like
I would try and ask for a sponsor from a company that is based in your hometown and probably not a branch of companies. Sadly, that means you probably won’t be able to get a sponsorship deal from McDonalds.
6 Likes
If you have access to a bunch of clawbot kits you could borrow (preferably v4) , you could host a summer camp to introduce other homeschoolers to robotics. We plan to do this soon. Landscaping jobs for people around your area also is a source of funds. My brother made a pretty sum just from shoveling driveways in the winter.
Note that I have virtually no experience with actual fundraisers, I am simply a freshman following up your request with
5 Likes
On the VEX worlds website https://www.roboticseducation.org/fundraising-resources/ there are fundraising resources such as selling HEXBUGS and opening a donor account. Some teams like Pink Sparklee Unicorns from Northern Virginia sell t-shirts and other teams sell general merchandise. You could definitely host STEM days for younger kids to participate in and have concessions there. Bake sales are also good for smaller sums- we usually can raise $600 per bake sale. Asking organizations for funding helps too- we have SPARK around here and they support STEM.
6 Likes
Hosting competitions can bring in a lot of money but you’ll have to find a gym or another venue to host the competition.
2 Likes
See here, a thread that started before yours
2 Likes
We are also a homeschool team, but we have sought out sponsors locally. We have a sponsorship from a local non-profit, and a local aluminum factory. IF you try to get some sponsors, and look for grants that you can apply to you should be able to get plenty of funds.
Another thing you could try is hosting a small event. We host a scrimmage and a robotics expo where we make money off of concessions.
2 Likes
well, there’s two ways…
One, you could set up a GoFundMe and post it on the forum,
Or,
You would really want to contact a company. I know that microsoft gives out tons of robotics funds.
1 Like
And thousands and thousands of teams contact them, NASA, Boeing, Boston Robotics, Google, etc. With little success. Contacting companies in your area, that have employees in your area, that may have roboteers on your team, makes them more likely to give.
That’s why I always say, “Ask your local companies” you will have better success.
The lead times for grant dollars is long. If you want a Microsoft grant for 2021-22, you need to apply now. They have forms they want you to use, they want to know exactly how the money is going to be used, metrics to decide if it was well spent, etc. Most of the posters last week, this week and next week are scrambling to get money to pay for Worlds by 13 March. No grant system will react that fast.
And that brings me to my last pro-tip around this, you want to start fund planning for your 2020-2021 season NOW. Figure out the possible funding sources, put together a brochure on your team, all that you accomplished, things you are going to do, etc. Then across the summer / fall work on getting the money.
Nobody is handing out $1000-5000 at a time, but 10 $100 donations is a $1000. So you need to cover a lot of ground, but it’s do-able. It just takes some extra work.
3 Likes
Yes, but for me, who has parents working at microsoft, and a microsoft internship myself, it’s easier to donate directly to op, and have microsoft double the donation
2 Likes
Yep, the matching grants are great that way. In the thread that was started by @Bob_the_builder that got mentioned as a way to double the donation. STEM Robotics (the non profit that I run) tries to reach out to people that offer donations to say "Hey, check with your company, they may match this.
And now that I have your attention is Microsoft interesting in supporting robotics in Delmarva? 
2 Likes
if you guys can set up a funding site or some link where anyone can donate, and come up with credible evidence, it’s doable.
1 Like
In New Zealand the hardware store Bunnings will host local groups to do bbq fundraisers outside for customers. Vex teams have done this in the past to raise money for worlds so you could try going around to local businesses and seeing if you can organise something like that and you could maybe also bring your robots along to demonstrate.
1 Like
Best way to get sponsors would by local companies, like what I already mentioned.
Microsoft is very into robotics, but I don’t think they are into/supporting robotics. At every competition they have a list of sponsors that support the Vex competitions. Microsoft has never been on there but other companies, for example, Google, sponsor Vex. None of the sponsors for the competitions are probably going to give you as a team a sponsor.
Contact your local banks - they might have community grants. Also, socialize your club demo-ing in front of supermarket. My MS teams have had great success with grocery store front.
In future, host events - team fees cover cost of event, but concession sales are where we get funds for our teams.
As others have said check parents in your school and through them the companies they work for.
good luck!
2 Likes
This topic was automatically closed 365 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.