High schooler here that wants to start a private team with some friends. We have done VEX before as a part of a school team, but now we want to go private. The biggest concern now is money. Considering we’re already 3 months in the High Stakes season, and this is our first year going private, what’s the best way to get sponsors? I’m thinking of just reaching out to small businesses nearby at first. Do I need to have a registered 501c3 to get sponsors? Especially for a team like mine that’s just starting out, is it worth it? How much more likely are businesses willing to sponsor just because of the tax exemption? Do I even NEED sponsors at all? Can I just get donations? What exactly is the difference? Do I just email random businesses, go on crowdfunding platforms, create a sponsorship packet, etc.? How much are businesses typically willing to give a new team for a season? $200? $500? $1000? My total budget’s looking at around $3000-3500.
$3000 is not enough money if you plan on going to regionals and worlds, so I would really try and get as many sponsors as possible.
In my opinion it’s going to be hard to get everything by mid season. (Getting sponsors, getting the money, buying the parts, actually getting the parts, then building the bot).
This is a list of 3rd party legal vex parts that might help you if you are trying to fit parts in a low budget:
Here’s a list of things that you’ll likely want for the competition, and their cost:
- VEX V5 Competition Super Kit - VEX Robotics ($2000)
- V5 Pneumatics Kit - VEX Robotics ($300)
- VRC (2024-25) Full Game & Field Element Kit - VEX Robotics ($625 with required plates, $600 without)
- Tools - VEX Robotics ($165, I may have calculated it wrong, might be lower)
- Pliers ($15 for a set (recommended), $3-6 for individual)
- Anything Else (feel free to add to it)
Totaling, that would be ~$3105 assuming you have nothing at all right now.
I don’t know much about sponsorship, but I can help out in these parts:
No, although that’ll help (hopefully) attract sponsors more.
The worst you can get is get rejected . If you might need a sponsor, try finding one. You have nothing to lose.
Based on the analysis above, you might need ~$150 more.
The difference between sponsors and donations is that sponsorship is sometimes used to market or advertise that business. Donation is a gift for charitable purpose to support the project. Source
That’s all I know/can help you with. Good luck on the upcoming season!
P.S. If I’m wrong on any part of the answer, feel free to correct me.
Team registration (200) and event registrations will be hundreds more if they are competing.
I forgot about that part. Thanks for the correction.
Including team registration, you will need $350 more, actually.