1. Fundraising 101 Presented by Rose Young & Allison Lanham
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? Local Businesses
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 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
Rose Young, Team 2199