Fundraising & Sponsor Engagement

Module Goals

By the end, students should be able to:

Explain why fundraising is part of team sustainability, not just “asking for money.”
Describe how students can engage in sponsor conversations with confidence and professionalism.
Use a simple structure for making an ask, telling the 5041 story, and following up.
Apply general sales skills to campaigns such as Honey Den candy sales.
Understand why outreach, recruitment, and fundraising can happen together at community events.
Choose a meaningful fundraising role that fits their strengths and helps the team.

Why It Matters

Fundraising keeps the program open, prepared, and growing

Access

Fundraising helps reduce barriers so students can participate in robotics without every cost falling on families.

Capability

Money becomes robot parts, tools, registration, travel, outreach supplies, and learning opportunities.

Sustainability

Strong support lets the team plan beyond one season and invest in future students.

Key idea: Students are not just raising money. They are building trust with the community.

FIRST Resources

Good fundraising has a plan, an ask, and a thank you

Budget

Know what the team needs before asking for support.

Map Resources

Identify businesses, families, alumni, partners, and community groups.

Make the Ask

Connect a clear need to a clear impact.

Say Thanks

Follow up so sponsors know their support mattered.

FIRST Fundraising Toolkit FRC Team Management Resources FIRST Marketing Resources

Student Engagement

Every student can help fundraising succeed

Storytellers

Explain what the team does, what students learn, and why 5041 matters.

Connectors

Introduce the team to local businesses, families, alumni, and community leaders.

Event Helpers

Set up, run demonstrations, sell items, greet visitors, and thank supporters.

Record Keepers

Track sales, contacts, donations, thank-you notes, and follow-up tasks.

Designers

Create flyers, sponsor packets, social posts, signs, and presentations.

Leaders

Organize shifts, train teammates, and make sure students have meaningful roles.

Participation Check

Click the roles you could help with this season

0 of 8 roles selected.

A sponsor conversation is a relationship, not a script

Greet and introduce yourself

Explain who you represent

Connect to student impact

Make a specific ask

Thank them and follow up

Students should speak honestly about what they have learned: engineering, programming, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, and community service.

Sponsor Conversations

What potential sponsors need to hear

Tell the team story

Who we are and who we serve.
What students build and learn.
How support helps students directly.
What the sponsor can do next.

Use a clear ask

“Would your business consider supporting us with a sponsorship, materials, tools, food, printing, or help connecting us with others?”

Sales Campaigns

Honey Den candy sales are practice for real communication

Know the product

Be able to explain what is being sold, the cost, and how the money supports the team.

Make it easy

Keep the ask short, polite, and clear. Respect a “no” and thank people anyway.

Track accurately

Handle money, inventory, orders, and delivery carefully so the campaign stays trustworthy.

General skill: Candy sales, event concessions, sponsor outreach, and donation drives all use the same habits: clarity, confidence, honesty, and follow-through.

Sales Skills

A good sales interaction is short, respectful, and specific

Example flow

Greeting: “Hi, I’m with 5041 CyBear Robotics.”

Purpose: “We’re selling candy from the Honey Den to support robot parts, travel, tools, and STEM outreach.”

Ask: “Would you like to buy one or donate to the team?”

Close: “Thank you for supporting local robotics!”

Check for Learning

Choose the strongest sales response

A person says, “I do not really need candy.” What is the best response?

Choose one answer.

Combination Events

Some events fundraise, recruit, and do outreach at the same time

Fundraising

Collect donations, sell items, run concessions, host a dinner, or run a community activity.

Outreach

Show the robot, explain FIRST, teach STEM activities, and represent the team.

Recruitment

Invite students, families, mentors, sponsors, and volunteers to join or support 5041.

Examples include robot demonstrations at community events, Hoover Days activities, STEM camps, fairs, school nights, and sponsor open houses.

Event Planning

Design events with clear student jobs

Before the event

Define the goal: money, outreach, recruitment, or all three.
Assign student roles and shifts.
Prepare talking points, flyers, and supplies.
Practice the robot demo or sales pitch.

After the event

Count money and return inventory.
Record contacts and follow-up tasks.
Post a thank you or send notes.
Debrief what worked and what to improve.

Why Participation Matters

Fundraising is a team responsibility

It is not just for business team

Mechanical, programming, awards, media, and drive team students all benefit from funded tools, parts, travel, and events.

It builds professional skills

Students practice communication, confidence, planning, follow-through, public speaking, money handling, and community leadership.

5041 standard: Everyone has a place here, and everyone can help make the place possible for future students.

Required Quiz

Pass to complete the module

Each question is on its own slide.

Answer all 20 questions, then grade the quiz. Score at least 18 out of 20 to unlock the completion certificate.

Before the Quiz

Enter your name

Student name for certificate

This name will appear on your completion certificate.

Quiz Question 1

1 of 20

Why is fundraising important for an FRC team?

It replaces the need to learn robot skills. It supports access, materials, travel, registration, outreach, and sustainability. It only matters after competition season.

Quiz Question 2

2 of 20

What is the best first step before asking for support?

Know the team need and the impact of support. Ask for the largest possible amount with no context. Avoid telling students what the money is for.

Quiz Question 3

3 of 20

Which student can help with fundraising?

Only team captains. Only students on awards. Any student with a role that supports the effort.

Quiz Question 4

4 of 20

What should a sponsor conversation focus on?

Student impact and a clear next step. Making the sponsor feel guilty. Using as many technical terms as possible.

Quiz Question 5

5 of 20

Which is the best example of a clear ask?

“Do something for us.” “Would you consider sponsoring 5041 or supporting us with materials, tools, or a donation?” “You should already know what we need.”

Quiz Question 6

6 of 20

If a potential sponsor says no, students should:

Argue until they change their mind. Thank them respectfully and leave the door open for future contact. Complain publicly.

Quiz Question 7

7 of 20

Why is follow-up important?

It helps maintain trust and keeps sponsor relationships alive. It is only needed if the sponsor gives a lot. It replaces the need for thank-you notes.

Quiz Question 8

8 of 20

What makes a student story powerful in fundraising?

It is honest, specific, and connected to learning or growth. It exaggerates the team’s accomplishments. It avoids mentioning students.

Quiz Question 9

9 of 20

In a candy sale, what should students know?

Only how to take the money. The product, cost, purpose, and how to handle orders or money accurately. Nothing; guessing is fine.

Quiz Question 10

10 of 20

What is a respectful response when someone does not want to buy candy?

Pressure them until they buy. Thank them and offer another way to learn about or support the team. Tell them they are hurting the team.

Quiz Question 11

11 of 20

What skill connects sponsor talks and sales campaigns?

Clear, respectful communication. Talking over people. Avoiding eye contact and details.

Quiz Question 12

12 of 20

Which is an example of a combination event?

A robot demo that also recruits students and collects donations. A private meeting where no one knows the goal. A fundraiser with no student roles.

Quiz Question 13

13 of 20

What should be assigned before a fundraising event?

Clear student roles, shifts, supplies, and talking points. Nothing; students can figure it out at the event. Only one person should know the plan.

Quiz Question 14

14 of 20

Why should technical students participate in fundraising?

They benefit from the funded tools, parts, travel, and events. They should not; fundraising is unrelated to robots. Only if they are not busy during build season.

Quiz Question 15

15 of 20

Which is a good post-event habit?

Ignore contacts after the event. Record contacts, count money, thank supporters, and debrief improvements. Throw away notes so no one has to follow up.

Quiz Question 16

16 of 20

What is resource mapping?

Listing possible supporters, connections, materials, venues, and community partners. Drawing a robot wiring diagram. Only looking for national grants.

Quiz Question 17

17 of 20

What should students avoid promising sponsors?

Things the team cannot realistically deliver. A sincere thank you. A follow-up message.

Quiz Question 18

18 of 20

How can fundraising support recruitment?

By giving students public roles that show families what robotics offers. By keeping robotics hidden from the community. By avoiding all robot demonstrations.

Quiz Question 19

19 of 20

Which action builds long-term sponsor relations?

Contacting sponsors only when money is urgently needed. Updating sponsors, thanking them, and showing how their support helped students. Sending vague messages with no team information.

Quiz Question 20

20 of 20

What is the best summary of this module?

Fundraising is outreach, communication, and sustainability work that all students can support. Fundraising should be hidden from students. Sales and sponsor talks use completely unrelated skills.

Quiz Results

Grade the quiz

You need at least 18 out of 20 to unlock the completion certificate.

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After passing, advance to the final completion certificate.

5041 CyBear Robotics

Certificate of Completion

Presented to

Student Name

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