[mshabsovich]

i am part of a club at my school called the Solar Bike Club. we are a club that design build and race solar powered bikes and cars. for bikes we take a motor, put it on the bike, hook up some lead acid batteries, and then hook up solar panels to the batteries. the batteries get a constant charge from the panels to power the motor. the cars work in a similar way. we have so many ideas for these bikes. i could even send pictures to anybody that wants them of some of the cars and bikes i have seen at the national solar bike race. However building such creations costs a lot of money. we are one of the few clubs at my school that dont get any funding, and so we are very low on money. i want to know how can i get money for the club? how can i persuade companies to give us money? i know that other solar race teams are very good at that but we suck at it. i am going to steer clear of government aid because it is VERY hard to receive. they are very picky at meticulous at giving out money. i know that targeting companies is much easier however i still dont know how to do it. please help me with any ideas or suggestions.

[iltos]

Originally Posted by mshabsovich

i am part of a club at my school called the Solar Bike Club. we are a club that design build and race solar powered bikes and cars. for bikes we take a motor, put it on the bike, hook up some lead acid batteries, and then hook up solar panels to the batteries. the batteries get a constant charge from the panels to power the motor. the cars work in a similar way. we have so many ideas for these bikes. i could even send pictures to anybody that wants them of some of the cars and bikes i have seen at the national solar bike race. However building such creations costs a lot of money. we are one of the few clubs at my school that dont get any funding, and so we are very low on money. i want to know how can i get money for the club? how can i persuade companies to give us money? i know that other solar race teams are very good at that but we suck at it. i am going to steer clear of government aid because it is VERY hard to receive. they are very picky at meticulous at giving out money. i know that targeting companies is much easier however i still dont know how to do it. please help me with any ideas or suggestions.

wow....this sound like a very cool club....

fundraising...i'm no expert, but a team of middle school kids i coach just raised over $4000 in just under two months for their program....so its definately doable....and they pretty much suck at it, too

so...how they'd do it?
1/ they had the help of their parents....acutally, it really only took ONE parent, who was really into, and willing to put herself out into the community and start talking about the needs of the kids with the PTA, the school district, community groups, etc.
2/ figure out a budget and set a goal.
3/ draft several letters....

a/one to small business in your neighborhood...the approach to them is simply that you are local kids who need their help...that you are involved in an EDUCATIONAL activity (mention the competition angle...people love that)...acknowledge that running a small business is a tough job and appreciate ANY amount, but include a suggested one, as well (don't know the economics of where you live...we suggested $35) consider a line item for being a sponsor (maybe $25 a year or something)....

b/one to any big corporations that you can easily reach by car or public transportation (or that your folks work for...and don't forget national chains/banks...starbucks, for example has $10,000 grants available for educational programs)....doesn't matter if they've ever heard of you or not....this letter cannot be "folksy"....it must be a well written and serious explanation of the benefits and the costs of the program, its challenges and rewards....how much time you all spend, the kinds of things that you do....give them a very interesting HINT at what this is all about....mention education and science and problem solving...maybe even the future...i'm a little wobbly on this part, but MOST corporations have education funds that they put money into on an annual basis....they dole the majority of it out on an annual basis (at least here...we're an urban setting) to districts and foundations for educational purposes.....basically, it's a grant....ideally, you're trying get your foot in the door with the operations manager of the fund....its hard to say how much a group of eager kids will impress him/her....assuming that you get a meeting (CALL the corporation first -a parent is good person for this job- explain who you are and get that person's name and address...that's who the letter goes to)....if you get five minutes in person...take something to show him/her....if you get a written response that says something like "all our funds are allocated for this year"...WRITE BACK, and politely inquire about next year....stay in the radar, unless you get a flat out "no"

4/ some local service organizations have grants, too (rotary, kiwanas, some churches)....call and find out...their forms are usually pretty easy to fill out, and can offer awards up to $500 on a one time basis.
5/ talk to local restuarants about a "solar bike" night...many will set aside several hours and give you a take of the proceeds
6/ promote yourselves at school/in your district

a/ talk to the PTA, meet with administrators....the PTA may well throw a few buck your way on a continuing basis, and administrators can be a very helpful bunch...show them what you do...again, emphasize the science...

b/and get their permission to....sell stuff

i/ my kids went through their closets and dug out the tons of books, cds, and vids that had seemed really cool once and were now just taking up space....

ii/ bake sales

iii/design a tshirt that advertises your club and the school

iv/car wash....etc.....be creative!!

7/ it's summer right?....have you got a bike that is working?....set up a promotion....local track...long straight road in the center of town...go door to door, write a little blurb for your local newspaper....ask for sponsors....a buck a mile...five bucks a mile...whatever...hope its not cloudy that day

fundraising seems to me to be just a function of energy and desire...takes a special kind of person to combine those qualities in the right amount to be really successful at it....but a group can work together and accomplish the same thing....best of luck

[mshabsovich]

you said that Starbucks has a $10,000 grants available. how to i apply for it? is there a phone number, email address, website, or mailing address? thanks for your advice, it is very helpful. it encourages me that this is possible.

[imidiot]

google is my friend.

the starbucks foundation grant info
Giving voice We fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live. The Starbucks Foundation invites letters of inquiry
mural imagefrom qualifying 501 (c) 3 organizations that work with underserved youth in the fields of literacy (reading, writing and creative/media arts) and environmental literacy. Grants range from $5,000-$20,000. Below is a summary of our funding areas.

http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/gra...ookie%5Ftest=1

[iltos]

Originally Posted by mshabsovich

you said that Starbucks has a $10,000 grants available. how to i apply for it? is there a phone number, email address, website, or mailing address? thanks for your advice, it is very helpful. it encourages me that this is possible.

talk to the manager of the local starbucks
here's something i found on google....starbucks grants for "environmental awareness''...it's a possibility, maybe
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia...EY=1608&t=news

ever heard of crowder college? they got a grant from the epa in 2002

Crowder College $11,135
Art Boyt, 601 Laclede, Neosho, MO 64850
Solar BikeRayce USA Education Outreach
Solar BikeRayce USA is a competition targeting high school students with the mission of promoting education excellence and knowledge of renewable energy and energy efficiency through a hands-on project based learning experience. Four teacher/student workshops and on-line education materials are developed to educate teachers about renewable energy. Students are exposed to the concepts of renewable energy and energy efficiency while gaining experience in engineering and team-based learning. The education materials from the workshops and the Internet are widely used by teachers and student team members.

http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants/MO02.htm#NE987139010

[mshabsovich]

solar bike rayce 2006 took place at crowder college

[iltos]

here's the teams from bloomington high school, with a website that has a sponsor's page!!!....maybe they're the one's to talk to (and they seem to pretty good at this, too )
http://www.bloomington.in.us/~bicycle/2000support.html