How Do We Get A Sponsor?
There are a number of ways to obtain funding for your GRC team. The best way is to solicit local businesses for financial support. A number of school districts have Academic Foundations who lend their support to projects like the GRC. There are a number of small grants that are available for STEM related activities.
Success Story
“I contacted my Chamber of Commerce and they gave me the mic at their monthly luncheon. I stopped and talked to the store manager at our local Walmart. I went online and wrote a cyber grant from Walmart. After my luncheon with the Chamber of Commerce, I sent out 60 letters to Chamber members. I then had two body shops contact me and offered to paint my cars. A local graphic/print shop offered to print shirts make stickers for other sponsors and create a banner for us. I received several other checks from businesses around the area. I now have two great looking cars. The students and teachers have shirts. We have a team banner and over $500 in an account to go towards another car for this year.” – STEM Technology Teacher, Northeast Ohio Middle School
Sample Sponsor Solicitation Letter
Dear ____________:
The International Soap Box Derby is hosting the annual Gravity Racing Challenge competition at Derby Downs Track.
The GRC program promotes the S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math) initiative in education through gravity racing. In cooperation with University of Akron and S.T.E.M. school programs, the International Soap Box Derby is bringing the classroom to the track!
NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL will have a team in this competition.
The kit car purchased for the race is specially designed for our students. The car can be assembled, unassembled and reassembled, making it easy for all students on a team to be a part of the building process.
The total cost for the kit is $xxxx. The NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL STEM program is asking for your help as a sponsor for the purchasing of the kit. In return for your sponsorship, your company logo will be placed on the car as well as the team shirts. There will also be local and national news coverage of this event.
To learn about the benefits of the Soap Box Derby as a problem-based learning activity and to see all of the hard work that goes into preparing for the event, please visit soapboxderby.org and click on the Education tab.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,