Why Sponsor the RoboLancers?
Our team has been continually operating since our founding in 1998. In that time, we’ve served not only hundreds of students on our team, but provided support for thousands of students in Philadelphia. Now, we are part of the FIRST Hall of Fame, winners of the 2024 World Championship, and one of the most visible teams in the competition. Our sponsors gain direct exposure to an audience over 60,000 attendees at our events each year. Our generous partners are critical in facilitating not only the work that we do with students on our team, but the thousands of students that we work with in person in and around Philadelphia and through our virtual support network.
Active Projects
RoboLancers Workspace - $25,000
Starting in 2024, the School District of Philadelphia has pulled all funding from robotics teams, including access to school spaces. We have to pay for security, janitorial staff, and building access for any meeting that extends past normal building hours, including after 5:30PM on weekdays, and any weekend access to the building. These evening and weekend hours are critical for access to professional mentorship, and are our highest funding priority.
This is an annual expense, but we are actively working with our school district to lower or remove these costs for all teams in Philadelphia.
Robot Title Sponsorship - $16,000
Our core activity is, obviously, building robots. Each year, each of our teams must construct an entirely new robot. Between R&D, prototyping, and the final product, each robot we field costs approximately $16,000. While all of our sponsors logos are given real-estate on our robot, title sponsors have multiple large, full color logos prominently displayed on the robot and in our pit for the duration of the season.
Championship Attendance - $70,000
As a FIRST Robotics Competition Hall of Fame team, we’re guaranteed admission to the World Championship through 2033. We are committed to providing equitable access to committed team members, and as such, we cover some (or all) of the cost for almost all members of our team. Fortunately, we can purchase tickets and reserve hotel rooms further in advance than many other teams, saving greatly on major costs. $70,000 will fully fund travel, lodging, and food for our team.
This is an annual expense (one that we are thrilled to have the opportunity to need to fundraise for!)
RoboLancers Banquet - $5,000
Our annual banquet celebrates not only our graduating seniors, but also the accomplishments of our team. We rent a venue, bring in our event production equipment, and invite team members, their families, and key supporters to celebrate with our team. This event seats over 100 students and their guests, and is the one time each year we have time and space to properly celebrate with a group of this size.
This is an annual expense.
RoboLancers Pit Overhaul - $9,000
Like in professional racing, the pit is where the robot is brought between events for troubleshooting and repairs between matches at events. Our team currently works out of a single tool cart. We’ve designed a custom mobile workspace from the ground up, as pictured above. This will act as our tool storage and work space at school, at competitions, and when we travel to support other teams or events in our area.Â
This upgrade is estimated to be used for at least 10 years.
Media Production Suite - $6,000
As our team has grown, so has our need for high quality photos and videos to document our progress and promote our team. In 2024, our Imagery team developed a training program for new students to become certified photographers and videographers. Due to overwhelming interest, we hope to purchase an updated and standardized set of cameras and supporting equipment in 2025.
Team Technology Fund - $25,000
Initially funded in 2019, this fund has purchased 28 windows laptops for CAD and programming use, plus a set of 6 tablets used for scouting and scoring at FTC and FLL events. Most of the hardware purchased is approaching end-of-life. $25,000 will allow us to refresh our fleet of machines and maintain them for another 6 years.
New Team Trailer - $7,500
10 years ago, a parent donated a used 4×8 trailer to the team – since then it has transported our equipment to every competition we’ve attended. As our program has massively grown in size, we now have two FRC teams, and our current trailer is unable to fit all of our equipment, meaning we have to rent a truck for every event. Upgrading to a 7×14 trailer will make it possible for us to transport not only both of our teams’ equipment to events, but also offer space to the teams that we support.
We hope to have this project funded by March of 2025, and anticipate that it will be in service for a minimum of 15 years.Â
GX Expansion (Phase 2) - $200,000?
Alongside Central High School’s upcoming performing arts center, we hope to perform significant infrastructure upgrades to our space. Phase 1 allowed us to quickly convert the disused space into a useable workshop. Phase 2 aims to address larger changes, including significantly expanding power service to the room, heating and cooling the space, adding sound deadening, and addressing other major infrastructure needs, like repairing major flood damage incurred over the last several years.
This project will be a massive improvement for our team, and will have impacts lasting for decades.
Funded Projects
Update: Funded 2023 by the 231st Class
GX Expansion (Phase 1) - $12,000
After 10 years of work, we’ve finished clearing out the GX room in the basement of Central High School. With a greater than 500% increase in available work space, we need to invest in furniture, tooling, and storage. Over the next year, we will not only turn the GX room into our full time workshop for our team of over 100 students, but also a community space for other teams. Each year, we will host 30+ FIRST Tech Challenge teams for workshops and scrimmages, act as a second workspace for the new class of FRC teams in Philadelphia, and run training events for team members across the region.Â
A detailed project budget is available upon request. This is phase one of a three phase expansion plan that we hope to complete over the next four years.
Machine Shop (Room 30) - $100,000
Update: Funded 2013 by Joan and Bernard Spain (198)
The 2013 expansion and refurbishment of Room 30 at Central High School was the first major donation our team received. Major items included a new floor, ventilation, electrical service, shop air, and a full set of machines. This investment directly lead to our ten years of massive growth for our team, and continues to be hugely impactful.
RoboLancers Catering Kitchen - $1,500
Update: Funded 2024
We built a small catering kitchen to enhance team meal service. This setup serves dinner for approximately 120 students and mentors year-round on Monday nights, as well as on weekend and special event days. This investment will save us over $10,000 each year.