Team Engagement & Marketing

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So you’ve been awarded a grant – Now what?

These guidelines will help your team shine when it comes time to evaluate teams for grants in the coming years.

 

Follow the Grant Award Checklists

For teams who have received a grant, download our handy checklists to ensure you’re doing everything required for the grant:

 

Engage with your Sponsors

Our sponsors LOVE to hear from teams – they especially love to see you in action working on your robot, practicing your presentations, or having fun at events. Here are some ways to show sponsors your appreciation:

  • Recognize your sponsors in your team’s FIRST® account
  • Engage your community with the social media/marketing suggestions below
  • Recognize your sponsors and FIRST® in Texas on your team’s website, social media profiles, banners, and shirts
  • Create an online video about your team that recognizes your sponsors

social media and marketing guide summary

  • Use all proper logos (found below) on marketing materials
  • Use the sample messages below and tag our accounts
  • Tag us in any postings on social media
  • Copy any media inquiries for your team to marketing@firstintexas.org
  • Follow FIRST® in Texas on Facebook and Twitter

 

Complete the End of Season Report

The End of Season Report form will open in March 2020. All grant recipients are expected to complete the End of Season Report. Grant recipients who do not complete the report will not be eligible for FIRST in Texas grants in future seasons.

End of Season Reports are due May 1st, 2020.

The Report will require you to submit the following materials / complete the following tasks:

  • Student survey: to be completed once by each team member. Student survey data helps our sponsors understand the important impact FIRST® programs have in students’ lives and career choices, and thus helps us secure funding for future years.
  • Applicant survey: to be completed once by the Coach who submitted the application.
  • Team Photo: upload a photo (.jpg or .png) of your full team, with your robot, and your team number on display. Make it fun – dress up, wear silly hats, take this photo in your Pit at an event!
  • Final Demographic Report: we understand that team membership may change over the course of the season. We will ask you to update the demographic data originally submitted in your grant application.
  • Sponsor Thank-You Notes: upload a Sponsor Thank-You note for each sponsor who supported your team via a FIRST in Texas team grant (PDF format; can be a typed letter or scan of a handwritten letter. Including all team members’ signatures makes a big impact!).
  • List of Awards: If your team received any awards, we will ask you to input the award name and event at which it was received.

Thank you for your participation and commitment. We look forward to receiving your materials!

Marketing Resources for Teams

  • Logos

    All teams must use the FIRST® in Texas logo on their marketing materials. Use any and all sponsor logos for your team on the robot, your website or blog, team shirts, etc.

    • For all FIRST® in Texas grantees: Use this Logo
    • For all Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) grantees: Use this logo
    • For all San Antonio Manufacturers Association (SAMA) grantees: Use this logo
    • For all High Tech High Heels (HTHH) grantees: Use this logo
    • For all Dell grantees: Visit the Dell Logo site and click the “Request a Logo (third parties)” Button. Use the following information to answer the questions:
      • Q2: “FIRST in Texas is an official partner with Dell through the Dell Giving program. As part of its grant proposal, it provides funding to robotics teams in Texas. The team, ___________, is one of this year’s grant recipients and would like to recognize Dell’s contribution by using the Dell logo on [t-shirts/competition robot/banner/etc.].
      • Q3: “Use of Dell’s logo will communicate to competition participants and management Dell’s role in supporting high school robotics programs.”
      • Q5: No
      • Q9: Jess Jankowitsch, jess@firstintexas.org

    When using the FIRST® and FIRST® in Texas logos, you must adhere
    to FIRST Branding & Design Standards.

  • Media/Press Outreach & Inquiries

    We will provide templates for you to use to promote your team’s presence at upcoming events to local news outlets. For media inquiries about events regarding FIRST® in Texas, contact us.

  • Social Media

    Follow these social media accounts and tag your posts with the hashtags listed below when posting to social media.

    FIRST in Texas

    Texas Workforce Commission

    Dell

  • Sample Social Media Posts

    Sample Tweets:

    • Thank you to @txworkforce and @firstintexas for supporting our robotics team at Worlds! #omgrobots

    Sample Facebook Posts:

    • We’re going to rock in this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition thanks to @3M & @FIRSTintexas, our team’s sponsors! #omgrobots
    • Thank you to @Dell for supporting our robotics team, we look forward to competing this year! #leaveyourlegacy #poweringthepossible #omgrobots @Dell4good