Marketing and Financials
BC Blaze is a vehicle to market not only our team, but our schools, our city, and FIRST, to an audience wider than our small town. Since 2012, the team has been an active participant in Boyne City’s flagship event, “Stroll the Streets.” During this Friday night event, more than 12,000 people, both residents and tourists, flood the sidewalks to listen to live music, sample local restaurants, shop in unique boutique stores, and enjoy the beautiful Lake Charlevoix waterfront. In the middle of all the commotion, BC Blaze sets up a small arena to promote FIRST, in the most interactive method possible. Our team showcases a robot and encourages visiting children and adults to take control and complete challenges, such as launching balls at targets and stacking boxes. Taking “STEAM to the Streets” has spread the word of FIRST, aided in networking, generated community awareness/support, recruited new members/mentors, and assisted in the critical task of fundraising.
One of BC Blaze’s foundational goals is a financially secure program because the team receives little district funding. Sponsorships from local businesses, industries, and community members fuel our team, with many continuous sponsors throughout our eight years. Contributors are represented in all disciplines; they are featured on our team apparel, displayed on the robot, in our pit, and included in our social media. Students and sponsors share a positive relationship resulting in internships and active employment within their companies. BC Blaze works year-round to apply for grants and host annual fundraising events, such as donations from Stroll the Streets, kick-off concessions, a can drive, and the operation of a year-round vending machine at a housing commission facility. Our efforts result in an annual budget of $61,800 which includes in-kind donations and demands BC Blaze to be responsible stewards of resources through budgeting. Expenditures are broken down into three main categories:
• Competition travel – meal, registration, lodging, and transportation fees;
• Parts & materials - items needed to build the robot;
• Marketing - items needed for promoting FIRST, team branding, team spirit, public relations, sponsor updates, and sponsor appreciation.
With the help of an accounting mentor, operations team members use an industry-standard general ledger to track revenue and expenses. Students are encouraged to get involved in both planning and forecasting for tools and other supplies to help the program grow. In the next two years, our team hopes to continue financial independence as we expand our resources.
2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
COMPETITIONS:
Registration -
DISTRICT $3,000.00
DISTRICT $3,000.00
No MI Conf $0.00
Quick Build $0.00
STATE $5,000.00
WORLDS $6,000.00
Lodging -
DISTRICT $4,000.00
DISTRICT $4,000.00
STATE $7,000.00
WORLDS $8,000.00
Team Spirit -
$800.00
Meal/Lodging Stipends -
$40.00
Transportation Costs -
KICK-OFF $0.00
REGIONAL $500.00
REGIONAL $500.00
STATE $600.00
WORLDS $10,000.00
MATERIALS & COSTS:
ROBOT PARTS $5,000.00
PIT & FIELD PIECES $300.00
TOOLS & SUPPLIES $3,000.00
TRAILER $200.00
MS & ES Support $400.00
MARKETING $500.00
TOTAL $61,800.00
REVENUE
SPONSORSHIPS $30,000.00
GRANTS $14,500.00
IN KIND SPONSORSHIPS $5,000.00
FUNDRAISING $11,400.00
PRIOR YEAR CARRYOVER $900.00
MISCELLANEOUS $0.00