Fund Raising and Public Relations

Abstract

Experience shows that developing a racing system from scratch and competing in a cross-country race, such as the American Solar Challenge, costs $ 50,000–190,000, in cash and in kind, over a 2-year period. Most schools cannot afford this expense. Therefore, the solar car team must seek sponsorships from individuals and agencies, principally businesses, outside the school. However, this is on balance a good thing because it provides an opportunity to involve students in yet another phase of real work. And if the university has a business school, then seeking sponsorships is made to order for that school’s marketing majors.