Getting Donations in Our Rookie Year

During our rookie FTC season, we faced significant expenses, as we had to purchase most of our equipment from scratch. Fortunately, another team, We Love Pi, generously provided us with some leftover materials, but there was still a substantial amount of funding required to get fully up and running.

To address this, we explored several fundraising methods. One of our mentors helped us partner with Hack+, an organization that provided us with nonprofit status through a fiscal sponsorship. This allowed us to receive tax-deductible donations from family and friends, many of which were eligible for company donation matching programs, effectively doubling the support we received. Some of our coaches also personally contributed, further boosting our funds.

In addition to donations, we pursued grants as another key source of funding. We applied for grants from Apple, PG&E, REV Robotics, and Intuitive Research, successfully securing two of them: $1,400 from Apple and $500 from PG&E. These funds were critical in covering our initial expenses and ensuring our team could compete effectively.

Looking ahead, we plan to expand our fundraising efforts through new avenues, including partnerships with local businesses and hosting educational workshops for kids in our community.