NorCal FLL Community

> I'd like to get more information about how I might be able to fund a team or teams... particularly, when the parents are not likely to be able to afford to pay the full cost...

Coaches / Team Leaders:  what are you doing?   Particularly for the robot kit and the need for a laptop....

Here is what we have heard over the years...   The overwhelming majority of teams  divide the start up costs (average $800)  among the team members  [6 members =~ $134]  and parents pay that amount for what is considered an optional, extracurricular activity - the cost is in line with what we find from similar youth "activities" like club soccer, youth theatre and similar.


Many teachers and school-based teams find support from their local parent group (PTA) and/or educational foundation to help provide some partial scholarships and/or help to buy the reusable LEGO robot kit (the single biggest issue for a new team).      A slighter cheaper option compared to the "FLL Bundle" is to acquire the pieces a bit differently...   (thanks to Dave P) the best "bang for the buck" for an FLL kit is NXT 2.0 Retail (#8547 from lego.com or amazon.com) plus just #9648 (The "Education Resource Set"  from legoeducation.com).   It does save some money to go that route - the only potential downside is that the Retail kit (#8547) tutorial is not as well suited for a classroom use as compared to the Education version  (#9797) tutorial  but both software versions have built-in tutorials  [ more info in FLL Forum article in area labelled, "Retail vs. Education Versions in General].

Also,  some teams do things like request help from local businesses (like pizza parlors, real estate agents, and basically similar to businesses that support local sports youth teams) - a few "$50 or more" contributions will help fund getting a robot kit - teams go that route tend to create a team shirt that lists their sponsors as a thank you.


Here are a few more resources that I have been able to find:   http://www.legoeducation.us/about/item.aspx?art=314&bhcp=1  


Playing At Learning does has some very limited hardship grant funding -  the hurdles are pretty high with respect to Title 1 / free&reduced lunch percentages, etc.  You can request the grant application from me

Finally,  one other idea that can work in some communities, if you can ask the community if anyone has an existing LEGO NXT Mindstorms kit sitting around their house  - someone might be willing to donate the kit in exchange for a tax deductible receipt :-)     Many areas have a library physical bulletin board or  there are online community-wide or district-wide mailing list or similar that can help distribute the request.

Any other ideas?