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FLL BIOGLOW Blog: Volume 3

by | Aug 18, 2026 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore, Newsletter

In this weeks Blog

 Fundraising Ideas!  

 

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info

Hello FLL Teams!


With the new challenge and materials launched on August 4th, I am sure many of your teams are working through the question of… so how do we finance the season?

 

With an average budget of $1,500-$2,500 per FLL Challenge Team- there are a number of questions to ask first:
  1. For school based teams, is the school and/or ASB providing any funding to support the program?
  2. If we have donors from last year, have we asked them this season, or have we shared how we did last season with them?

After asking these questions, the next step is to assess what other avenues are the easiest for your team to run a fundraising campaign

A quick run through Co-Pilot with a few questions about raising funds for FLL programs will unearth a number of ideas, including:

For FLL (FIRST LEGO League) teams, the best fundraising programs are usually the ones that are repeatable, community-based, and
easy for parents and coaches to execute.


Quick Wins ($250-$5,000)
1. Walmart Spark Good Grants
  • Apply to every local Walmart and Sam’s Club.
  • Request funding for:
    • Team registration fees
    • LEGO kits
    • Competition travel
    • Scholarships for underserved students
  • Grants typically range from $250-$5,000. [walmart.org], [walmart.org]
2. Rotary Clubs
Most Rotary Clubs fund:
  • Youth leadership
  • STEM education
  • Community service
Typical ask:
  • $500-$2,500 per team
3. Kiwanis and Lions Clubs
Many local clubs sponsor youth programs.
Typical ask:
  • $250-$1,000
4. Local Community Foundations
Examples:
  • Greater Everett Community Foundation
  • Seattle Foundation
  • Community Foundation of Snohomish County
Many have education mini-grants.

Community Fundraisers
LEGO Build Night
Charge:
  • $10-$20 per child
Activities:
  • LEGO challenges
  • Robot demos
  • Parent STEM presentations
Robot Demonstrations
Presentation at:
  • Libraries
  • Farmers markets
  • Community festivals
  • Chamber of Commerce events
Pass a donation bucket and distribute sponsorship information.
Restaurant Nights
Examples:
  • MOD Pizza
  • Chipotle
  • Panda Express
  • Red Robin
Typically return:
  • 10%-25% of sales.
School-Based Fundraising
STEM Sponsor-a-Student
Ask:
“Sponsor one student’s robotics season for $250.”
Many grandparents and local businesses respond well to direct sponsorship of students.
Principal’s Challenge
Create a goal:
“Help us raise $5,000 to send our team to the regional championship.”
Schools often promote these campaigns through newsletters and social media.
 
These are just a few ideas to get teams started.

Be sure to regularly check the official firstinspires site for new grants that pop up! https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/team-grant-opportunities  

 

For more ideas, collateral materials, templates and to view our fundraising teams meetings, go to:  https://firstwa.org/fundraising/  

For questions on fundraising and grants, contact Lila Cohen lilam@firstwa.org  

First Coaches Chat of the Season!

Our first coaches chat of the season will be in September! Date and agenda coming soon!

 

Important Dates & Deadlines

 

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