Crowdfunding & Matching Gifts

When crowdfunding works

Crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising work best for a specific, time-bound goal - a one-time machine purchase, a competition entry, or travel to the FIRST Championship. They are far less effective as an open-ended ‘donate anytime’ button, because they rely on urgency and a clear story.

Platforms FRC teams use

• GoFundMe - the most common; easy to set up and share, widely recognized by donors. Many FRC teams run successful Championship-travel campaigns here.
• GoFundMe Pro (formerly Classy) and OneCause - peer-to-peer platforms suited to larger, organized campaigns.
• DonorBox , PayPal Giving Fund , or a simple Stripe/Square link - good for an ongoing donation page on your website.

Note that most platforms take a small percentage fee and/or payment-processing fee, and campaigns are designed to run for a set window rather than forever.

How to run a strong campaign

1. Set a concrete goal and deadline (‘$8,000 to send 15 students to Houston by April 1’).
2. Tell a story with photos and a short video of students and the robot - people give to people.
3. Show the breakdown so donors see where dollars go.
4. Launch with momentum - line up a few gifts before you go public so the campaign opens above $0.
5. Share relentlessly through families, school, social media, and local press, with regular updates.
6. Thank every donor promptly , ideally publicly (with permission).

Matching gifts: the money most teams leave on the table

Many companies double or triple their employees’ charitable donations through matching-gift programs. If a parent gives $250 and their employer matches it, your team gets $500 for the same ask. To capture this:

• Survey your families: ‘Does your employer match donations?’
• Make sure donations route through a tax-deductible path (your 501(c)(3), school, or fiscal sponsor) so they qualify.
• Provide donors the receipt and info their HR portal needs to file the match.

Volunteer-grant programs (companies that donate cash for employee volunteer hours) are a related, often-overlooked source - mentors logging hours can trigger grants to your team.

Action step

Add one line to your family/sponsor survey - ‘Does your employer offer matching gifts or volunteer grants?’ - and make sure your donation page clearly states your tax-deductible status and how to request a match.

Key takeaways

• Crowdfunding works best for a specific, time-bound goal (like Championship travel) with a story, video, and deadline
• Launch crowdfunding with a few pre-committed gifts so it opens above $0, and share it relentlessly
• Employer matching-gift and volunteer-grant programs can double donations for free; survey families and ensure gifts route through a tax-deductible path

This lesson was adapted from learnfrc.com.