Fundraising Events & In-Kind Drives

Why run events

Fundraising events do double duty: they raise money and build the community relationships and visibility that lead to sponsors and volunteers. They also give students ownership and leadership experience.

Event ideas that work for FRC teams

• Robot demonstrations at libraries, malls, sporting events, and elementary schools - often paired with a donation jar or QR code to give. These also showcase the robot to potential sponsors.
• Restaurant ‘spirit nights’ where a local restaurant donates a percentage of sales when customers mention your team.
• Concession or merchandise sales at school games and community events (t-shirts, buttons, 3D-printed trinkets your team makes).
• Skills-based services - laser-engraving, 3D printing, or simple machining for community members for a donation.
• Camps and workshops - run a beginner robotics or LEGO camp for younger students for a fee; this also feeds your recruiting pipeline.
• Car washes, bake sales, and trivia nights - classic, low-overhead, and good for team bonding.

In-kind donation drives

Not all ‘fundraising’ is cash. Actively solicit in-kind donations that offset budget lines:

• Raw materials (aluminum, polycarbonate, fasteners) from local suppliers
• Manufacturing services (waterjet, laser, CNC time) from machine shops
• Printing, signage, and t-shirt production
• Meeting/build space and storage
• Food for build nights and travel

Always recognize in-kind donors in your tiers and thank them exactly as you would a cash sponsor.

Run events like a project

• Set a specific goal (‘raise $2,000 toward our second event’).
• Assign a student lead and a small committee.
• Track costs so you measure net profit, not gross.
• Capture photos and contact info at every event - attendees are future donors and sponsors.
• Follow all school and venue rules, and keep money handling transparent (two people count cash; deposit promptly).

Action step

Pick one event you can run in the next two months, set a dollar goal tied to a real budget line, assign a student lead, and identify three local businesses to ask for in-kind support for that event.

Key takeaways

• Events raise money and build the visibility and relationships that produce sponsors and volunteers
• In-kind donation drives (materials, machining, printing, space, food) can offset large budget lines and deserve tier recognition
• Run every event like a project: specific goal, student lead, net-profit tracking, and capturing photos and contacts

This lesson was adapted from learnfrc.com.