Robotics + STEM Team Fundraising
Robotics Team Fundraising: Fund the Build Season
Robotics and STEM competition teams have a specific fundraising problem: the build season is in Q4/Q1, the competitions are in February and March, and the budget needs to exist before both. The fundraiser needs to run early, close fast, and produce cash quickly.
Worked example
The fundraising math
A 25-student FIRST team. Parents and local sponsors buy 50 tumblers at $30. The team keeps $9.00 each: $450, which covers the registration fee. Engineering parents tend to buy for their office too, so send the link to workplaces as well as families.
Your organization keeps a flat 30% of the price on every product, from the first order — there is no tier to unlock and nothing to buy up front. Model your own campaign.
Buying up front instead? An organization that can front the cash, pick sizes and colors blind, and hand out the boxes itself can beat 30% at volume — that is a bulk order, not a campaign store, and it cannot carry a different name on each item.
How it works
Five steps from artwork to direct deposit.
The store is built in a day. The rest is sharing one link.
Set up your store
Share your artwork, team colors, and product choices with The Lasercraft Co. (TLC). We build a simple product page for your campaign.
Set your price and goal
Pick the products for your store. Prices are already set, and your organization keeps 30% of every one. Set a goal and a close date.
Share the link
Send your campaign link to parents, alumni, and your community. TLC handles all payments at checkout.
We produce and ship
When the campaign closes, TLC produces every order. Standard production is 5–7 business days. We ship direct to each supporter’s address.
You get paid
One week after the last order ships, your 30% is paid by direct deposit. No inventory, no cash handling, no leftover product, no minimum to clear.
What sells
Recommended products
One keepsake people will use, plus one add-on cheap enough to grab without thinking.
Copy and paste
Steal this announcement message
Drop it into a group chat, email, or newsletter. Fill in the brackets and send.
Team [Number] fundraiser is open! We are raising for build season and competition travel. Custom team tumblers are $30 and send $9.00 each toward registration and parts. Order by [date] at [link]. Send it to your company's engineering group too — they might buy a few.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can we put our robot name and competition year on the tumbler?
Yes. Robot names, team numbers, competition years, and slogans all work well for laser engraving. Bring your team logo and any text you want included. Most robotics teams find the design step takes 20 minutes — one email back and forth with a proof.
Can we target corporate sponsors with a "sponsor a tumbler" model?
This is a smart approach for robotics teams with engineering company sponsors. A sponsor buys 10 tumblers through the store like anyone else, and the team keeps its 30%. The sponsor gets their name or logo on the back of the tumbler alongside your team branding as a recognition benefit.
What is the fastest we can get a fundraiser closed and product shipped?
Run a 10-day campaign, close it, and select rush production (2–3 business days). Total lead time from campaign close to supporters receiving product: roughly 2 weeks. Plan your campaign launch 3–4 weeks before you need the cash.
Can STEM departments run a fundraiser separately from the athletics department?
Yes. Your campaign is independent of any school athletics campaign. STEM and robotics fundraisers typically tap a different donor base (engineering-oriented parents, alumni, local tech companies) so there is minimal overlap and no conflict.
Trusted by the people who order again
40,000+ orders. 13,900+ verified reviews. 4.97 stars.
40,000+
Orders shipped
13,900+
Verified reviews
4.97 ★
Average rating
Ready when you are
Ready to launch your fundraiser?
Tell us your goal and we will help you hit it. No setup fee, no minimum, no inventory — 30% of every order goes to your program.
40,000+ orders shipped · We reply within 1 business day