One of the stated reasons for the change has been that it's less confusing for sponsors to be approached by and donate to a single "FIRST"-affiliated entity rather than for them to understand the different tiers of costs associated with the FIRST program -- HQ, regional- and district-costs, and team costs.
I dislike this approach and worry about problems it may cause for teams in the future. It makes it far more difficult for FIRST-affiliated programs to approach large sponsors for support of non-FIRST activities, for one, since they may perceive that they're already giving to the overseeing body. It also means that the relationship with large sponsors may be more centralized, for lack of a better word, denying teams the opportunity to develop relationships with smaller, more friendly divisions that are nearer to their site; relationships that may better weather poorer economic climates.
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Before, fundraising got put into running events before it got sent to teams. Now, since the cost to run the entire district is put on the teams, any fundraising FIRSTWA does is directly used to lower the cost teams have to pay.
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The end result of this is exactly the same. Unless the amount of money in the system -- teams and FIRSTWA collectively -- changes, the costs to teams won't change either. The only thing that changes is the relationship the teams have with the sponsors.