The Boeing grant is paid directly to the FIRST organization to pay for the competition fee, to my understanding it is the full-fee of $6,000.
I think 100 grants were given this year for 2009, next year is a "gamble".
As a mentor for a rookie team that got the grant this year, I am not assuming that we are going to get it for 2010 season, so I am asking the team to look at the following strategy :
1) Diversify your sponsor base.
2) Do fund raising with school administration support.
3) Ask for parents to contribute early as a show of commitment.
Our goal is to have at least $3,000 on top of the entrance fee, and hope we get a lot donated equipment and stuff like old tables from the school library.
It is helpful if the team mentor keeps a journal of how the teams is doing financially and review it periodically on what worked and what has not worked.
Marcos.