Robotics teams supported by Non Profit Group

[rsisk]

FRC 2493 - Robokong - formed in 2008, Riverside CA.

Community team, started at River Springs Charter. Moved out of the school around year three and worked out of a Kiwanis build space. Finally may have found a "permanent" home at La Sierra HS in Riverside CA.

Up until this year we were hosted under the 501(c)(3) of our church. Finally this year we formed our own 501(c)(3) - STARS for a Better Tomorrow.

Being part of a religious 501(c)(3) has it's issues, mainly that most grants exclude religious organizations. Forming our own 501(c)(3) we hope will make it easier to raise funds through grants.

The Alvord School district we are now part of have been great working with us and allowing the 501(c)(3) to fund the team and permitting all students whether part of the district or not to join our team.

[DonShaw]

What one must realize is that most Teams large corporate sponsors are funded through a foundation of the company and most are non profit status.

For example if you are a Dell Grant recipient then that money came from the Dell Foundation a non profit.

It all boils down to what is the best tax avenue for a company to use.

It should not matter.

[Rick]

AIR STRIKE 78 is managed by Aquidneck Island Robotics (AIR) - a nonprofit incorporated in December 2014. AIR was initially formed as a 4-H club in May of 2008.

For the 2015-2016 season, AIR is managing 1 FRC team, 2 FTC teams, 1 FLL Team, and 1 FLLJR team. Each season we have students from 25+ schools from two states participating in AIR programs. More information can be found at http://www.air4h.org

We are always happy to answer questions if teams are looking to go this route.

[JesseK]

1885 is supported in part by the USSTEM Foundation. The mentors started the non-profit in 2010 as a way to go after grants, sponsors and other sources of funding that do not want to give money to the school or the school district. We've since branched the foundation out and support several FLL, FTC and a couple of VEX teams. We also support a Explorer Post, but unfortunately haven't found a local Girl Scouts equivalent yet.

Advantages include streamlined accounting, relaxed fundraising restrictions compared to schools, acquisition of insurance for the mentors, flexibility in doing business with pretty much any organization, the ability to fund especially poor students' travel via targeted funding/sponsorship, and the ability to carry funds over from year to year. That last one is highly underrated - none of that "use it or lose it" money inefficiency that leads to unnecessary purchases. It also means that a GREAT group of students, parent and mentors can leave a very long-lasting impact on the team.

A good model for a simplified 501(c)3 is the band's booster club. Pro tip: In the US as of 2015, if the average yearly incoming revenue (including ALL sources of money) is under $50k per year then the taxes are so simple to do that usually it's easy to find an accountant to file the taxes Pro Bono.

[Steven Smith]

3005 is jointly sponsored by Conrad High School in Dallas ISD and Vickery Meadows Youth Development Foundation.

Our school strongly supports our work, but district purchasing policies make us unable to use them for much of our FRC purchases. Our 501c3 sponsor (pre-existing) provides us with an account to deposit into and a debit card against the account. We strongly considered setting up our own 501c3 prior to VMYDF offering to take care of it for us.