FIRST has $8 Million?!? What did I miss?

[JeffJ]

Amanda,

Everything you listed is good information, but it really doesn't matter in this discussion - everything FIRST does, regardless of what it is, is included in what the annual operating expenses are. If they do it with 10, 15 or 20 million really doesn't matter. What matters is they cover their expenses and have a solid funding base. It's clear by the figures in their reports that they are fully funded for all the activities and expenses you listed. The question is, why is their profit going up so much each year?
I think FIRST should keep a big cash reserve, it's smart and responsible. But if they have 25% or more of their budget already in a cash fund always available, then why do they need to keep increasing with a couple million dollars of team fees each year? $8 million just seems really high. Some seem to think a $6k registration is fee is ok. I know it keeps us from even thinking of starting a team again and makes us look at programs like botball and Vex. If they've got $8 million in the bank and would still break even with $4,000-5,000 fee then that's what the fee should be.

Also, I don't think over $20 million is "little" and I would expect an awful lot from FIRST or any non profit that has that kind of funding. ESPECIALLY if they are charging schools $6,000 to play in one event.

Originally Posted by Amanda Morrison

I'm just throwing out numbers here to help show you how large the responsibilities of FIRST really are (and this is only the FRC program, FLL is at least 8-9 times the size of FRC and much more international). And hey, even if they budget every year, I'm sure they have the same problems as every company where budgeted costs don't cover everything.

I'm just trying to play devil's advocate here to show you that there's a lot more to FIRST than what they let show at events... and it probably is even more than I wrote here. Unlike you guys, I have a hard time believing that they run on as little as they do.