FLL Challenge Budget and Funding

FLL Challenge Financial Information

  • New FLL Challenge Teams can expect to pay around $850 – $1,000 to get started. This fee allows your team to be officially registered with FIRST, gains you access to the Challenge Set and provides your team access to purchase a discounted reusable robot kit of LEGO parts off their store. After the first year, teams can expect to pay less, since they will be able to reuse their robot set year after year. The reoccurring costs will be Team Registration for FIRST and Iowa FLL as well as the Challenge Set.It is important to note that teams must use ONE of the available robot kits while completing in FLL Challenge. You do not need to purchase multiple robot kits and these can be used year after year.

    • Every Year Cost

      FIRST FLL Challenge Team Registration: $250

      This fee will be paid to FIRST. What does this include?

      • Official FIRST LEGO League Challenge team number.
      • Printed/electronic copies of the Team Meeting Guide, Robot Game Rulebook, and Engineering Notebooks.
      • Ability to register and compete in FIRST LEGO League Challenge Events
      • Access to the FIRST storefront to purchase your Challenge Set and discounted LEGO Robot Sets.
      • Access to team roster to register mentors and participants.
      Iowa FLL Challenge Qualifying Tournament Registration Fee: $60-$80

      This fee covers attendance at an Iowa FLL Challenge Qualifier Events and the Iowa FLL Challenge State Championship for advancing teams. This fee will be collected via an invoice from Iowa State University after completing the  Iowa FLL Challenge Qualifying Tournament Registration generally available beginning in October. This year, in-person events will have a $80 fee while virtual events have a $60 fee.

      Season Challenge Set: $95.00

      This set contains LEGO elements needed to build your Robot Game Field. This can be purchased from FIRST after your team registration is paid.

    • One Time Cost

      LEGO Robot Kit : Varies
      • LEGO Education SPIKE Prime (with shipping): $450.00
      • LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 or NXT : These models are retired but are still be allowed in FLL Challenge Events.
      FLL Table: $75

      This covers the cost of materials to build your own competition table. This is a one time cost and tables can be reused each year.

    • Other Costs

      • Laptop or Tablet: To program your robot.
      • Team Swag Materials: (Shirts, accessories, ext.) if the team desires.
      • Project Materials: Materials for your Project Presentation can be as simple or complex as you would like.
      • Travel Related Funds

Learn more about the following areas by clicking the corresponding link Pricing & Payment, Cost & Registration, Payment Terms, and Budgeting.

Grants and Fundraising

If you want to start a team but need help getting started financially, many grants are available through sponsors looking to diversify the STEM fields. FIRST offers a number of fundraising ideas along with access to grants and scholarships offered locally, regionally and nationally by outside corporations and companies.

  • Grants available for 2022-2023 Season

    John Deere Grants
    John Deere and FIRST are together committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion which encourages teams to be more innovation, creative, and make better decisions. We encourage your team to support and encourage diversity within your team.

    Requirements (see link for more details):

    • Teams must not have paid their registration fee prior to receiving their grant
    • Coaches, lead mentors will need to complete the free, three part, on-line FIRST Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion training
    • Teams need to be located within a 40-mile driving distance from the nearest John Deere office (alternative for virtual support available)
      In Iowa, Des Moines, Dubuque, Paton, Ottumwa, Quad Cities, and Waterloo
    John Deere Application
    Raytheon Technologies Grants
    Any FIRST LEGO League teams with a Raytheon Technologies (including Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, and Pratt & Whitney) employee mentor and/or coach qualifies for a company sponsored team grant. FIRST LEGO League grants come in the form of registration and product grants dependent on the age and needs of the team.

    Requirements:

    • Open to rookie and veteran teams
    • No location restrictions
    • Teams must not have paid their registration fee prior to receiving their grant
    • Teams must have an employee mentor/coach

    Only Raytheon Technologies employees can find more information on their internal website.
    RTX Internal Website

    Arconic Foundation Grants
    Arconic Foundation partners with nonprofit and community organizations to strengthen its communities by enhancing education through skill-building learning experiences, promoting environmental sustainability, and advancing social equity. Arconic Foundation is independently endowed and invests in the communities of Arconic Corporation.

    Requirements:

    • Teams must register with FIRST and hold at least a temporary team number prior to applying for a grant
    • Must be participating on a FIRST® team for the current 2022-23 season
    • Team must be located within one of the following Iowa counties: Clinton, Muscatine, Scott
    Arconic Application