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Costs & Funding
Update - June 11, 2026
Update - June 11, 2026
Now that RECF has released their game manual yesterday, VEX has decided to pull all Field kits and Game Element kits from their store. Only teams who have a paid registration with Global Robotics & Science Foundation are currently allowed to purchase these items.
VEX is attempting to prevent RECF-affiliated teams from utilizing their products. This is extremely frustrating and creates a significant hurdle for new teams and/or casual teams, including many of our own. We are exploring our options and will provide an update as soon as possible.
The Cost of Starting a First-Year Robotics Program
The Cost of Starting a First-Year Robotics Program
(The following prices were updated May 31, 2026 and are subject to change without notice.)
Each team must have at least one VEX IQ Competition kit per team. $729.99 each
Each school must have at least one VEX IQ Competition 6' x 8' Field Kit ($349.99) as well as the current Game Elements ($179.99).
Minimum entry point for one Recreational League team is $1259.97 (+ shipping) or $1,459.97* (+ shipping) for Competition League.
Minimum entry point for two Recreational League teams is $1,989.96 (+ shipping) or $2,389.96* (+ shipping) for Competition League.
Minimum entry point for three Recreational League teams is $2,719.95 (+ shipping) or $3,319.95* (+ shipping) for Competition League.
*These prices do not include Tournament fees, which are typically around $75 per team, per event. The AISD Official League Tournament will be free to attend for a Competition League Teams!
While you don't have to use the official VEX IQ Engineering Notebooks, they are in inexpensive way ($12.89 for a 5 pack) to get your students journaling their progress. Of course they can also use the free digital version instead!
Extra Pin Tools are great to have on hand. Each kit comes with one, but they can break. $8.79 each or $55.99 for a pack of ten.
It is also fun to have team shirts if you have the funds. Organizing trays and containers are also helpful as well.
The Cost of Continuing a Robotics Program in Year Two and Beyond
The Cost of Continuing a Robotics Program in Year Two and Beyond
Running a program in year two and beyond is very affordable!
Since the Competition Kits and Competition Fields are reusable year over year, you only need to buy the new Game Elements ($179.99) each year, and - if you want to join the Competition League - pay the Global Robotics & Science Foundation registration fees ($200 per team). While you don't have to use the official VEX IQ Engineering Notebooks, they are in inexpensive way ($12.89 for a 5 pack) to get your students journaling their progress. Of course they can also use the free digital version instead!
Again, team shirts are always fun, and you can always buy additional organizing trays, extra VEX IQ parts, and expand your program with additional Competition Kits.
Accounts & Club Dues
Accounts & Club Dues
A great way to begin funding your program is through Club Dues. In order to do this, you will need to establish your robotics club as an official club with your campus. You will need:
Approval from your Principal
Bylaws (example Bylaws can be viewed here)
A minimum of 10 student members
Four of the student members are also student-elected officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Once you have this in place, your campus Secretary can set up a 461 Account (school-controlled) and an 865 Account (student-controlled) for your club.
All Club Dues must be deposited into your 461 Account and can be used for registration fees, tournament fees, VEX purchases and any purchases from established AISD vendors.
Purchases from the 865 Account require a student vote for approval, and are not limited to AISD vendors. Example 865 purchases may include items from Amazon, non-AISD t-shirt printing companies, organizational products, and end-of-year pizza parties.
For the 2026-27 season, ICJH will charge $85 per student. Fees for students who qualify for free lunch are waived, and students who qualify for reduced lunch are only charged $45.
Grants
Grants
Title I schools often qualify for grants through VEX. They have also provided a helpful links for writing grants.
The Alvin ISD Education Foundation Innovative Teaching Grant is another potential funding source.
Sponsor Partners
Sponsor Partners
Local businesses make sponsor partners. Many of our sponsor partners are owned or managed by the parents and family members of our robotics students. We've had success simply by presenting our specific needs to our families and asking for their support. In exchange for financial support, we put their logos on all robotics-related emails, flyers, social media posts, and shirts. We also give them a small thank you award* (engraved plaque) at the end of the season.
Having a Field Sponsor is also great, because the company who purchases the field for you can put their logos on the field! You can print their logo* on clear sticker paper or cut their logo out of sticker vinyl (like Oracal 651) with a Silhouette or Cricut and place it on the outside of the wall tiles.
You could even make this an annual field sponsorship by removing the previous logos (using a hair dryer or heat gun on low heat) and adding the current year's sponsor!
Sponsor donations should be deposited into your 865 Account.
Click here for an example Sponsor Letter Packet. (Grab an editable copy here.)
* These are things we create "in-house" and would be glad to help you with!
Fundraisers
Fundraisers
Once you have an 865 Account, you are able to do fundraisers. Coordinate with your campus Principal as to what type of fundraiser could work best for your club and when would be the best time to run your campaign.
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