Bennington Area Robotics ran two FTC teams in 2025-26 on a combined regular-season cash budget of roughly $7,200, funded by local businesses, community organizations, foundations, and family co-pays, plus about $2,400 of in-kind support (equipment, food, and discounts).
Then came the post-season. Cookie Clickers won the Vermont Championship and advanced to “Worlds”, the FIRST Championship in Houston TX, April 29-May 2. First-year team Bolts and Biscuits placed 7th overall and advanced to the New England Premier Event, April 17-18. Our community responded with nearly 50 donations totaling over $24,000 — past the $23,500 goal — in the weeks before the events, and an airline donated the students’ flights in-kind. That support made both trips possible.
Advancement created entirely new budget needs 3-4x the size of our regular season spending. Cookie Clickers alone went from a $3,500 regular season to a $20,000 post-season budget — and closed the books under it, at $18,515. Aside from travel and lodging, post-season registration fees alone were $4,000. Event registration fees in Vermont have traditionally been waived in exchange for outreach and participation; out-of-state registration fees generally are not.
FTC in Vermont can operate on a comparatively modest regular-season budget, but costs rise sharply when teams advance to out-of-state events with registration, travel, and lodging expenses. Advancement gave both teams direct experience competing alongside programs from a broader regional, national, and international field. The post-season surplus of roughly $3,400 covered the regular season’s small deficit and carries about $3,140 into the 2026-27 season.
About Us
Bennington Area Robotics is a program of The Bennington Area Makers, Inc. (BAMVT), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with EIN 84-5124653. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. How to donate.
| Regular Season | Post-Season | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Income | $7,217.31 | $24,356.64 | $31,573.95 |
| Expenses | $7,456.03 | $20,975.14 | $28,431.17 |
| In-Kind Support | $2,435.75 | $5,432.40 | $7,868.15 |
| Net (cash) | ($238.72) | +$3,381.50 | +$3,142.78 |
Budgets are pooled at the organization level: BAMVT covers any one team’s shortfall from shared funds, and the post-season surplus absorbed the regular season’s combined deficit of about $240.
Post-Season Advancement, 2026
Note: All receipts are reconciled and totals are final. “Actual” shows what BAM paid; a blank Actual means no BAM funds were spent on that line — unused contingency, or costs families covered directly. Students’ airfare to Houston was donated in-kind and appears under In-Kind Support, which is why the cash Flights line came in well under budget. Every gift is listed in the donor feed.
18650 Cookie Clickers → Houston
Competed at the FIRST Championship in Houston, TX, April 29-May 2, as the first team from southwestern Vermont to reach Worlds. Sent 6 students and 5 mentors and chaperones.
| Budget | Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | ||
| Family | $3,713.42 | |
| Community | $7,219.42 | |
| Alumni | $629.73 | |
| FIRSTinVT | $500.00 | |
| MSK Engineers | $500.00 | |
| Goldstone Architecture | $200.00 | |
| The Dowd Agencies | $150.00 | |
| Statewide Public Affairs | $200.00 | |
| Consulting Services Inc | $300.00 | |
| Crystal IS | $2,000.00 | |
| Comprehensive Computing | $1,500.00 | |
| Gene Haas Foundation | $2,000.00 | |
| Repeat Business Systems | $100.00 | |
| Turner Restoration | $250.00 | |
| Mack Molding | $2,500.00 | |
| Stark Hose Company #1 | $100.00 | |
| Nina Jewelry | $206.46 | |
| Total Income | $22,069.03 | |
| Expenses | ||
| Event Registration | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 |
| Robot parts | $1,500.00 | $1,646.86 |
| Merch (Worlds shirts, banner, trading buttons) | $0.00 | $610.63 |
| Travel gear | $800.00 | $1,031.57 |
| Flights | $6,600.00 | $3,894.40 |
| Ground transportation | $1,000.00 | $369.21 |
| Lodging | $5,000.00 | $5,865.40 |
| Groceries | $350.00 | $174.15 |
| Meals | $1,750.00 | $2,423.00 |
| Contingency | $500.00 | |
| Total Expenses | $20,000.00 | $18,515.22 |
| Net | +$3,553.81 | |
| In-Kind Support | ||
| Anonymous (In-kind student airfare) | $5,432.40 | |
| Total In-Kind | $5,432.40 | |
32473 Bolts and Biscuits → New England
Competed at the New England Premier Event at the Big E in West Springfield, MA, April 17-18. Sent 5 students and 2 mentors.
| Budget | Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | ||
| Family | $1,580.26 | |
| Community | $207.35 | |
| FIRSTinVT | $500.00 | |
| Total Income | $2,287.61 | |
| Expenses | ||
| Event registration | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Accommodation | $800.00 | $675.00 |
| Robot parts and equipment | $730.00 | $284.92 |
| Team food | $200.00 | |
| Contingency | $270.00 | |
| Total Expenses | $3,500.00 | $2,459.92 |
| Net | ($172.31) | |
Regular Season, 2025-26
18650 Cookie Clickers
Estimated robot replacement cost: $3,100
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Income | |
| Catamount Rotary | $350.00 |
| Comprehensive Computing | $1,400.00 |
| Local businesses | $300.00 |
| Uniform co-pays (families) | $560.00 |
| Total Income | $2,610.00 |
| Expenses | |
| Season Registration | $325.00 |
| Building Supplies | $316.60 |
| Cameras | $398.12 |
| Major Parts | $1,327.20 |
| Uniforms | $1,110.20 |
| Total Expenses | $3,477.12 |
| Net | ($867.12) |
32473 Bolts and Biscuits
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Income | |
| FIRSTinVT | $2,000.00 |
| UVM Ext Ag Eng | $2,107.31 |
| Total Income | $4,107.31 |
| Expenses | |
| Season Registration | $325.00 |
| Building Supplies | $470.73 |
| Controls | $895.00 |
| StarterBot | $777.31 |
| Uniforms | $550.43 |
| Total Expenses | $3,018.47 |
| Net | +$1,088.84 |
Shared
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Cash Income | |
| Community organizations | $500.00 |
| Total Cash Income | $500.00 |
| Expenses | |
| 3D Printing | $360.37 |
| DECODE game pieces | $72.47 |
| Volunteer food (Bennington qualifier) | $527.60 |
| Total Expenses | $960.44 |
| Net | ($460.44) |
| In-Kind Support | |
| Family donations (food) | $1,593.51 |
| FIRSTinVT (field set) | $300.00 |
| Local businesses (computers) | $542.24 |
| Total In-Kind | $2,435.75 |
Note: The regular season budget above does not include family out-of-pocket costs for event travel, food, and lodging for Vermont events, before post-season advancement.