Sample Budget Template
=====================

This sample budget template helps teams plan their season finances effectively. By itemizing expected costs and categorizing expenses, teams can allocate resources efficiently, anticipate needs, and ensure sustainability across the season.

Budget Categories
-----------------

Registration and Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- FIRST team registration  
  Annual registration fees required to participate in the FIRST program.

- Event registration fees  
  Costs to attend regional, state, or national competitions.

- Travel  
  Transportation, lodging, and meals for team members and mentors during competitions.

Parts and Materials
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- Kit of parts  
  Core components provided by FIRST or equivalent starter kits.

- Additional components  
  Custom or specialty parts required for advanced robot design.

- Consumables  
  Batteries, fasteners, adhesives, tape, and other materials used up during build and testing.

Tools and Equipment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- New tools  
  Tools purchased to support robot building and maintenance.

- Replacement parts  
  Replacing broken or worn-out equipment from previous seasons.

- Software/licenses  
  CAD, programming, simulation, or design tools needed for team work.

Outreach and Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- Event costs  
  Venue fees, permits, or other expenses for hosting demos, workshops, or STEM nights.

- Materials for demos  
  Robotics kits, educational handouts, or demonstration props for outreach events.

- Travel for outreach  
  Transportation costs for taking the team or demos to schools, fairs, or community events.

Administrative
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- Insurance  
  Liability or equipment insurance for the team and events.

- Legal and accounting  
  Professional services related to nonprofit compliance, taxes, and budgeting.

- Miscellaneous  
  Contingency costs for unexpected expenses or emergencies.

Example Line Items
-----------------

.. list-table::
   :header-rows: 1

   * - Category
     - Item
     - Estimated Cost
   * - Registration
     - FIRST fees
     - $XXX
   * - Registration
     - Regional event
     - $XXX
   * - Parts
     - Kit
     - $XXX
   * - Parts
     - Custom parts
     - $XXX
   * - Travel
     - Regional
     - $XXX
   * - Outreach
     - Materials
     - $XXX