Why Donations Matter

When we launched STEM Innovators and Creators in September 2024, one of the first challenges we faced was figuring out how to fund our ideas. We started small, going door to door in our community, sharing what we wanted to build, and asking for support. Between those conversations and our GoFundMe, we raised roughly $500 in our first month. It was enough to keep us going, and it is what made our very first kit possible. Every dollar we receive goes directly into our budget, which is used almost entirely for building and producing STEM kits. A portion of donations help us experiment and prototype, but the majority makes it possible for us to replicate those designs and create kits in larger numbers. That is how with just our first few hundred dollars in donations, we sustained ourselves for months and eventually completed 140 boat kits ready to distribute.

Unlike larger organizations, we do not have sponsors or outside funding. Every contribution, whether it is $5 or $100, stretches further than you might expect. A single donation might cover a batch of materials, pay for packaging, or allow us to test a new idea. Together, they add up to something real, projects that youth can hold in their hands and learn from.

Here is how your support translates into impact:

• $5: Provides one STEM kit for a child, sparking curiosity through hands-on learning.

• $20: Equips a small youth group of 3–4 kids with materials for a collaborative STEM project.

• $50: Funds kits for a community event, allowing up to 10 kids to participate in an engaging STEM activity.

• $100: Sponsors an interactive STEM workshop, complete with materials and guidance for a larger group.

Our nonprofit has always been completely run by us as unpaid work, so when we say donations go directly into the project, we mean it. From cutting and assembling materials to editing instruction packets to packaging kits, every step is powered by the support of our community.

Transporting empty kit boxes after folding and preparing them for packaging. These would later hold the completed STEM boat kits.

Donations, no matter the size, are what allow us to continue moving forward. They make it possible for us to improve the quality of our projects, expand to new ideas, and share STEM experiences with more young people. Every contribution fuels the next step in our journey.