This is the first in a series of blog posts we have planned covering all aspects of makerspaces and maker education. First up, we want to talk budgets! Budgets set the tone for those planning to build new or augment existing makerspaces.
Your budget ultimately carries a great deal of weight when making decisions on the size and scope of the space, the types of equipment and technologies you can afford, and the number of staff devoted to operating the space.
As you determine your budget, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
Understand Your Overall Budget Parameters
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It’s important to have your full budget clearly articulated and documented before you begin the makerspace development process. While you want to have a certain level of flexibility throughout the process (from planning to design to implementation), you will also need to have solid framework you can reference time and time again as you make significant decisions. This ensures all decision-makers are on the same page as new questions arise and as you potentially face unforeseen roadblocks along the way.
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Talk with district administrators, upper management, or your principal to gain a solid understand of what type of budget your school / district / organization may already have allocated for STEM programs and technology. This will be the basis that informs every decision you make from this point forward.
Establish a Budget for Ongoing Costs
Don’t forget about the ongoing costs associated with makerspaces! More obvious costs include things like consumables and materials for your equipment (i.e. 3D printer filament, media for printer-cutters, materials for laser engravers, etc.)
It’s also important to consider ongoing costs associated with staffing your makerspace. How many full-time vs. part-time employees will be required to maintain equipment and assist makerspace users? What are appropriate salaries given the job expectations?
Lastly, take into account costs associated with any sort of maintenance plan that includes professional servicing of the machines when needed Would you rather pay an annual maintenance plan or pay per maintenance visit when problems arise? This will largely depend on the type of equipment your invest in (hobby vs. professional grade) and the reliability plus ease-of-use of each technology. Either way, ongoing maintenance should be a line item in your budget.
Investigate Grant Opportunities
There are several resources available that outline grant funding opportunities for educators, like the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act or National Science Foundation (NSF). Teach.com is another great resource for a updated lists of STEM grants.
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Some equipment manufacturers can provide tips for finding grant funding for their products – for instance MakerBot offers an Educators Grant Guide that covers different grade levels, learning environments, and STEM initiatives. (You can download MakerBot’s Educators Grand Guide here.)
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Decide If Your Makerspace Will Operate as a Revenue Generation Source to Pay for Itself
There are a few different revenue models for makerspaces if you plan to go that route:
- Charge users a monthly or yearly membership fee
- Charge users for material usage
- Charge local business to have your makerspace users to design and create prototypes or conduct research (this is a popular option for makerspaces in areas in which local businesses don’t have the resources to prototype in house)
You can learn more about budgeting for a makerspace (including makerspace design, management/staffing, and detailed equipment requirements) in our Makerspace Checklist. Download it for FREE here.
