Laser Tool Funding: How to Afford a Laser Engraver

Laser tools are expensive.  Sure, adding a laser engraver to your school’s maker space or STEM lab can dramatically enrich your students’ educational experience, spark creativity, encourage entrepreneurial thinking, and teach valuable STEM skills, but the up front cost can be a dealbreaker. 

What if you could use the laser engraver itself to fund its purchase?  Laser engravers can make all kinds of cool things, and a machine like the Xtool F1 Ultra can engrave on just about anything; metal, plastic, wood, leather, cardboard, stone, bricks, etc. 

Let’s use some of that power to create some fund raiser items!  With some thoughtful planning and community support, not only can you cover the costs, but you can also build enthusiasm around STEM and STEAM education, showcase student talent, and strengthen community spirit. 

From spirit items, donor plaques, or legacy bricks, you can spark excitement and support for your educational mission with meaningful products for your community. 

Fundraiser Planning 

So, how do you use the machine to buy the machine? Isn’t that some sort of weird Catch 22 chicken and egg dilemma, a crazy credit scheme, or time travel paradox? Don’t you need the money upfront to buy the machine?   

Yes, of course.  We’re just going to Pre-sell our fundraiser items so we know we have enough to buy the machine before we actually make anything. 

Once we get the machine, it’s time to get busy and make all the items for the kind souls that are supporting our fundraiser.   The laser machine will pay for itself up front, and we get some cool projects for our backers. 

After that, we’ve got a great a great machine to learn with AND do more fundraising projects. 

So, what can we make with a laser engraver? 

Fundraiser Idea #1: Spirit Item Pre-Orders 

A Spirit Item Pre-order Campaign is a fantastic way to rally school spirit and encourage broad participation in your fundraiser for a laser engraver like the xTool F1 Ultra.  You can use mascots, inspirational sayings etc. These are perfect as keepsakes, practical accessories, or gifts. 

You can personalize items for extra value (and a bit higher cost per item.)  Families and students will love having personalized gear featuring their names, clubs, sports numbers, graduation years, etc.  

Here’s how the campaign works: 

• Choose Your Products  Choose simple, inexpensive products you can buy in bulk. 
  Give supporters options such as: 
  • Bag Tags or Backpack Charms: Durable, personalized tags featuring the student’s name and mascot. 
  • Locker Tags: Custom-engraved tags proudly displaying students’ names and activities. 
  • Keychains: Compact, attractive keychains engraved with school logos, graduation dates, or student initials. 
  • Bookmarks: Custom wooden or acrylic bookmarks engraved with students’ names, favorite quotes, or inspiring designs. 
• Clear Pricing and Easy Ordering Set a flat price to simplify pre-ordering. Offer easy-to-use online or paper forms where buyers can clearly specify their personalization choices. 
• Promote the “First-in-Line” or Exclusive Advantage Emphasize that supporters who pre-order will be among the first to receive items made with the brand-new laser engraver, or create exclusive items you can only get during the fundraiser campaign.
• Showcase Mockups Use visual mockups and sample images to help donors visualize their personalized products. Digital designs can easily be shared on social media, newsletters, and fundraising flyers. 

Once your engraver arrives, fulfill the orders promptly, providing your community with customized products that celebrate their support and directly showcase your exciting new technology. 

Fundraiser Idea #2: Offer Donor Recognition Plaques 

Another impactful fundraising idea to support your school’s purchase of a laser engraver is a Donor Recognition Plaque Campaign. This approach highlights the generosity of supporters through permanent displays, whether mounted prominently on walls, directly on your new laser machine, or within your makerspace. 

A tool like the Xtool F1 Ultra will allow you to offer both wooden and metal engraving options in a single machine.

Here’s how this approach works: 

• Choose Your Recognition Style 
  Offer plaque options tailored to your donors’ preferences: 
  • Wall Plaques: Recognize contributions on a dedicated donor wall within your school, displaying donor names, messages, or logos. 
  • Laser Machine Nameplate: Allow a generous supporter (individual, family, or local business) the honor of having their name prominently featured on the laser engraver itself. 
  • Makerspace Dedication Plaques: Donors can “sponsor” specific elements of the makerspace, such as workbenches, tool cabinets, or equipment stations, each proudly bearing their name. 
• Establish Donation Tiers 
  Clearly define donation tiers to encourage community-wide participation, for example: 
  • Bronze ($20): Smaller nameplate on donor wall 
  • Silver ($50): Medium plaque with donor name prominently displayed 
  • Gold ($100+): Large plaque featuring custom engraving, including logos or special dedications 
  • Platinum ($500+): Premium recognition: exclusive naming rights, prominently displayed on the laser engraver or within the makerspace itself 
• Promote Community Pride 
  Create digital mockups of plaques to help donors visualize their lasting impact. Promote the campaign widely through school newsletters, social media, events, and local media to engage businesses and alumni who value community recognition. 
• If there are local businesses that support PTA or school events, pitch this! Businesses are more apt to buy in at a higher level, and you need far less “Platinum” level sponsors than “Bronze” to reach your funding goals. 
• Celebrate Your Supporters 
  Upon successfully funding and purchasing your laser engraver, host a special unveiling ceremony to recognize donors, fostering ongoing community support and pride. 
• Donor Recognition Plaques create lasting goodwill and strengthen community ties by visibly acknowledging the generosity that makes your school’s STEM innovation possible. 
• You can do simple engraving on metal plates, or if you want something unique and premium, you can make embossed wooden plaques (the F1 Ultra makes these easy!) 

Fundraiser Idea #3: Launch a “Legacy Brick” Campaign 

A Legacy Brick Campaign is a powerful and popular fundraiser, perfectly suited for schools raising money for special projects. By selling personalized engraved bricks to families, alumni, local businesses, and community supporters, your school can quickly generate funds while creating a lasting legacy on campus. 

Here’s how it works: 

• Pre-sell Engraved Bricks 
  Offer bricks in various sizes and donation tiers (e.g., a standard brick engraved with a name for $50 or an “premium” brick with a logo for $100). Donors can personalize their bricks with names, graduation years, quotes, etc. 
• Showcase the Vision 
  Create mockups to visually demonstrate the proposed walkway or wall. Use digital renderings or printed samples to give donors a clear idea of what their bricks will look like once engraved. 
• Promote the Campaign 
  Generate excitement through newsletters, social media posts, flyers, and events. Clearly communicate your goal of purchasing the laser engraver and highlight how each brick supports this educational advancement. 
• Build Your Legacy 
  After purchasing your laser engraver, involve students in the engraving process. Installing the bricks publicly reinforces your community’s direct impact on the school’s success. 

With a Legacy Brick Campaign, your supporters are doing more than donating; they’re becoming a permanent part of your school’s story, visibly honoring their contribution.

Fundraising Math 

Let’s figure out how many items we need to pre-sell to make sure we have enough to buy the laser.  Let’s assume we’re buying a package that’s $4000.  That’s our target. 

We need to figure out our expenses for materials.  If we’re doing a brick project, how much is each brick going to cost?  Does your school or organization have a vendor that provides educational prices or tax exempt status?  Can you source items online?  If you source items at a dollar store, what can you realistically sell them for once engraved?  Can you buy items in bulk and get them cheaper?  

Make it a lesson and let the students help figure out the cost of the laser, cost per item, how many you need to sell to reach your goal. 

Example Fundraising Scenario: 

Let’s run some numbers for a brick campaign, and (to keep numbers simple) assume each brick will cost $.50.  You’ll need to cover the $4,000 laser cost plus the 50¢ expense for each brick, which leaves you with net margins of $49.50 on each $50 “standard” brick and $99.50 on each $100 “premium” brick.  

In the worst‐case (all standard), you’d need about 81 bricks to break even; in the best‐case (all premium), only about 41. To keep things simple and give yourself a small cushion, aim to raise $4,100 total. 

That $4,100 goal means selling 82 standard bricks (82×$50) or 42 premium bricks (42×$100), or any mix in between that nets you at least $4,000 after covering the $0.50 cost per brick. For example, a blend of 60 standard and 11 premium bricks nets just over $4,060, comfortably clearing your laser target. 

And if you have someone in your network in construction, contracting, etc., see if they’d be interested in supplying your bricks in exchange for a brick along the walkway (it’s most likely a tax write off for them to donate the bricks!)

That’s just bricks.  You can mix and max your offering depending on what you think would appeal to your supporters (and ultimately, what you think you can sell to reach your goal.)  Maybe a plaque with a few names on the machine itself and some key chains or backpack tags mixed in with a brick campaign will get you there quicker. Get creative with your funding.

One Machine for Versatility & Savings

Lasers are expensive, and space is always at a premium.  When selecting equipment for your school’s makerspace or STEM lab, versatility matters.  You want to get the most bang for your buck! 

We use the Xtool F1 Ultra laser engraver for its power and flexibility. The F1 Ultra has two lasers: a powerful diode laser and a precise infrared laser, making it capable of engraving or cutting almost any material you throw at it. 

xTool F1 Ultra

Education Package with Air Purifier, Safety Glasses, & Material Kit

• Dual Laser System
• Materials Kit
• Engrave, Emboss, Cut
• Air Purification Unit

Set Your Goal

The dual-laser setup of the xTool F1 Ultra lets students and educators effortlessly engrave or cut: 

• Wood and bamboo 
• Acrylic and plastics 
• Glass and ceramics 
• Leather and fabrics 
• Metals (coated and uncoated) 
• Paper, cardboard, canvas, and more! 

This lets you offer a wide variety of fundraising product ideas and project possibilities. The IR laser can engrave the bricks or metals for jewelry, while the blue laser lets you work with wood, leather, cardboard, etc. You’ve got a great mix of projects and lessons in one machine.

Expanded Educational Opportunities with Lasers: 

• Material Science Lessons: Students can explore and compare how different materials react to laser wavelengths. 
• Design and Engineering: Students gain a deeper understanding of design constraints, properties of materials, and precision manufacturing processes. 
• Entrepreneurial Experiences: Diverse material capabilities open doors for students to create unique, commercially appealing products.  

📚 Education Package Available: 

To make integrating this technology easier and safer for schools, xTool provides an educational package tailored specifically for classrooms. This bundle includes: 

• Comprehensive safety accessories (laser safety goggles, ventilation solutions) 
• Educational resources and lesson guides for teachers 
• Support materials designed specifically for educational use, simplifying implementation in your makerspace 

Wrap Up – Fundraising with a Laser Engraver

Think of a laser tool like the Xtool F1 Ultra as an investment. Many crafters build businesses around a machine like this, so it’s a great way to raise some money with fundraisers. It’s also a great way to teach business concepts and entrepreneurship with students!

If you plan ahead and pre-sell your fundraising items, you’ll have the capital to get your laser and hit your goals.