Hack Club Toolkit
Make something your workshop needs. Design it, get funding for parts, and build it!
a ysws by Evan Le, sponsored by 1mon
Before you start
Post your idea in #toolkit-pitches with concept sketches and a description of what you’re making.
WAIT FOR PITCH APPROVAL BEFORE STARTING YOUR PROJECT. Only work after approval qualifies. A reviewer will approve or reject your pitch and assign a tier. No form is needed for pitches.
What can I make?
Tools and devices that improve your workshop! Here are the tiers:
| Tier | Examples | Rough hours | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadget | Screwdriver, fume extractor | 5–10 | Up to $20 |
| Appliance | 3D pen, hotplate | 11–20 | Up to $50 |
| Machine | Soldering iron, whiteboard bot, oscilloscope, cleaning robot | 25+ | Up to $100 |
Tiers depend on effort and quality, not hours. These estimates just help you understand the scope. Taking longer is okay.
CNCs, laser cutters, and 3D printers are allowed. They must be designed for functionality, not just the silly factor. The $100 Machine cap still applies.
Design submission
Finished designing? Check your repository before submitting.
PROJECT FILES
- Your GitHub repository is public and your project is open source.
- Your CAD includes the complete assembly and purchased components, including electronics.
- You included a STEP export and editable CAD files, where applicable.
- PCB projects include editable board/schematic files and manufacturing files.
- All firmware and other project code are in the repository.
BOM.csvlists the parts, quantities, prices, purchase links, and total cost.
Only include requirements relevant to your project. A screwdriver does not need firmware.
README
- Explain what you’re making and why.
- Show the design with screenshots.
- Include PCB screenshots or a wiring diagram where applicable.
- Include a readable parts-cost table.
JOURNAL
Your journal is an engineer’s diary. Keep detailed, dated entries as you work. Include screenshots, diagrams, decisions, experiments, mistakes, and what you changed.
AI-WRITTEN JOURNALS ARE NOT ALLOWED.
You do not need to record hours in the journal. You do need to show your work. A few sentences written at the end are not enough.
Ready?
Post in #toolkit-submissions and complete the design submission form. Include your project name, repository, description, and design pictures.
Missing requirements will be sent back for changes. Fix them and resubmit immediately—there is no waiting period.
Once approved, you’ll receive a grant card to purchase parts. Shipping must fit within the funding cap. You can pay the difference yourself if needed.
Build submission
Got your parts? Build your project, then post in #toolkit-submissions and complete the build submission form.
Include:
- Four photos of the physical build from different angles.
- A short video demonstrating it, or explaining what went wrong if it does not work.
YOU MUST PHYSICALLY BUILD THE PROJECT. CAD screenshots do not count as build proof. It does not have to match the CAD exactly, and a failed build can still qualify.
Earning nuts
You earn 5 nuts per hour of design work recorded in Lapse, awarded when your build submission is approved.
- Only design time counts. Coding does not earn nuts.
- Lapse is optional for your first submission. Without it, you can still get a grant, but you will not earn nuts.
- Lapse does not replace your journal. The journal requirements stay exactly the same.
- AI-generated code is allowed. The code still needs to be in your repository.
Spend nuts in the shop on hardware and tools, such as a Hack Club soldering iron, Orpheus Pico, or iFixit screwdrivers. Items depend on availability. Orders cost only nuts, including shipping.
Iterations
Want to improve your project? Your previous build submission must be approved first.
You can start designing an iteration without another pitch approval, but that does not guarantee funding. Reviewers decide whether the changes qualify.
Update the same repository, post in #toolkit-submissions as “Project Name v2”, and complete the submission form with the type marked iteration.
Include:
- A description of what changed.
- Updated design files.
- A parts list showing what you need for the iteration.
- Dated journal entries explaining what you updated, why, and how.
- Lapse recordings of the new design work.
JOURNAL AND LAPSE ARE BOTH REQUIRED FOR ITERATIONS, even if you did not use Lapse originally.
| Tier | Maximum additional funding per iteration |
|---|---|
| Gadget | $10 |
| Appliance | $25 |
| Machine | $50 |
Wait for approval and your grant-card top-up before buying parts.
Build the iteration and submit the same photo/video proof. Once approved, new recorded design hours earn 5 nuts per hour. Do not claim hours you have already received nuts for.
There is no limit on iterations. Each one is reviewed separately, and the project stays in its assigned tier.
FAQ
Who can participate?
All Hack Clubbers are welcome!
Can I work on multiple projects?
Yes. Each project needs its own approved pitch.
Can I submit an existing project?
Eligible work must begin after pitch approval. Work completed beforehand does not qualify.
What if my build fails?
Submit the physical build with the required photos and a video explaining the failure. It can still earn nuts. Once the build submission is approved, you can apply for an iteration to fix it.
When does Toolkit close?
The closure date will be announced well in advance. All submissions, including builds and iterations, stop on that date. Existing grants remain usable.
The shop stays open for one more week. After that, it closes and all unspent nuts expire.
What is Hack Club?
Hack Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a community of young people who make things, share their work, and help each other learn.