Do I need to have a sponsor to start a Dojo?

You do not need to have a sponsor to start or set up a Dojo. Many Dojos start without the help of a sponsor, as all you need to start a Dojo is a suitable venue, the relevant equipment, a capable Champion and ideally a number of willing Mentors. A Dojo may partner with a sponsor later on in the lifecycle of the Dojo, but it is never a requirement.

Typically the sponsor of a Dojo would be a business or corporate body. A key ethos of CoderDojo is that it is free and accessible for all to attend, therefore it is important that the organisers of the Dojo do not put any pressure on an organisation to become a sponsor and that no profits are made from the sponsorship.

Generally the role of the sponsor would be to provide ‘in-kind’ donations, such as the provision of space, the donation of equipment, payment of insurance costs, provision of snacks or the payment of background checking for volunteers. Some Dojos obtain fiscal sponsorship from local companies or organisations in the form of donations, however this has a higher administrative overhead.