FAQ

Hello current and future Lil Lab stewards! We have compiled a list of questions that we think many of you have as you are looking to create, maintain, and expand your Lil Labs. Through these questions and answers we hope to direct you towards great resources on our website and also online. If you have another question not found here, Submit it on this form or email us at admin@lillabs.org.

Funding Questions

- I want to start a Lil Lab, but I'm having trouble fundraising money. Do you have any advice?

    - Lil Labs don’t need to be expensive — they are all about creating community. Are there structures you can take advantage of? For example, if you wanted a way to connect with the knitting community in your town — you can work with the local library and have a dedicated shelf where you all can swap less-loved yarns, second hand patterns and share knowledge and tools.

- What strategies did you use to secure funding for your Lil Lab?

    - You can apply to grants from local community foundations, ask local nonprofits, businesses or organizations about whether they might provide some money to build a Lil Lab. In addition, we are all fans of the website experiment.com. This website is a like a GoFundMe, but for science! Finally, other Lil Labs have personally asked members of the community and hosted workshops. 

Sometimes people and/or organizations may not be able to provide money, but can sometimes provide you with resources. One Lil Lab steward talked about how a community organization helped them laser print their Lil Lab. Some Lil Labs also provide free government and university-supplied resources like water testing kits, soil testing kits, HIV tests, and naloxone.

- Can Lil Lab network support with grants?

    - Absolutely! You can also follow us on TikTok (Lil.labs) and Instagram (@lillabnetwork) for notifications. Once you join our Lil Lab Network (go through the onboarding process), we will add you to the Slack channel where we will post opportunities to apply for grants.

    - For examples of successful applications from our first round of Lil Lab Network Microgrants, see this document. Thank you to our cohort members who generously shared their efforts!

- Can I receive donations? What does that look like?

    - Yes! There are lots of ways to collect donations. Some Lil Labs keep it simple with donation boxes or spare change jars, while others go digital with Venmo QR codes on display. You can also team up with local organizations  — maybe your Lil Lab could become a community hub for them! Plus, don't forget about grants  — they're a great way to get funding too.

- I ran out of money/time to restock my Lil Lab. What do I do?

    - We’re really sorry to hear that. Efforts like this are really hard sometimes! You can use the fundraising suggestions highlighted above to raise more funds to restock and/or stock your Lil Lab with things that are free or easily available to you. Lil Labs don’t have to last forever to be meaningful. If they have brought people together — what can that community do in the future that doesn’t require material restocking? Will you have potlucks, book clubs? Nice conversations about art with your neighbors?

Legal/Biosafety Questions:

- What if my Lil Lab is damaged?

    - We are so sorry to hear that. You can use the fundraising suggestions from above to help raise more funds to rebuild. Lil Labs don’t have to last forever to be meaningful. If they have brought people together — what can that community do in the future that doesn’t require material restocking? Will you have potlucks, book clubs? Nice conversations about art with your neighbors?

- Someone just took all the resources in my Lil Lab at once. What do I do?

    - Hopefully, the things were taken by someone who was deeply in need of them and they are doing much better through the resources provided by your Lil Lab. 

Assessment/Impact

- How do I know my Lil Lab is working?

    - Lil Labs use a variety of methods to measure the impact of their work, depending on the unique needs of each Lab. One approach is to create a short Google Survey for community feedback, with a QR code linking to the survey posted in the Lil Lab. This survey can also be used for community members to communicate with the steward about any damage or safety issues they observe, ask for supply replenishment, or even used to track when supplies are being borrowed. A Lil Lab steward has reflected that he receives a lot more engagement through a pencil and paper survey box. Another steward likes collecting post-it notes on a big visioning board. For safety reasons, we do ask all Lil Labs to have a sticker/or a laminated paper with our logo and email address.

- How do I talk about my Lil Lab? Nobody is coming to my Lil Lab…what do I do?

    - One way to spread the word about your Lil Lab is to use social media. Post content on Instagram and TikTok and make sure to tag us. You can talk to friends and members of your community on the street or at community events, or put up posters at local gathering spaces. Additionally, you can use the Global Lil Lab Network to share information.