Visit the GRANTS page on this site for details and application procedures for all grants.

Toyota is pleased to offer a state-wide grant to new and returning FIRST in Michigan middle and high school teams intended to expand and sustain STEM access in rural and urban communities. This grant will close for application on December 1.

The grant provides up to $300 in funding for selected new/returning middle school FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams and up to $500 for selected new/returning high school FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams.

APPLICATION:  Toyota FIRST Team Grant  (link).

INSTRUCTIONS:

• This is a competitive grant which takes into consideration the following factors:
  • Locale type (urban, rural, suburban, other)
  • Free/reduced lunch percentage
  • Number of students serviced
  • Team’s FIRST history
  • Direct Toyota affiliation
• Team must be registered with FIRST HQ for the 2021-22 season.
• Submit one application per team.
• If awarded, the grant check can only be remit to the team’s fiscal partner.
  • The team’s fiscal partner is the School, District, 501(c)(3) Organization, Foundation, or other entity that administrates grant funds on behalf of the team. Grant checks cannot be made payable to individuals.
  • Please include the team’s fiscal partner’s information in the remittance information portion of the grant form.
• Teams accepting grant funds must agree to recognize Toyota as a team sponsor and must satisfy their FIRST in Michigan program’s competition participation requirement.
• Help “make it loud” on social media! Social media handles can be found at this link: https://pressroom.toyota.com/social/.

The State has approved $4,723,200 in support of FIRST Robotics teams affiliated with MDE recognized public schools/charters/academies across all programs. Additionally, $600,000 has been approved in support of FIRST Robotics teams affiliated with MDE recognized non-public schools across all programs. Non-publics schools need to establish a SIGMA Vendor Code with the MDE prior to the grant closing date.

MIDDLE SCHOOL- FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Proposed Amounts

Grants	1st Year Rookie	Returning Teams
Stipend (MDE)	Up to $ 1,500	Up to $ 1,500
Team Support (MDE)	Up to $ 2,000	Up to $ 1,000

*Actual stipend and team support amounts may be lower based on the availability of funding.

Payout is made incrementally as part of the school’s monthly state aid payout.  Grant awards are released in the State Aid System in February.

Applying teams must be registered with FIRST HQ for the 2021-2022 season. Participation in a sanctioned FIRST in Michigan FTC engagement option in the 2021-2022 season is a requirement of teams that receive the MDE FIRST Robotics grant award.

Teams applying for this grant should have their school affiliation listed on their Team Profile. The Team Profile can be edited via the team’s Dashboard accessible from the FIRST Account of the Lead Coach/Mentor 1 & 2.

Grant materials are posted on techplan.org, under EDTECH INITIATIVES: https://www.techplan.org/edtech-initiatives/rdi/first-robotics/

Technical Assistance Webinar: 
November 22, 2021, 3-4:30 p.m on Zoom.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81365427791?pwd=T09sWkJ0cXB4VEJMakFiYTJxS21SUT09
Meeting ID: 813 6542 7791
Passcode: wk2TeB

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81365427791#,,,,*371631# US (Chicago)
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How to Apply:
All FIRST teams in a school/district apply on one application that includes separate team “pages”. Once the grant is open, FIRST in Michigan will create a step-by-step guide on the grant process which will be shared with teams.

The grant is available for application on the MDE’s NEXXUS system which is accessible by the Level 5 employee (usually someone in finance) for the school or district. This is a new for the 2021-22 season. The MEGS+ system will not be used for this grant.