Start a Rookie Team with Grants

Follow the steps below to get your new FIRST LEGO League Challenge team started with the FIRST in Michigan Rookie Team Grant!

1   Create Your FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team

Start by creating your team through the FIRST Dashboard.

  • Log in to your FIRST account at www.firstinspires.org.
  • Create your FIRST LEGO League Challenge team and affiliate it with the school or eligible nonprofit organization that will own and sustain the team.
  • Once your team is created, you will receive your permanent FIRST team number.
  • If your school or organization has participated in FIRST LEGO League Challenge before, review the Rookie Grant eligibility requirements in Step 2 before proceeding.

2   Apply for the FIRST in Michigan FLL Challenge Rookie Team Grant

OPEN for the 2026-2027 BIOGLOW season!

The FIRST in Michigan FLL Challenge Rookie Team Grant helps qualifying rookie teams get started by providing season registration, a Challenge Table Set, and a new reusable LEGO Education SPIKE Prime set.

Before applying, review the eligibility requirements below. If your school or organization has participated in FLL Challenge before, be especially sure to review the requirements for returning and additional teams.

Grant eligibility and criteria

To qualify for the FIRST in Michigan FLL Challenge Rookie Team Grant:

  • The team must be a FIRST in Michigan aligned upper elementary FIRST LEGO League Challenge team with eligible upper elementary grade/age team members.
  • The team must be affiliated with a school or eligible youth-enrichment nonprofit organization that will serve as the team’s fiscal partner and owner of the team number and equipment. Grant funds cannot be paid to an individual.
  • If the school or organization has not participated in FLL Challenge previously, each eligible new team registered for the current season may apply.
  • If the school or organization has participated in FLL Challenge previously, its returning team numbers must be repopulated first. Rookie Grant eligibility applies only to additional teams that increase the organization’s number of participating teams beyond the highest number it has fielded in a previous season.
  • For example, if an organization previously had one team, repopulates that returning team, and adds two additional teams this season, the two additional teams may be eligible for Rookie Grant funding.
  • If an organization previously had one team, does not repopulate that returning team, and instead creates a new team number, the newly created team is not eligible as a rookie team.

FIRST in Michigan will review the team’s eligibility before approving the grant.

TO APPLY

Choose the application that matches your situation: If you have not yet paid for registration and the Challenge Table Set, choose FiM Pays. If your school or nonprofit fiscal partner has already paid these costs, choose Reimbursement.

Path 1: FiM Pays – Most teams use this option

If your team qualifies and is approved, FIRST in Michigan can pay the qualifying registration and Challenge Table Set costs on your team’s behalf through the FIRST Dashboard. FIRST in Michigan will need Team Admin access to your team to make the purchase.

Your approved Rookie Grant also includes a new LEGO Education SPIKE Prime set.

APPLY FOR THE FIM-PAYS FLL CHALLENGE ROOKIE TEAM GRANT

Do not pay for registration or the Challenge Table Set if you plan to use this option.

Path 2: Reimbursement

Use this option if your school or eligible nonprofit fiscal partner has already paid the qualifying registration and Challenge Table Set costs.

Reimbursement can only be made to the team’s fiscal partner and cannot be paid to an individual.

Your approved Rookie Grant also includes a new LEGO Education SPIKE Prime set.

APPLY FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT FLL CHALLENGE ROOKIE TEAM GRANT

Grant recipient requirements
  • Grant recipients must participate in an official FIRST in Michigan FLL Challenge event during the season.
  • The team should be sustained from year to year whenever possible.
  • The team number and grant-funded equipment belong to the affiliated school or nonprofit organization and should remain with the program for future teams.
  • Teams must comply with the Rookie Grant requirements and may be required to return grant-funded equipment or reimburse FIRST in Michigan if those requirements are not fulfilled.
  • Teams may be asked to recognize grant sponsors and share photos or stories about their FIRST LEGO League Challenge experience.