GRANTS – FTC

Amazing grants are available to FIRST in Michigan middle school FIRST Tech Challenge teams. The combination of the rookie team grants completely covers a new team’s start up costs and puts money in the team’s pocket!

Teams should carefully review grant eligibility requirements and application procedures. Participation in a sanctioned FIRST in Michigan event is a requirement of all grants.

ROOKIE TEAMS

FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant - Open

FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant - Open

OPEN: May 18, 2024
CLOSES: April 30, 2025
AMOUNT: $600-$1,500 (depending on FIRST HQ grant award)
TO APPLY: Follow step 3 on the START-A-ROOKIE-TEAM-WITH-GRANTS site page.
KEY POINTS:

This grant works with the FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant to cover the team’s initial out-of-pocket costs incurred through the FTC Storefront and completes the loop which makes the 2024-25 registration fee and kit of parts free!
Team must have applied and received an award decision on the FIRST HQ Rookie Team Grant.
Newly forming (rookie) teams affiliated with a school or established 501c3 org. are eligible for this grant.
All veterans out of the same school who were past grant recipients must be registered for the current season before a newly forming team can be eligible for the FIRST HQ and/or FiM FTC Rookie Team Grant.
This grant can either be reimbursement-style or FIRST in Michigan can execute the team’s FTC Storefront purchases and directly apply grant funds.
Grant funds cannot be paid out to an individual, only to the team’s fiscal partner.
This grant is funded through the generous sponsorship of FiM FTC sponsors.
- Majority of teams: General Motors, Consumers Energy, and DTE Energy Foundation are the generous sponsors of this grant.
- If your team has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, students traditionally underrepresented in STEM, and/or located in an under-resourced locale. the team could be eligible for Google.org sponsorship. Reach out to tammy@firstinmichigan.org to inquire.
These sponsors view the grant as seed money for a new team that the affiliated school/501c3 organization will sustain. Team members and coaches may move through the program but the FTC team number and reusable kit of parts stay with the affiliated school/501c3 org. for reuse year to year. Sponsor logos are available for download on the RESOURCES site page.

Teams are responsible for following the FIRST in Michigan FTC grant instructions, parameters, and requirements outlined below.

FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant Instructions, Parameters, Requirements:

WHO MAY APPLY:
1. FIRST in Michigan aligned middle school FTC team comprised entirely of middle school team grade/age members only. Middle School grade designation is as defined by the local school district where the team is located.
2. Teams must be affiliated with and recognized by an entity such as a school (public or private) or a youth enrichment 501c3 type of organization (scouts, 4-H, home school coalition, etc.) that agrees to serve as the team’s fiscal partner and owner of the team number/kit of parts. The intent is to have teams affiliated with a sustainable entity for ongoing team support and to keep the reusable team number and kit of parts “in play” year to year. The “Payee” name for the reimbursement check should be the team’s fiscal partner (school, 501c3 organization). Grant checks cannot be remit to individuals. Payment to an individual results in the grant being considered taxable income to the person receiving the funds which are not the intent of the grant sponsors.
3. Multiple teams from one school/organization:
  1. If your school district/organization did not participate in the past, each of the teams you register this season may apply for a grant.
  2. If your school district/organization participated in FTC in the past, and the number of registered teams from your school district/organization this season will exceed the highest number of teams registered in past seasons – the additional incremental teams may each apply for a grant.
    1. EXAMPLE: School district/organization with 1 existing team which re-registers for 2024-25 season, 2 rookie (new) teams in that school district/organization register for 2024-25 season, making 3 total. The two new teams may apply for the rookie grants.
    2. EXAMPLE: School district/organization with 1 existing team which does not re-register for 2024-25 season, 1 rookie (new) team in that school/organization registers for 2024-25 season. The new team is not eligible for the rookie grants.
WHEN TO APPLY:
1. All of the following must have occurred before a grant form can be submitted:
  1. The team is registered for the 2024-25 season on the FIRST website: http://www.firstinspires.org/
  2. Two Lead Coach/Mentors have been identified and are working towards completing the team profile, electronically signing FIRST & FIRST in Michigan Consent/Release forms, and completing the background screening process (FIRST Youth Protection Program)
  3. Team has applied and has received an award decision for the FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant.
  4. The team’s fiscal partner has completed the purchase of the FTC Kit of Parts through the FTC Storefront. Note that the payee name entered on the grant form must match the purchaser name on the submitted FTC Storefront (Pitsco) Purchase Confirmation.
    1. The FiM FTC Team Grant is a reimbursement-style grant. If it presents a hardship to the team’s affiliate to front the money, email tammy@firstinmichigan.org to work out an alternative arrangement.
  5. Teams must upload their FTC Storefront Proof of Purchase confirmation as part of the grant application submission.
    1. The Proof of Purchase Confirmation can be downloaded from the FTC Storefront after the team completes their Kit of Part purchase (do not send the quote version nor screenshots). Or, create a pdf from the emailed confirmation sent to the individual that executed the initial kit of parts purchase on behalf of the team. The email is usually generated from @pitsco.com (to assist in the “search”).
    2. If the purchaser pays by PO, the PO payment confirmation must also be provided as part of the file upload showing the PO paid in full.
    3. Have document(s) in pdf format for uploading. File naming convention: Pitsco<Team Number>.pdf. Example: Pitsco12345.pdf.
  6. Please have the following information ready to share: Ensure that the information in these fields is input accurately and conforms to formats accepted by mailing/shipping services. FIRST in MI will not verify this information. Any inaccuracies could result in delays or lost checks/equipment.
    1. Payee name for reimbursement check (team’s fiscal partner, cannot be an individual)
    2. Mailing Name (max 40 characters; i.e. school/organization)
    3. Mailing Address 1 (max 40 characters)
    4. Mailing Address 2 (if needed, max 40 characters)
    5. Mailing City (max 25 characters)
    6. Mailing State (max 2 characters i.e. MI)
    7. Mailing Zip (xxxxx or xxxxx-xxxx format)
    8. ATTN First Name (optional; max 25 characters)
    9. ATTN Last Name (optional; max 25 characters)
TERMS OF THE GRANT:
1. Team that receive a grant are required to build a robot from the kit of parts and participate in at least one official FIRST in Michigan FTC competition during the 2024-25 season.
2. Grants are restricted for use in support of the receiving FIRST in Michigan Middle School FTC team and their current FTC season related expenses. Teams must keep record of how grant funds are used and be able to provide proof of fund usage upon request.
3. Grant recipients agree to recognize sponsor(s) support and agree to provide photos and stories of their season upon request.
4. Reimbursement award amount could be adjusted lower based on the team’s submitted proof of purchase confirmation/receipt. Purchasing significantly less equipment than recommended or not providing required receipts could result in a lesser award or a declined grant.
5. Rookie Team Grant:
  1. The grant award will take into consideration the team’s FIRST FTC (national) Team Grant award.
  2. Payout amount will cover the difference between the team’s submitted initial Kit of Parts purchase confirmation (via the FTC Storefront) and the FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant award, amount not to exceed $1,500. Example: If a rookie team is awarded the full FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant, the FiM FTC Rookie Team grant payout will cover the difference between the FTC Storefront cost and the awarded FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant
  3. Sales tax will not be reimbursed. The team’s fiscal partner should have their sales tax exemption form uploaded prior to purchasing parts through the FTC Storefront.
6. The FTC Kit of Parts, made possible through the grant, is reusable year to year. The FTC Kit of Parts and corresponding FTC Team Number are the property of the team’s affiliated school or 501c3 organization. Please work with your team’s affiliated organization as to the usage terms of this property and the replacement policy on consumed/damaged/lost parts.
7. Teams and their affiliates that accept these grant funds agree to sustain the team from year to year.
8. As grants are limited in number, FIRST in Michigan FTC retains the right to request a team’s sustainability plan prior to approval.
9. If the team accepts a grant award and fails to comply with the terms and requirements of the grant, the team must return all equipment purchased with the grant to FIRST in Michigan or reimburse FIRST in Michigan for the full amount of received grants.
TIMING:
1. Teams approved for grants will receive the funds when team registration is verified and kit of parts proof of purchase is received. Grant applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis.
ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS:
1. By submitting the grant form, the middle school FTC team and their affiliate (henceforth referred to as “they”) understand that they are required to build a robot from the kit of parts and compete in an official FIRST in Michigan FTC event in the 2024-25 season. They understand that the FTC Team Number and FTC Kit of Parts are reusable and they agree to sustain the team from year to year. They understand that if they do not comply with these requirements, the kit of parts will have to be returned to FIRST in Michigan or the team/affiliate invoiced for the value of the grants.
TO APPLY:
1. Apply for FIRST in Michigan FTC rookie team grants at this link:
  FIRST in Michigan FTC Grant Application.

Argosy FTC SIM Rookie Team Grant - Open

ALL TEAMS

FIRST HQ Team grants

Gear Up Grant, courtesy of FTC 14706 - Closed

Toyota FIRST Team Grant - Open

Autodesk FIRST Team Grant - Open, reviewed quarterly

MDE 99h Robotics Grant - Open 10/1, Closes 12/2

OPEN: October 1, 2024
CLOSES: December 2, 2024 at 12pm (noon)
AMOUNT: Team grant + coach stipend (see below)
GRANT INFORMATION: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/financial-management/grants/oset-grants/99h—robotics
DETAILS:

The State has approved $5,323,200 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	All Returning Teams
Stipend (MDE)	Up to $ 1,500	Up to $ 1,500
Team Support (MDE)	Up to $ 2,200	Up to $ 1,500

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

If approved, a lumpsum payout (new) will be made as part of the school’s monthly state aid payout. The grant is available for application on the MDE’s NexSys system (not MEGS+) which is accessible by the Level 5 employee (usually someone in finance) for the school or district.

Applying teams must be registered with FIRST HQ for the 2024-2025 season. Participation in a sanctioned FIRST in Michigan FTC engagement option in the 2024-2025 season is a requirement of teams that receive the MDE FIRST Robotics grant award.

Teams applying for this grant must list their school affiliation 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.

Resources like the Technical Assistance Webinar recording and PowerPoint, the Request For Proposal (RFP), 99h FAQs, etc. can be found at this link: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/financial-management/grants/oset-grants/99h—robotics.

How to Apply:

The grant must be initiated and submitted by the person in your school/district with Level 5 clearance. This person is usually in the superintendent’s office. The Level 5 can give the coach Level 3 or 4 clearance to fill it out once it is initiated. Then, the Level 5 can review the information and submit the application.
Any MDE recognized public or non-public school/district may apply for the grant.
All of a school’s/district’s FIRST teams should be included on a single application. The application allows you to add “pages” for each team across programs. It should include all of the FRC, FTC, FLL-Challenge/Explore/Discover teams in your school/district.
If you are a non-public school and don’t have a SIGMA vendor number with the state yet, you must establish one. Do this right away.
The award amounts in the grant are qualified with the words “up to”. This serves to alert you that this is the maximum amount the team may be awarded but the numbers may be adjusted downward based on the number of applicants in order for payouts to stay within the allocated funding.
The team budget is part of the application. There is no longer a separate spending plan.
Make sure you communicate right away with your Level 5 because the closing date will come more quickly than you think.
Participating in a sanctioned FIRST in Michigan FTC competition in the 2024-2025 season is a requirement of the grant. Participating in a fall, winter-remote, or spring FiM FTC event satisfies this requirement.
Please reach out to tammy@firstinmichigan.org if you have any issues. I may not have the answers but I can help direct you to someone who does.

Grant Application Resources:

FIRST specific: MDE Grant Step by Step Guide
MDE contact for 99h grant: Ashley Arras, mde-edtech@michigan.gov, ArrasA@michigan.gov, 517-241-6966. When emailing, use both email addresses and include program, team number, and school district in the email.

REV Robotics FTC Team Grant - Closed

Dream Maker Fund Grant - Closed

DonorsChoose

Other Funding Ideas

GRANT TIPS

Items to check before submitting a grant application.

FIRST HQ Payment and Grant Handling Changes.

Regrant process.

Ways to thank a grant sponsor.