
To develop in the world’s young people a lasting interest in science and technology through participation in accessible, motivational programs that combine teamwork, competition, and mentorship.
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) directs its grantmaking toward participation in accessible, motivational science and technology programs built around teamwork, competition, and mentorship. The largest grants in the file go to state-level FIRST affiliates, including $1,404,497 to FIRST in Michigan and $1,067,291 to IngenuityNE Inc, both for program support. That pattern shows a funder that underwrites the delivery infrastructure behind robotics and STEM participation rather than only isolated projects. The grant list also includes support for regional hubs such as FIRST in Texas, FIRST Chesapeake, Washington FIRST Robotics, and FIRST North Carolina, indicating a networked model that helps local organizations run seasons, competitions, and related program activity. FIRST also maintains scholarship opportunities tied to its participant pipeline, linking youth robotics involvement with postsecondary education and career pathways. Recent awards to school districts, community organizations, and higher-education institutions sit alongside affiliate grants, which suggests the foundation uses multiple organizational partners to keep its programs active across the country.
A major theme is robotics participation support. FIRST awarded $1,039,745 to FIRST In Texas in Harlingen and $352,750 to Robonauts Team 118 Boosters in League City, both for program support tied to team participation and related activity. Mentorship and local delivery are another visible thread. The foundation gave $912,300 to FIRST Chesapeake in Richmond and $534,430 to Washington First Robotics in Seattle, both reflecting the role of regional organizations in running FIRST programs. The portfolio also reaches into equity and access work. FIRST awarded $205,086 to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society in Albuquerque and $192,839 to Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles, showing that it funds both community-based and school-based partners in STEM participation. Scholarship support sits alongside these operating grants through FIRST’s classroom-to-career and scholarship offerings for participants pursuing postsecondary education or STEM careers.
Typical grants cluster in a relatively narrow band: the p25 is $7,000, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $17,152. The recent-grant list also shows much larger program-support awards to affiliates and partner organizations, which indicates a layered funding model with small awards and substantial operating-style support. The data shows repeated recipients across years, including FIRST in Michigan, FIRST Chesapeake, FIRST North Carolina, and Indiana FIRST Inc, so this is not a one-off grantmaker. FIRST is a public charity and a regular funder, and the active programs include both unsolicited opportunities and competitive or provider-specific scholarships.
$21.8M
$73M
$84.9M
$88.9M
Most grants fall between $7K and $17K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$17K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeRegístrate gratis para ver qué tan bien se adapta tu organización sin fines de lucro a este financiador, obtener un pitch generado por IA y descubrir fundaciones similares.
Giving is national, and every grant in the country distribution is in the United States. California is the top state by grant count, while New Hampshire accounts for 2% of grants. Recent recipients are spread across many regions, including West Bloomfield, MI; Harlingen and San Antonio, TX; Richmond, VA; Greensboro, NC; Seattle, WA; and Cumming, GA. The recipient map also includes organizations in Oregon, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Colorado, and California, showing broad U.S. reach rather than concentration in the headquarters state.
FIRST funds a mix of state and regional FIRST affiliates, school districts, community organizations, universities, and scholarship programs. Recent examples include FIRST in Michigan, FIRST Chesapeake, Washington First Robotics, Los Angeles Unified School District, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
The grant-size distribution centers on modest awards: p25 is $7,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $17,152. The recent grant list also includes larger program-support awards to affiliate organizations, including seven-figure grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including FIRST in Michigan, FIRST Chesapeake, FIRST North Carolina, Indiana FIRST Inc, Georgia FIRST Robotics Inc, and Washington FIRST Robotics. That pattern points to ongoing support for recurring program partners.
The foundation’s listed focus areas include STEM education, youth development, robotics and engineering, mentorship and career pathways, and competitions and events. Its active programs also connect those themes to scholarships, team participation support, and STEM equity grants.
No. The grant distribution is national, with 2,647 grants in the United States and recipients across many states. California is the top state by grant count, while New Hampshire accounts for 2% of grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST in Michigan | West Bloomfield, MI | $1,404,497 | 2025 | Program Support |
| IngenuityNE Inc | Duxbury, MA | $1,067,291 | 2025 | Program Support |
| FIRST in Texas | San Antonio, TX | $965,692 | 2025 | Program Support |
| FIRST Chesapeake | Richmond, VA | $912,300 | 2025 | Program Support |
| FIRST North Carolina | Greensboro, NC | $566,211 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Washington First Robotics | Seattle, WA | $534,430 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Mid Atlantic Robotics | Pennington, NJ | $530,817 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Georgia FIRST Robotics Inc | Cumming, GA | $522,400 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Oregon Robotics Tournament & Outreach Program | Portland, OR | $318,639 | 2025 | Program Support |
| South River Board of Education | South River, NJ | $301,676 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Indiana FIRST Inc | Plainfield, IN | $298,031 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Wisconsin FIRST Robotics Inc | Pewaukee, WI | $250,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Colorado Robotics Excelling at Science and Technology Inc | Longmont, CO | $243,327 | 2025 | Program Support |
| American Indian Science and Engineering Society | Albuquerque, NM | $205,086 | 2025 | Program Support |
| North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | Greensboro, NC | $200,439 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Fikret Yuksel Foundation | Buckley, WA | $161,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Pennsylvania FIRST Robotics | Landenberg, PA | $153,721 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Community Unit School District 308 | Oswego, IL | $153,654 | 2025 | Program Support |
| The Hack Foundation | West Hollywood, CA | $147,035 | 2025 | Program Support |
| FIRST South Carolina | Ridgeville, SC | $141,963 | 2025 | Program Support |
| The Ohio Education Outreach Foundation | Beavercreek, OH | $133,692 | 2025 | Program Support |
| MV Robotics | Los Altos, CA | $119,292 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Playing At Learning | San Jose, CA | $109,086 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Cuyahoga Community College | Cleveland, OH | $103,300 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Livingston Parish School Board | Livingston, LA | $98,850 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Pittsburgh School District | Pittsburgh, PA | $93,807 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Falls Church, VA | $92,850 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Intentional Innovation Foundation Inc | Newport News, VA | $92,600 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Code Orange Robotics Inc | Irvine, CA | $91,489 | 2025 | Program Support |
| NYC FIRST Inc | New York, NY | $84,606 | 2025 | Program Support |
| FIRST California Robotics | San Diego, CA | $82,972 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Chaminade College Preparatory | Chatsworth, CA | $82,133 | 2025 | Program Support |
| City of Biddeford | Biddeford, ME | $75,493 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Lawrence County School District | Lawrenceburg, TN | $70,543 | 2025 | Program Support |
| University of Iowa College of Engineering | Iowa City, IA | $67,800 | 2025 | Program Support |
| FIRST In Alabama | Huntsville, AL | $66,015 | 2025 | Program Support |
| School Board of Brevard County | Viera, FL | $65,230 | 2025 | Program Support |
| New York City Department of Education | Staten Island, NY | $63,009 | 2025 | Program Support |
| EHOVE Career Center | Milan, OH | $60,646 | 2025 | Program Support |
| NYC STEAM Education Inc | Astoria, NY | $59,600 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Friendship Public Charter School | Washington, DC | $59,202 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Concept Schools NFP | Chicago, IL | $58,936 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Sedalia School District No 200 | Sedalia, MO | $57,350 | 2025 | Program Support |
| High Tech Kids | Eagan, MN | $57,271 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Antelope Valley Union High School District | Lancaster, CA | $56,770 | 2025 | Program Support |
| St Agnes Academy | Houston, TX | $55,308 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Newton Public Schools | Newton, NJ | $55,300 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Georgia Robotics Alliance dba Neo Engineering League of America | Fairburn, GA | $52,950 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Oakland Public Education Fund | Oakland, CA | $52,900 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Littleton STEM Educational Foundation | Littleton, MA | $52,773 | 2025 | Program Support |
FIRST in Michigan
$1,404,497Program Support
IngenuityNE Inc
$1,067,291Program Support
FIRST in Texas
$965,692Program Support
FIRST Chesapeake
$912,300Program Support
FIRST North Carolina
$566,211Program Support
Washington First Robotics
$534,430Program Support
Mid Atlantic Robotics
Program Support
Georgia FIRST Robotics Inc
$522,400Program Support
Oregon Robotics Tournament & Outreach Program
$318,639Program Support
South River Board of Education
$301,676Program Support
Indiana FIRST Inc
$298,031Program Support
Wisconsin FIRST Robotics Inc
$250,000Program Support
Colorado Robotics Excelling at Science and Technology Inc
$243,327Program Support
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
$205,086Program Support
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$200,439Program Support
Fikret Yuksel Foundation
$161,000Program Support
Pennsylvania FIRST Robotics
$153,721Program Support
Community Unit School District 308
$153,654Program Support
The Hack Foundation
$147,035Program Support
FIRST South Carolina
$141,963Program Support
The Ohio Education Outreach Foundation
$133,692Program Support
MV Robotics
$119,292Program Support
Playing At Learning
$109,086Program Support
Cuyahoga Community College
$103,300Program Support
Livingston Parish School Board
$98,850Program Support
Pittsburgh School District
$93,807Program Support
Fairfax County Public Schools
$92,850Program Support
Intentional Innovation Foundation Inc
$92,600Program Support
Code Orange Robotics Inc
$91,489Program Support
NYC FIRST Inc
$84,606Program Support
FIRST California Robotics
$82,972Program Support
Chaminade College Preparatory
$82,133Program Support
City of Biddeford
$75,493Program Support
Lawrence County School District
$70,543Program Support
University of Iowa College of Engineering
$67,800Program Support
FIRST In Alabama
$66,015Program Support
School Board of Brevard County
$65,230Program Support
New York City Department of Education
$63,009Program Support
EHOVE Career Center
$60,646Program Support
NYC STEAM Education Inc
$59,600Program Support
Friendship Public Charter School
$59,202Program Support
Concept Schools NFP
$58,936Program Support
Sedalia School District No 200
$57,350Program Support
High Tech Kids
$57,271Program Support
Antelope Valley Union High School District
$56,770Program Support
St Agnes Academy
$55,308Program Support
Newton Public Schools
$55,300Program Support
Georgia Robotics Alliance dba Neo Engineering League of America
$52,950Program Support
Oakland Public Education Fund
$52,900Program Support
Littleton STEM Educational Foundation
$52,773Program Support