Team Grants FAQ
Quick Links
FIRST Robotics Competition Questions
General Questions
Q: I am looking to start a new team - how do I get started financially?
A: The amount and type of grants differ every year. Many team grant recipients are self-selected by our sponsors.
There are many other opportunities to raise money for your FIRST team and contacting local businesses is great place to start. Many teams have associations with companies that have interest in or may already provide grants/support to FIRST teams – but often, the connection is never discovered. Also consider having your team’s mentors and parents ask their employer about supporting your team.
Another great resource is your Program Delivery Partner. Program Delivery Partners have knowledge of regional opportunities that are less competitive than national grants. Also, many teams hold fundraisers or find local sponsorships. For tips, check out the Team Fundraising Toolkit.
Q: I received a grant. Why can’t I see it on my team’s account?
A: There are two reasons you might not see your grant on your account.
1) If you received grant acknowledgement from sponsor:
Sometimes a sponsor will tell teams they are receiving a grant before sending their team list to FIRST. If you do not see the grant on your account within five business days, please e-mail teamgrants@firstinspires.org .
2) If you received grant acknowledgement from FIRST:
Sometimes sponsors send FIRST a list of teams for which they wish to provide a team grant, but due to time constraints are unable to send complete funding right away. In these situations, FIRST applies the grant to the team’s account as an invoice. If you still do not see your grant, please e-mail teamgrants@firstinspires.org
Q: My team received a grant. Should we send a thank you letter to the sponsor?
A: We encourage teams to write thank you letters to sponsors. Please send them to the address below. We will make sure the sponsor receives them.
FIRST
Attn: Team Grants
200 Bedford Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Q: What if I ordered my product and it hasn’t arrived yet?
A:Please contact the Operations Department at 603-666-3906 ext. 0 or by emailing your team's program inbox:
- fllexplore@firstinspires.org (ages 6-10)
- fllchallenge@firstinspires.org (ages 9-14*)
- firsttechchallenge@firstinspires.org (grades 7-12)
- firstroboticscompetition@firstinspires.org (grades 9-12)
Q: I have been told my team may receive a grant. Should I wait to register my team and purchase product?
A: If there is a possibility you are receiving a grant, you must wait to pay until you receive instructions from FIRST. You will not be able to utilize your grant if you pay your registration or purchase your product before you receive the grant.
Q: Where can I see my payment information?
A: The lead coach/mentor 1, lead coach/mentor 2, and the Team Admin may view the team’s and grant information by following these steps:
- Log in to your account dashboard at www.firstinspires.org
- Click the “Funds & Grants” hyperlink located under the “Team Finances” column
- Click on “Grants and Contributed Funds” to view the total amount of funds applied to your team for the season
- Click on “Team Credit Balance” to view your team’s current credit balance
- Please check out of Dashboard (click on shopping cart icon) to utilize your team's credit balance
- Once all fees have been paid in full, any remainder credit balances for FRC only can be regranted using the process outlined in the regrant link below
Q: I have questions about a regrant, where can I find the answer?
A: Click here for more information: regranting process, procedures and w-9. If you have additional questions regarding the regrant process, please email grantsapproval@firstinspires.org.
Q: I submitted my regrant paperwork and haven’t received my regrant check yet. What should I do?
A: Regrants are processed in the order they are received. Submitters will receive an email once the Regrant submission is accepted. Please log into your Dashboard account and under payment history, you can view the status of your regrant check. If you need additional assistance, please contact grantsapproval@firstinspires.org
Q. I have a team grants related question, but do not see the answer on this page, who should I contact?
A: Please email our Grants Team at teamgrants@firstinspires.org
Grant Opportunities
Q: Are there any grants available this season?
A: Check the Grant Links in the Quick Links menu for program-specific grant opportunities.
FIRST Robotics Competition Questions
Q: I submitted my regrant paperwork and haven’t received my regrant check yet. What should I do?
A: Regrants are processed in the order they are received. Submitters will receive an email once the Regrant submission is accepted. Please log into your Dashboard account and under payment history, you can view the status of your regrant check. If you need additional assistance, please contact grantsapproval@firstinspires.org
Q: It is coming close to the pay deadline. I am not sure we will have the funds in time. What can I do?
A: In order to receive your Kit of Parts (KOP) on time it is important to have your first event registration paid by the deadline. If you are having trouble acquiring funds for the season, please contact your Program Delivery Partner for opportunities in your area and read through the funding tips in the Fundraising Toolkit.
Championship Grants
Q: My team qualified to attend the FIRST Championship and a sponsor said they would sponsor us, what should I do?
A: After you qualify, you only have a few days to pay your registration fee. If you have not received instructions from the sponsor and you believe you should be receiving a grant please contact teamgrants@firstinspires.org immediately and include your sponsor's name in the email subject.
Q: If our team’s sponsor visits our Pit at Championship, what should I do?
A: When a sponsor visits your pit it is very important to thank them for all of their support. They are very excited to meet you and learn about your accomplishments. This is also a great opportunity to provide them with any thank you notes, pictures or mementos from your season. It is a good idea to prepare for this ahead of time.