Team registration for the 2022 season is open, and an updated payment process for FIRST Robotics Competition will be launching by July 1. With the launch of the updated payment process coming soon, we want to give teams a heads up about changes you may experience related to sales tax and your registrations with FIRST.
Team Registration and Sales Tax
Jun 17, 2021 Written by Danielle Pliska, Vice President of Finance, FIRSTStocks, Crypto, DAFs, Legacy Giving, and more
Donor Advised Fund
A donor advised fund provides a convenient method of charitable giving that makes it easy for donors to dedicate funds to support their favorite nonprofit organization. It allows individuals, families, and businesses to make tax-deductible charitable donations of cash, publicly-traded stock, and in some cases, certain illiquid assets, to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program.
Gifts of Stock
Giving appreciated securities helps FIRST and may provide additional tax benefits to you too!
When you donate securities to FIRST, you receive the same tax benefits as making a cash gift, but with the added benefit of avoiding capital gains tax on the securities you transfer. Making a gift of stock to support our mission is as easy as instructing your broker to transfer the shares directly to FIRST.
Legacy Giving: Wills Trusts, Gift Annuities, Insurance
With a planned gift to FIRST, you can combine your desire to give to charity with your overall financial, tax, and estate planning goals. Planned giving gives you a special connection with FIRST. You will help inspire and educate the next generation of science and technology leaders—for now, and for years to come.
Cryptocurrency
Donating cryptocurrency to FIRST may be a non-taxable event and certainly helps to drive our mission forward. When you donate Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies to FIRST you typically can deduct the full fair market value of the crypto and may not owe capital gains taxes on the appreciated value. Talk to a crypto-savvy tax professional or visit The Giving Block FAQ for more information.
Half My DAF
Your donation could go even further with #HalfMyDAF. Every grant from a DAF given by a donor who commits to halving their DAF increases our chances of receiving dollar-for-dollar matches of up to $5,000 each. Click here to learn more and nominate FIRST for a match.
Raise Money for FIRST
Share your passion for FIRST with your friends and family and help us raise funds that will impact the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. Click here for ideas and resources.
Donate by Mail
You may send your check made payable to FIRST, to:
FIRST
PO Box 845446
Boston, MA 02284-5446
For Checks that need to be overnighted:
FIRST
Attn: Lockbox Operations box #845446
1 Cabot Road, Suite 202
Medford, MA 02155
If you wish, you may indicate the purpose of your gift on the check or in an accompanying letter.
Donate by Phone
Using MasterCard, Visa, or American Express over the phone, or to request an invoice for making a donation, call FIRST Finance at 1-800-871-8326, ext. 563.
FIRST is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity and donations to FIRST are tax-deductible to the extent provided by current IRS tax laws and regulations (EIN # 22-2990908).
For the 15th consecutive year, FIRST has achieved a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for consistently executing its mission in a fiscally responsible way. This rating places FIRST in the top 1% of all charities evaluated by Charity Navigator.
Fundraising Disclosure Statement
Raise Money for FIRST®
Help us inspire the next generation of Innovators and Leaders by sharing the mission of FIRST with your personal networks.
You can help us “make it loud” by asking your friends and family to donate to FIRST in honor of your birthday, anniversaries, graduations, or other celebratory milestones.
Many popular social media platforms allow you to easily share your enthusiasm for FIRST.
- Create a Facebook Fundraiser for FIRST
- Create an Instagram Fundraiser for FIRST
- Host a live-streaming fundraiser for FIRST (Tiltify is a fundraising platform that connects to your streaming channels like Twitch and TikTok)
- Sell your stuff on eBay and support FIRST
Check out the Press Room for downloadable photos, FIRST facts, logos, and more to help with your fundraiser.’ To expand your reach, ask your friends and family to share your celebratory fundraiser with their networks to help you meet your goal. Pro tip for engagement: individually thank each donor for their contribution!
Using FIRST Core Values to Support Social-Emotional Learning
Jun 14, 2021 By Libby Simpson, FIRST Director of Education, and Caroline Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator, FIRST Nevada
The social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies align with the FIRST Core Values, part of the power of our preK-12 programming. FIRST Education Director Libby Simpson and educator Caroline Hanson share how parents, educators, and coaches can use our new, free 10-session SEL curriculum series.
Celebrate Your Mentors With Us!
Jun 14, 2021 Written by WFA Winners Eric Stokely (FRC Teams 258, 360, 2557, & 5295) & Allen Gregory (FRC Team 3847)There is no denying that this 2020-2021 FIRST season has been unlike anything of us expected. PPE, recruitment for the future, code, CAD, social distancing, “is my Mic on,” online meeting agendas, and any of a thousand other issues were all were jumbled together. However, FIRST has always taught us that the ability to shift to changing circumstances is a life skill, and it was tested pretty heavily this season.
Workplace Giving & Corporate Matching Gifts
Workplace Giving
Want to support FIRST while you work? Here are some great ways:
Set up an automatic payroll deduction through your company’s giving portal
Many companies use 3rd party portals such as Benevity or YourCause to make giving easy! Contact your employer to set up a recurring gift that comes right out of your paycheck. Just set it and forget it!
Corporate Matching Gifts
Increase the impact of your donation or volunteer time with a corporate matching gift!
Many employers will match your financial gifts and volunteer hours. Thanks to the generosity of FIRST corporate supporters, employees have the option of doubling or even tripling their donation through the Matching Gift program. Find out if your employer will match your contribution!
Companies registered through the program use various procedures by which employees can request matching gifts. Contact your employer for details.
Search for your company
3 Reasons to Become a Monthly Donor
- Monthly donors have a bigger impact. You help us reach more young people by providing FIRST with long-term sustainability.
- Being a monthly donor is a convenient way to show your support all year long (and avoid the email asks from us to donate).
- Monthly donors get special thanks. You get access to exclusive updates, swag, and opportunities at FIRST events.
FIRST taught me how to solve problems that don’t have neat answers
By taking on job roles within their teams, FIRST students learn and use skills such as leadership, critical thinking, problem solving and innovation – skills highly in-demand by today’s biggest industries. FIRST alum and donor Ajay Penmatcha knows that well as a software engineer at Blue River Technology, a subsidiary of FIRST Strategic Partner John Deere. Read more about Ajay.
Giving to FIRST is an investment
in our future innovators and leaders.
Your support makes the following possible:
Over 3.2 million youth reached globally in 30+ years
Millions of hours of mentoring delivered
17,000 U.S. public schools supported
