Grants & Funding

Gianforte Family Foundation Robotics Club Sponsorship

The Gianforte Family Foundation is happy to support robotics clubs in Montana, as opportunities for youth to get excited about coding and computer science.  We encourage youth robotics clubs in Montana to apply for annual sponsorship grants of $1,500, or no more than 25% of the club's annual budget, whichever is less.

If a club applies for sponsorship, a decision can typically be provided to them in four weeks or less.

Process to Apply - Clubs applying for standard sponsorship can now apply via our website under the Robotics Club Sponsorship program.  

1. Log in to the application portal from our website, where you see two processes - the General Grant Program A (old application process) and the Robotics Club Sponsorship.  

2. Please use the Robotics Club Sponsorship application going forward.  

The Gianforte Family Foundation hopes that this funding will allow more Montana clubs to get started or grow their membership, reaching more youth.

FTC Rookie Grants & PDP Rookie Grant

The FTC Rookie Grant is back! This grant is meant for underserved/Underrepresented Rookie FTC teams. Teams can apply directly here: https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/team-grants.

Grants will be awarded weekly.  

FTC SIM Argosy Rookie Team Grant

This is a $1000 USD grant that can be used to purchase registration & equipment through the FIRST Dashboard. This grant is available for all North American Teams. Details about the grant are below:

• • $1000 USD (Can be used to purchase registration, controls kit & electronics kit)

  • Requirements: Only eligible for new rookie teams, in North America, who have not already registered (i.e. who have a temporary team number)

  • Goal: Find 13/15 lightning bolts in FTC SIM to unlock the grant code. By doing the puzzles, you will learn how to program an FTC robot to do everything from going forwards and backwards to using colour or distance sensors. Once you get the grant code, you submit it and once approved, the money will appear in your FIRST dashboard and can be used to purchase team registration, the controls kit, the electronics kit or the mechanical kit.

  • Anyone (student/mentor) can complete the challenge to get the grant code

  • Deadline: There is no hard deadline for this grant but it is limited. Right now we have about 80 left so the earlier you apply for it, the better.

  • For more information click here.

Gene Haas Competition Teams (FIRST) Sponsorship Grant

Competition Teams such as FIRST & SAE that highlight the MFG/ENG program are eligible for sponsorship grants. 

Apply Here

Triangle Communications Youth Technology Grant

The Triangle Communications Youth Club/Organization Technology Grant program offers monetary support to youth

clubs/organizations in the Triangle service area (16 counties in Montana - see map here)

• • Robotics Clubs are eligible.

  • Funds can be used for Science, Technology, Engineering or Math related projects.

  • Local chapter of club/organization must have majority of it's members within our service area.

  • Up to $500 Grants are available.

  • Deadline is February 15th.

Apply Here

Toshiba America Foundation

Toshiba America Foundation (TAF) grants fund the projects ideas and materials teachers need to innovate in their Science, technology, engineering and math classrooms. TAF is interested in funding innovative projects designed by teachers or small teams of teachers for use in their own schools and classroom.

ONLY classroom teachers are eligible to apply. TAF uses two application forms:

• An elementary school application (Grades K-5) 

• A middle and high school application (Grades 6-12) 

Grade K-5 applications are accepted once a year on October 1st.

Application deadlines for grade 6-12 for up to $5,000 are 6/1, 9/1, 12/1, 3/1. Grant requests of more than $5,000 are reviewed twice a year. Applications for grants of more than $5,000 are due November 1st and May 1st each year.

BAE Systems FIRST Team Grant

BAE Systems team grants are available to all teams participating in the FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge or FIRST Robotics Competitions. Please select the application you wish to apply for here:   https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/our-company/about-us/bae-systems-inc/community-investment/first-grants

While all teams are eligible to apply for funding, BAE Systems may prioritize applications meeting at least one of the below criteria:

• Teams located within 75 miles of a BAE Systems site (see application for a list of our locations)

• Teams with BAE Systems mentors; if you are interested in having a BAE Systems mentor, please tell us in your application so we can do our best to match you. 

• Teams with an existing relationship with BAE Systems

• Teams demonstrating diversity in STEM (meeting one of the criteria below):

             -  Teams affiliated with Title 1 schools

             -  Teams with high needs (more than 50% free/reduced lunch rates at affiliated school)

             -  Teams made up of more than 50% underrepresented populations in STEM fields (women, LGBTQ+ youth, BIPOC and Latinx

                 students, youth with disabilities)

             -  Teams with exemplary community outreach to underrepresented populations