AZFirst Rookie Grants is sponsored by AZFirst. Provides funding to create new FIRST Robotics Competition teams in Arizona, with a sustainable disbursement model.

AZFirst Rookie Grant Summary : The AZFirst Rookie Grant Committee of AZFirst is accepting applications for the "AZFirst Rookie Grant Award ." Arizona rookie FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) teams are eligible to apply. To be eligible for the AZFirst Rookie Grant, you must: • Complete and submit the attached application by October 31 , 201 8 at 11:59 PM MST .

The application must be filled out by one of mentors registered with FIRST for the team . • Register with FIRST and p art icipate in one FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) Ar izona Regional in each year of the grant funding . • Submit a Business Plan for the team annually .

• Attend at least o ne workshop throughout the season annually (either online through FIRST or • Have at least one committed adult mentor . • Teams must participate in surveys and focus groups as requested by AZFirst. • Provide documentation in Year 2 and Year 3 to show continued compliance with the Requirements .

• Be considered by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) to be a rookie A “R ookie Team ” is defined as: 1. A new team that starts in a school/organization/alliance that has never run a FRC team before would be considered a Rookie (note: most team s are formed within a single school, but some comprise two or more schools, or are organizations such as Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, home schools, community 2.

A returning team that has not been in a competition for three years would be con sidered a Rook ie; that is, going into the 201 9 season, the team cann ot have competed in seasons 201 8, 201 7 or 201 65. Teams, whose last competition season was 201 5 or ear lier, can return during the 201 9 season as a Rookie with a 201 9 Rookie team number, OR, they can continue as a veteran with their original team number.

Teams that choose to register as a veteran are not eligible for the above listed AZFirst Rookie 3. Where multiple schools were combined into a single team, and that team now wants to separate into different teams, or any single team wants to separate into different teams, the new teams do not qualify as Rookies unless the requirements set forth above in 2 are met. These teams will need to register as a "new" tea m with FIRST.

4. Where multiple existing teams want to combine into one team, the new team does not qualify as a Rookie unless the requirements set forth above in 2 are met. The team will need to register as a "new" team with FIRST.

5. If a mentor or teacher from an existing team leaves and starts a team at a new school, that team does qualify as a Rookie team. 6.

If individual students who have been involved in a team leave that school and start a team in their new school that team also is generally considered a Rookie providing it meets condition 1, and does not involve sufficient students to be considered a version of condition 3. As a maximum, the number of students in the new team that have competed in prior teams must not excee d 5. Teams must submit an annual business plan.

Topics should include such topics as: Mission Statement; Community Partners and Sponsors; Team Structure, Roles and Rules; Budget; Sustainability; Fundraising; Marketing; Team Member Demographics http://www. bitbuckets. org/wp -content/uploads/2014/11/businessplan2015 -Championship.

pdf http://www. firstinspires. org/resource -library/fundraising -toolkit Awarded teams will receive a total of $6,000 (applied to FIRST registration fees) over the course of 3 • Teams wi ll receive $3,000 in Season 1, $2,000 in Season 2, and $1,000 in Season 3 .

• Awarded teams will be responsible for raising the additional funding needed each season . If the remaining funding is not raised by the Rookie Team, AZFirst may revoke the Grant and request that FIRST return the grant money to AZFirst. • Teams must apply for grant and meet all criteria in order to be eligible .

• Teams must fulfill grant obligations outlined above to receive the Year 2 and Year 3 disbursement.

AZFirst Rookie Grants To apply for the AZFirst Rookie Grant , you must provide each of the following documents to AZFirst no later than Wednesday , October 31, 201 8, 11:59 PM MST : • Your completed application form (indicate on the form your team/temporary team number with FIRST and the Arizona Regional event for which you will register ), and • A Business Plan for your team .

All materials should be mailed, faxed or e -mailed to AZFirst at the following address: Chandler, Arizona 85224 -6199 Attn: Ms. Annalisa Regalado Phone: (480) 792 -7200 (x 7938) E-Mail annalisa . regalado @microchip. com AZFirst will notify the grant recipients no later than November 1 3, 201 8.

Funding will be applied directly to the grantee’s FRC registration fee.

To receive Year 2 and Year 3 disbursements , you must provide the following documentation : • a letter requesting grant disbursements by August 1 of Year 2 and Year 3 ; • an updated Business Plan ; • confirmation of workshop (s) attended by the team during the year ; and • any other materials or documentation requested by AZFirst to assist it in determining whether you have met the criteria for renewal of the grant .

All such materials should be mailed, faxed or e -mailed to AZFirst at the address set forth above. AZFirst Rookie Grant : 1. Mentor Name: (Mr.) (Ms.) (circle one) Last Name First Name M.

I. 2. E-Mail Address: ______________________ __________ ___________________________ 3.

Telephone No . ( Indicate: Home; Cell; Work) : ____ _________ _______________________ __________________ ________ _________________________________ 5. Organization/ School Contact Name : 6.

Organization/ School Contact email/phone : 7. FRC AZ Regional Team Number: __________________________ ______ ______ ____ ____ 8. FRC AZ Regional Team Name: 9.

Number of Boys on team_________ Number of Girls on Team __________ 10. Check the regional event you/your team will register to compete: Arizona North (March 13 -16 , 201 9) ________ Arizona West (April 3-6, 201 9) ________ Both Arizona North and West ________ 11. Attach to this Application Form a Business Plan.

By signing this Application Form, I hereby certify that: (i) all information contained in or attached to this Application Form, or provided with this Application Form, is true, accurate and complete; and (ii) to the best of my knowledge, I am not an immediate or extended family member of: (a) an officer or director of AZFirst or Microchip Technology Inc.; (b) a substantial contributor to AZFirst ; or (c) a member of the AZF irst Rookie Grant Committee of AZFirst .

Signature: Date: AZFirst Rookie Team Grant AZFirst is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the AZFirst FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) Rookie Grants. The deadline for grant applications i s Wednesday , October 31, 201 8 at 11 :59 PM MST. AZFirst will select the recipient (s ).

The recipients will be notified directly by AZFir st no later than The rookie grant ee (s) will receive total award of $ 6,000 ove r three years , applied to FIRST registration fees over the course of 3 consecutive seasons : • Teams will receive $3,000 in Season 1, $2,000 in Season 2, and $1,000 in Season 3 . • Awarded teams will be responsible for raising the additional funding needed each season .

If the remaining funding is not raised by the Rookie Team, AZFirst may revoke the Grant and request that FIRST return the grant money to AZFirst. • Teams must apply for grant and meet all criteria in order to be eligible . • Teams must fulfill grant obligations outlined above to receive the Year 2 and Year 3 disbursement.

Teams must submit an annual business plan. Topics should include such topics as: Mission Statement; Community Partners and Sponsors; Team Structure, Roles and Rul es; Budget; Sustainability; Fundraising; Marketing; Team Member Demographics http://www. bitbuckets.

org/wp -content/uploads/2014/11/businessplan 2015 -Championship. pdf http://www. firstinspires.

org/resource -library/fundraising -toolkit To receive Year 2 and Year 3 disbursements, the recipient must timely provide require d documentation and continue to meet the criteria covered by the grant .

Any Arizona rookie FRC team who meets the criteria is eligible to be considered for the AZFirst rookie grant provide that any member of the team is not an immediate or extended family member of: (i) an officer or director of AZFirst or Microchip Technology Inc.; (ii) a substantial contributor to AZFirst; or (iii) a member of AZFirst’s Rookie Grant Selection Committee. A “R ookie Team ” is defined as: 1.

A new team that starts in a school/organization/alliance that has never run a FRC team before would be considered a Rookie (note: most teams are formed within a single school, but some comprise two or more schools, or are organizations such as Scouts, B oys & Girls Clubs, home schools, community 2.

A returning team that has not been in a competition for three years would be considered a Rookie; that is, going into the 201 9 season, the team cannot have compet ed in seasons 201 8, 201 7 or 201 6. Teams, whose last competition season was 201 5 or ear lier, can return during the 201 9 season as a Rookie with a 201 9 Rookie team number, OR, they can continue as a veteran with their original team number.

Teams that choose to register as a veteran are not eligible for the above listed AZFirst Rookie 3. Where multiple schools were combined into a single team, and that team now wants to separate into different teams, or any single team wants to separate into different teams, the new teams do not qua lify as Rookies unless the requirements set forth above in 2 are met. These teams will need to register as a "new" team with FIRST.

4. Where multiple existing teams want to combine into one team, the new team does not qualify as a Rookie unless the requir ements set forth above in 2 are met. The team will need to register as a 5.

If a mentor or teacher from an existing team leaves and starts a team at a new school, that team does qualify as a Rookie team. 6. If individual students who have been involved in a team leave that school and start a team in their new school that team also is generally considered a Rookie providing it meets condition 1, and does not involve sufficient students to be considered a version of condition 3.

As a maximum, the number of students in the new team that have competed in prior teams must not exceed 5. AZFirst will select the AZFirst Rookie Grant recipient s from among the eligible applicants based on the following award criteria: 1. Business Plan Submission Teams must submit an annual business plan.

Topics should include such topics as: Mission Statement; Community Partners and Sponsors; Team Structure, Roles and Rules; Budget; Sustainability; Fundraising; Marketing; Team Member Demographics http://www. bitbuckets. org/wp -content/uploads/2014/11/businessplan2015 -Championship.

pdf http://www. firstinspires. org/resource -library/fundraising -toolkit 2.

Participation in at least one FRC Arizona Regional Competition in each of the three 3. Attendance of at least one workshop throughout the season annually (either online through FIRST or sanctioned by AZFirst); 4. Team participation in surveys and focus groups as requested by AZFirst.

The funding will be applied to the teams’ registration fee to attend an FRC Arizona Regional event, and disbursed directly to FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology ).

As a condition to accepting the AZFirst Rookie grant funds, the recipient must sign an agreement that requires the recipient, among other things (i) to inform AZFirst promptly in the event of any mat erial change in the team’s standing with FIRST ( including, but not limited to, change in Lead Mentorship; ability of the team to participate in an Arizona FIRST regional event for any reason; and (ii) to repay promptly any portion of the FRC AZ Grant funds if AZFirst revokes or suspends the Grant .

Eligibility to receive future funds is based on completion of all requirements as outlined. To receive AZFirst Rookie Grant funds for the Year 1 cover ed by the award, the recipient must send AZFirst, no later th an November 13, 201 8, information including the Team number, the Arizona regional where the team is registered, and a Business Plan, along with the signed application.

The team has until the FIRST kickoff to attend at least one workshop. The team must subm it a continuation request annually by August 1 of Year 2 and Year 3.

Within a reasonable period of time after receipt of such materials, AZFirst will process the recipient’s request, determine whether the team has met the criteria for continuation of the AZFirst Rookie Grant, if appropriate, and disburse the funds to FIRST for the following grant year.

The criteria for renewal of the grant are as follows: • The recipient team must fill out a renewal application , • The recipient team must participate in at lea st one Arizona Regional event , • The team must attend at least one workshop , • The team must participate in surveys and/or focus groups as requested by AZFirst , and • The team must submit an annual Business Plan.

AZFirst m ay revoke or suspend the Grant if AZFirst determines, in its sole and absolute judgment, that: (i) the recipient team fails to meet one or more of the renewal criteria; (ii) the recipient team has engaged in any act that violates FIRST participation rules and/or regulations ; or (iii) the recipient team knows, or should have known, that any information provided by the recipient to AZFirst (including, but not limited to, any information contained in or attached to the recipient’s application form or provided to AZFirst in connection with the recipient’s application form or application for renewal) is untrue, inaccurate or incomplete.

If AZFirst suspends the Grant , AZFirst may reinstate the Grant for a subsequent period if AZFirst determines, in its sole and absolute judgment, that the te am , at the time of reinstatement, meets all of the renewal criteria . If a grant is suspended or revoked, AZFirst reserves the right to award any or all of the unused grant funds to any team for any purpose consistent with AZFirst’s charitable purposes.

All decisions by AZFirst regarding grants , renewals, revocations, suspensions, and reinstatements are final and may not be appealed for any reason.