Team Grants

Team Grants is sponsored by FIRST in Texas. Offers financial support to teams participating in FIRST programs, including robotics competitions, with funding from corporate, government, and individual donors.

2025/2026 Grant Applications Round Two Open FIRST in Texas works hard throughout the year to raise money from corporate, Government, and individual donors – both to help fund program delivery, but also to enable us to provide teams with direct financial support in the form of Team Grants.

The total amount of money that FIRST in Texas is able to make available for team grants changes from year to year based on the giving priorities of our sponsors. Some of our sponsors also restrict the application of funds they provide to teams that meet certain criteria defined by the sponsor. FIRST in Texas strives to make it easy for teams to navigate this complexity.

With only one application, teams can be considered for funding from multiple statewide partners. In this manner, teams don’t need to worry about what sources of funding they might be eligible for or in what amounts – FIRST in Texas works behind the scenes to "match” team applications to funding sources and can bundle proceeds from multiple sources in order to maximize the proceeds provided while minimizing administration.

Submitting an application does not guarantee funding, but our team is working diligently to support as many teams as possible. We want every team to enjoy the season to the fullest, and we’re working hard behind the scenes to make that happen.

Upcoming Team Grant Deadlines : Round 1 Grant Awards : All applicants have been notified and awarded teams can expect funds by November 30 Round 2 Application Window Closes: November 30, 2025 Applicants Receive Confirmation Email: Within 2–3 days of submission Round 2 Award Notifications: All applications will be notified by December 12 Round 2 Grant Awards: Awarded teams can expect funds by January 23, 2026 The actual amount awarded to each team will be determined on a case-by-case basis, disclosed privately, and influenced by the number of applicants, total funds raised, and sponsor restrictions.

When filling out the application for grant funding you may notice some questions that feel a little awkward or highly detailed. This is because every dollar we award comes directly from generous sponsors who believe in empowering students through FIRST ® in Texas but have specific restrictions for how their contributions can be used.

These restrictions may be based on: School type (public/private/homeschool) Student Demographics (gender, socioeconomic status, etc.) Below are your team’s windows of opportunity! Each round gives you a chance to be considered for funding, and your one application will carry through all three. If your team isn’t funded in Round 1, you’ll automatically remain in the running for Rounds 2 and 3.

Grant Application Rounds: Round 1: September 15 – October 15 Round 2: November 1 – November 30 Round 3: January 1 – January 31 Separate from FIRST in Texas, FIRST HQ manages a national database of team grant opportunities. New grant opportunities are posted throughout the year, so check back often.