Local Grants | FIRST Wisconsin

Local Grants for FIRST Teams

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Grants for High School Teams

FIRST Wisconsin is committed to making our programs accessible to all students across the state.

Grant opportunities are available for supporting new and returning high school teams participating in Robotics Competition (FRC) or FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC).

These grants are designed to help with startup costs, team sustainability, and access for underrepresented or underserved student populations.

Apply for Team Support

Grants for Middle School Teams

In partnership with the Google.org Foundation, FIRST Wisconsin is expanding access to the FIRST Tech Challenge program through a multi-year grant initiative.

The goal is to reduce barriers and increase participation among middle school students—particularly those who may face financial, geographic, or systemic challenges in accessing high-quality STEM programs.

Grants are available to support rookie, second-year, and veteran-teams, and may include funding for registration, robot kits, tools, and field elements.

All Google.org Teams are required to attend FIRST Certified Professional Development Training. Register for training here.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until funding is fully awarded.

Apply for Team Support

Register for FIRST Certified Professional Development Training

Robotics League Participation Grant

Since the passage of 2015 Wisconsin Act 280, the state of Wisconsin has supported robotics education through dedicated grant funding.

As of the 2025-26 School Year, a total of $1,000,000 in funding will be disbursed to eligible robotics teams to facilitate participation in robotics competitions.

Allowable expenses include fees, kits, supplies required to participate in a robotics competition, travel expenses, and a stipend for the mentor of an eligible team.

Each applicant shall secure matching funds in an amount equal to amount requested in application by the time the application is submitted.

There is a maximum award of $6,000 per team. If the requests from applications approved exceed the amount of funding, the department will prorate the amount it awards to each applicant. The Department of Public Instruction cannot award more than $6,000 to an eligible team in a school year.

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