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 EVENTS INFOrmation

Grant Opportunities

FIRST no longer regrants donations to teams. Do not apply for more grants than you can use in the FIRST storefront.

Check the FIRST Grant Opportunities for the latest list that is published by HQ (updated often).

Heartland STEM Grant (not listed at FIRST)

  • The initial grant is $500, with an additional matching fund of $1,000 available for organizations that do additional fundraising
  • Apply for this grant here

2025-2026 FIRST Tech Challenge Hardship Grant (listed on the FIRST site above).

  • Open to Rookie & Veteran teams
  • This is a hardship grant. Teams must describe their teams’s need.
  • Fill out application to Program Delivery Partner here
  • Do NOT pay FIRST registration before grant notification
  • Grant will be awarded on a weekly basis on Wednesdays
  • Deadline is Nov. 28, 2025

FTC SIM Argosy Grants (listed on the FIRST site above)

  • Rookies – $1,000 to cover registration equipment
  • Apply for this grant
  • Do NOT pay FIRST registration before grant notification

John Deere Grants (listed on the FIRST site above)

  • Teams must be within 40 miles of Coffeyville, KS or Springfield, MO facilities or have a John Deere employee mentoring virtually
  • Do NOT pay FIRST registration before grant notification.
  • Learn more and apply
  • Deadline: December 25, 2025

Boeing Employee Mentors Grant (listed on the FIRST site above)

  • Applications opened June 30, 2025 for Boeing employees and retires only.
  • In order to receive a Boeing sponsorship, a team must have a Boeing employee or retiree who commits to volunteering for the team at least 25 hours over the course of the season.
  • Teams can receive an $800 grant
  • Do NOT pay FIRST registration before grant notification if you want to use for this purpose
  • Grants are restricted for 2025-2026

KC STEM Alliance Grants (not listed at FIRST)

  • Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas
  • Jackson, Platte, Clay and Cass counties in Missouri
  • The goal of these grants is to sustain robotics programs in under-served communities, facilitate recent start-up teams and encourage teams doing STEM outreach.
  • Application will open in September 2025
  • Deadline to apply is TBA
  • Notification of Award: TBA

BAE Systems’ FIRST grant (not listed on the FIRST site above)

  • BAE Systems’ FIRST grant application is now closed
  • Teams must meet at least one criteria:
    • Teams located within 75 miles of a BAE Systems site
    • Teams with BAE Systems mentors
    • Teams with an existing relationship with BAE Systems
    • Teams demonstrating diversity in STEM

REV Robotics Team Sponsorships (listed on the FIRST site above)

  • The sponsorships are for use on REV products and intended for both rookie and veteran teams that excel on the playing field while being good stewards of their local FIRST community through sharing their knowledge with other teams.
  • Learn more and apply here
  • Application opens soon. Deadline TBA.

    Gene Haas Foundation Team Grants  (not listed at FIRST)

    • Offering $2,000 Grants to both rookie and veteran teams
    • Learn more and apply here
    • Applications opened May 1, 2025. Deadline August 31, 2025.

    Polymaker Robotics Team Grants

    • Polymaker is a developer and manufacturer of 3D printing materials committed to innovation, quality and sustainability.
    • Learn more and apply here

    PTC FIRST Tech Challenge Grants

    • Through PTC Education, teams get access to free software, including Creo, PTC Mathcad, and Onshape
    • There are also financial grants available to select teams that qualify
    • Learn more and apply here

    The Grant and Sponsorship Database

    • Built in collaboration with Teams 353 The POBots and 358 The Robotic Eagles.
    • View Database here

    FIRST and NewsCorp have a special section in DonorsChoose.org

    • Using the DonorsChoose platform, eligible teachers from all over the United States can create classroom project funding requests, which are then fulfilled by generous citizen donors as well as corporations and foundations.
    • Learn more here

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lbr_M25GZVA_DW-RVUw13W2dVzSI5aT0xvNVVkmjHno/edit?usp=sharing

    FIRST HQ Registration Fee

    FIRST registration opens on May 14, 2025.

    In order to be able to compete as a FIRST Tech Challenge team, teams need to register with FIRST each season. The annual FIRST registration fees that all teams pay to FIRST stays at FIRST Headquarters in New Hampshire and does not get passed onto FIRST in Missouri. To pay your team’s $325 FIRST HQ Registration fee, please visit your team’s FIRST Dashboard.

    Teams are allowed to order equipment prior to their two adult coaches completing the Youth Protection Program (YPP). However, teams will not be allowed to register for local events until YPP screening is a Yes for both coaches.

    If you are waiting for a grant, DO NOT pay your FIRST Registration Fee until after that grant has been awarded. FIRST will not be able to make changes to orders after checkout. Check the Grant Opportunities above before registering.
    MO/KS Registration Fees

    MO/KS Regular Season – $225

    In order to participate in Missouri/Kansas Regular Season events, teams pay a $225 Registration Fee to FIRST in Missouri. This non-refundable fee covers:

    • 3 League Meets
    • 1 League Tournament

    Teams will receive a form to fill out, requesting an invoice for the MO/KS Regular Season Registration Fee. Teams may request an invoice now. Grants applied to your FIRST Dashboard cannot be used for MO/KS fees. The two systems are not connected.

    Request MO/KS Registration Invoice

    MO/KS Post Season – $150

    In order to participate in post season events in Missouri/Kansas, team pay a $150 Post Season Registration Fee to FIRST in Missouri. Teams only pay this fee if they qualifier for post season play. This non-refundable fee covers:

    • Super Qualifier
    • MO/KS Championship
    Season Overview

    MO/KS has 8 Leagues. Each League will have up to 36 teams.

    • STL North
    • STL Mid
    • STL South
    • SE
    • SW
    • Central
    • KC East
    • KC West

    League Meets

    • A Meet is a robot play only event. They last approx. 4 hours. Min. size 6 teams, max size 12 teams.
    • Each League will offer multiple Meets so that teams have flexibility on dates/locations
    • Each team will be assigned to play in 3 Meets. The top 10 match scores carry into the League Tournament
    • ALL MEETS WILL BE PLAYED WITHIN YOUR LEAGUE.

    League Tournament

    • A Tournament is a full day FIRST experience with judging, qualifying matches, alliance selection and play, and an award ceremony
    • All League teams must play in their League Tournament
    • 3 teams from each League will advance the MO/KS Championship
    • Qualifying teams will advance to the Super Qualifier. The number of teams advancing from each League Tournament to the Qualifier are listed on each league’s web page. Advancements are decided by the number of teams in each league.

    Super Qualifier Tournaments

    • Entry fee of $150 covers registration for both the Super Qualifier and the MO/KS Championship
    • 36 teams at each Super Qualifier
    • There will be 2 Super Qualifiers, one East and one West
    • A Super Qualifier is a full day FIRST experience with judging, qualifying matches, alliance selection and play, and an award ceremony
    • 6 teams from each Super Qualifier will advance the MO/KS Championship

    MO/KS Championship

    • 36 teams at MO/KS Championship at Missouri S&T in Rolla
    • TBD teams to advance to FIRST Championship in Houston
    • TBD teams to advance to Premier Events

    FIRST Championship in Houston, TX scheduled for April 29-May 2, 2026.

    Premier Events dates, locations and cost are listed on the Premier Events web page.

    Kickoff Videos

    Outreach Opportunities

    We would like to suggest the following opportunities to keep our MO/KS robotics community connected:

    • Online mentoring of new teams
    • Building up our community by sharing experience/skills
    • Using the Mentor Network to advertise for your own mentors but also to get the word out to potential mentor pools
    • Volunteering at an event for another level of FIRST programming – FIRST LEGO League students love to see “big robots”
    Off Season Opportunities

    There are usually off-season events across the country.

    Check FIRST Events listing and watch for announcements in our Tech Tuesday Newsletter.

    QUICK LINKS

    Missouri/Kansas Specific
    Robot in a Day Team Training

    MO/KS leagues will be offering Robot in a Day Training throughout the MO/KS region on September 6 and September 20.

    Teams will:

      • Build a chassis
      • Learn to code in blocks
      • Practice driving on a DECODE game field
      • The ABCs of FTC – Team Management, Meets & Tournaments

    Even if your team doesn’t have a robot kit yet, rookie teams should plan to attend. Links to sign up are below:

    Central:  9/6:  Camdenton Middle School, 88 Laker Dr. Camdenton, MO 65020

    KCE & KCW:  9/20:  MCC-Penn Valley, 3201 SW Traffic Way, Kansas City MO 64111

    STL Area:  9/20:  Gateway STEM High School,  5101 McRee Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

    SW:  9/20:  TBD

    Communication

    DECODE Tech Tuesday Newsletter Archive
    FIRST in Missouri Informational Packet

     EVENTS INFOrmation

    Volunteer at an FTC Event

    FIRST is a community of people who are passionate and dedicated to contributing to something big. Volunteers at FIRST are not just passionate about robotics and STEM education but also about equipping students with life skills such as Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism. For many of our volunteers, the value of their experience is more than the feeling of giving back to their community; volunteering leaves a deep, personal impact on their life.

    Whatever your expertise, FIRST in Missouri has a volunteer opportunity for you.

    View volunteer opportunities for our Meets, League Tournaments, Super Qualifiers, and the MO/KS Championship on the League Landing pages:

    Leagues - Map and Team Listing

    Team Location Map for the DECODE season.

    Teams will be assigned to their league in FTC Events. Results and history can also be found at  FTC Events.

    Access individual League Landing pages:

    League Meets (November 1, 2025 - January 10, 2026)

    All Meets in MO/KS for DECODE have been posted. View the Meets on the FTC Events webpage.

     

    League Tournaments (January 17, 2026 - February 7, 2026)

    TBD

    Super Qualifiers (February 21, 2026)

    East Super Qualifier

    • SE
    • STL North
    • STL Mid
    • STL South

    West Super Qualifier

    • KC East
    • KC West
    • Mid MO
    • SW
      Missouri Kansas Championship (March 7, 2026)

      The event is scheduled for March 7, 2026 on the campus of Missouri S&T in Rolla. MO.
      This will be a 36 team, single division event.

      TBD teams will advance from the Missouri Kansas Championship to the FIRST Championship in Houston, TX from April 29 – May 2, 2026.

      TBD teams will advance to Premier Events from the Missouri Kansas Championship.

      Event Cancellation Policy

      Events for our region are booked and scheduled in advance. Event managers have the authority to cancel an event if their facility determines conditions to be unsafe. This policy would apply to inclement weather or any other public safety issue including a lack of screened volunteers.

      Meets can be rescheduled at the League Manager’s discretion.

      It is highly unlikely that League Tournaments and post season events will be rescheduled. If a League Tournament  is cancelled, judging will take place remotely. We will work with the coaches to schedule remote judging sessions. Judged awards will be based on judging sessions and team ranking will be determined from Meet scores.

      If a Super Qualifier is cancelled, judging will take place remotely. We will work with the coaches to schedule remote judging sessions. Judged awards will be based on judging sessions and team rankings will be determined from League Tournament scores.

      If the MO/KS Championship is cancelled, judging will take place remotely. We will work with the coaches to schedule remote judging sessions. Judged awards will be based on judging sessions and team rankings will be determined from League Tournament and/or Super Qualifier scores.

      If an event is not cancelled, it is up to the discretion of the parents and coach to determine if they will attend. No refunds will be given.

      Out-state Teams

      Our number one priority is to serve the FIRST Tech Challenge teams in Missouri and Kansas. Our teams are now competing in a League system and outside teams will only be considered if there is no local Partner and no competition path. Teams would only be able to play in MO/KS system – no other location.

      Please contact us at ftc@firstinnmissouri.org for further discussion.

      CALENDAR