Last Week’s Coaches Chat is posted 

If you missed last Tuesday’s coaches chat, it is posted here

Grant Opportunities for Teams

FIRST Washington Grant 

FIRST Washington Grant is open.  You can find past communications regarding funding and the link to the grant application here:  https://firstwa.org/firstwa-grant/   

Remember: 

• You will have to fill out a grant application to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington manages 

• The grant form will need to be filled out for each team you would like to be considered for funding 

• Grants will no longer be deducted from your FIRST Washington registration, they will be issued separately based on the info you submit in the grant application as well as your school requirements (if you are a school based team) 

Online Metals 

Applications Open: September 1, 2026 

The wait is over! Applications for the 2026–2027 Online Metals Sponsorship Program are officially open!

Eligible high school and college/university and affiliated robotics teams competing in official competitions across the U.S. and Canada are invited to apply for sponsorship support. Tell them about your team, your competition goals, and how Online Metals can help you bring your robot to life.

Don’t miss your chance to be considered for the upcoming season! Submit your application during the open window.  We met with the local team from Online Metals last week and they are excited to expand their support in the PNW! 

Sponsorships | OnlineMetals.com® 

AIAA School Grants 

AIAA School Grants are open until Sept 30th- I don’t know much about these but it seems worth checking out! 

Classroom Grants | AIAA 

The AIAA Foundation believes that one of the most significant means to inspire and advance the future of Aerospace is to fund grants to meet the unmet and unfunded educational need of students. Each school year, AIAA awards grants of up to $500 to worthy projects that significantly influence student learning. 

Make sure you are registered with FIRST and FIRST Washington 

 We are a little over a week away from placing teams in leagues and as of this morning we have 71 teams registered with FIRST Washington and 84 teams registered with FIRST.  I want to remind everyone that You must be registered with FIRST and FIRST Washington by 9-25 to be placed into a league. Please don’t wait do both right now. 

To be considered registered with FIRST, you need to log into your dashboard to register and pay your registration fee. 

To be considered registered with FIRST Washington, you need to go to the registration page here and fill out the form:  https://firstwa.org/ftc-registration/   You will be sent an invoice to pay from in early October. 

Not sure if you have registered?  You can check here:  https://firstwa.org/ftc-registration/  This is updated manually once a day. 

League dates and venue info is posted on firstwa.org 

I know you are all anxiously awaiting your league assignments (make sure to get registered so you are included in those assignments) but since all of our league event dates and the majority of the locations are secured, we wanted to share that info with you now.  You can find that information here:  https://firstwa.org/ftc-competition-info/  

After home league assignments are posted, there will be a small window where you can choose to preference into a different league if the league you are in doesn’t work for you.  More information will come regarding the preferencing process when league assignments are posted.

Important Dates

Coaches Chat tonight at 7:00 pm 

We will be having our next coaches chat on Tuesday, 9-8 at 7:00 pm.  It is important to have at least one adult mentor attend.   

Click here to attend 

FTC Kickoff Registration  

Kickoff is this Saturday, Sept 12th at 9 am PDT! Our wonderful hosts are working hard to plan for a great kickoff for all of you!  If you have not yet registered, you need to do so ASAP! 

Woodinville High School 

19819 136th Ave NE     

Woodinville, WA 98072 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 2:00 pm: Event ends 

Saint Martin’s University- Cebula Hall 3rd Floor 

5000 Abbey Way SE 

Lacey, WA 98503 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:30 pm: Event ends 

Ridgeline High School  

20150 E. Country Vista Dr. 

Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 11:30 am: Event ends 

Kennewick High School  

560 W 6th Ave 

Kennewick, WA 99336 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:00 pm: Event ends 

BrickCon 2026- Meydenbauer Center  

11100 NE 6th St.  

Bellevue, WA 98004 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:00 pm: Event ends 

To register for a kickoff, fill out this form   

More details will be sent out closer to kickoff (schedule, workshops being offered etc…) to those who have registered for the event. 

FIRST Washington Grant will open next week 

FIRST Washington Grants will open next Monday, 9-14.  You can find past communications regarding funding and the link to the grant application here:  https://firstwa.org/firstwa-grant/   

Remember: 

• You will have to fill out a grant application to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington manages 

• The grant form will need to be filled out for each team you would like to be considered for funding 

• Grants will no longer be deducted from your FIRST Washington registration, they will be issued separately based on the info you submit in the grant application as well as your school requirements (if you are a school based team) 

Important Dates

Coaches Chat’s 

  We will be having our next coaches chat on Tuesday, 9-8 at 7:00 pm.  It is important to have at least one adult mentor attend.   

Click here to attend 

FTC Kickoff Registration  

Kickoff is Saturday, Sept 12th at 9 am PDT! Our wonderful hosts are working hard to plan for a great kickoff for all of you!  Please help them by filling out the registration form (link below) so our hosts can see how many teams and people will be in attendance at their event.   

Woodinville High School 

19819 136th Ave NE     

Woodinville, WA 98072 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 2:00 pm: Event ends 

Saint Martin’s University- Cebula Hall 3rd Floor 

5000 Abbey Way SE 

Lacey, WA 98503 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:30 pm: Event ends 

Ridgeline High School  

20150 E. Country Vista Dr. 

Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 11:30 am: Event ends 

Kennewick High School  

560 W 6th Ave 

Kennewick, WA 99336 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:00 pm: Event ends 

BrickCon 2026- Meydenbauer Center  

11100 NE 6th St.  

Bellevue, WA 98004 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:00 pm: Event ends 

To register for a kickoff, fill out this form   

More details will be sent out closer to kickoff (schedule, workshops being offered etc…) to those who have registered for the event. 

FIRST Washington Grant will open 9-14 

As we said in communications over the summer, FIRST Washington Grants will be handled a bit differently this year.  Here are the important changes to note: 

• You will have to fill out a grant application to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington manages 

• The grant form will need to be filled out for each team you would like to be considered for funding 

• Grants will no longer be deducted from your FIRST Washington registration, they will be issued separately based on the info you submit in the grant application as well as your school requirements (if you are a school based team) 

The grant will open 9-14 and will close 10-5.  As stated above, if you want your team to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington handles, you will need to fill out this application. 

We will post the application link and information on the application on the FIRST Washington website once the grant is open as well as send that information out in the blog on 9-15. 

Important Dates

Email ftc@firstwa.orgto communicate with program staff

The best way to get your email answered quickly is to email ftc@firstwa.org.  Here is why: 

• We have several people supporting our FTC program this season, and this email goes to all of us 

• ***Kevin Emery and his wife are having a baby so he may not be as responsive. 

• It will not only help you get the answer to your question more quickly, it will help those of us responding to keep up on what questions are being asked and how to best support our teams. 

If you don’t email ftc@firstwa.org, plan for it to take quite a bit longer to get a response to your email. 

FTC Kickoff Registration  

Kickoff is Saturday, Sept 12th at 9 am PDT! Our wonderful hosts are working hard to plan for a great kickoff for all of you!  Please help them by filling out the registration form (link below) so our hosts can see how many teams and people will be in attendance at their event.  Additionally, our hosts will be using the registration info to send more detailed information about the event, so make sure to register so you can get that important informaiton! 

Woodinville High School 

19819 136th Ave NE     

Woodinville, WA 98072 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 2:00 pm: Event ends 

Saint Martin’s University- Cebula Hall 3rd Floor 

5000 Abbey Way SE 

Lacey, WA 98503 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:30 pm: Event ends 

Ridgeline High School  

20150 E. Country Vista Dr. 

Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 11:30 am: Event ends 

Kennewick High School  

560 W 6th Ave 

Kennewick, WA 99336 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:00 pm: Event ends 

BrickCon 2026- Meydenbauer Center  

11100 NE 6th St.  

Bellevue, WA 98004 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:00 pm: Event ends 

To register for a kickoff, fill out this form   

More details will be sent out closer to kickoff (schedule, workshops being offered etc…) to those who have registered for the event. 

Coaches Chat’s 

  If you missed last Tuesday’s meeting, you can find the slide deck and recording here:  https://firstwa.org/webinars/  

We will be having our next coaches chat on Tuesday, 9-8 at 7:00 pm.  Click here to attend 

Boeing Team Grants opened this week 

  You can find more information on the firstinspires website here:  https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/team-grant-opportunities  Be sure to check it regularly for new team grant opportunities. 

If you have a Boeing mentor, reach out to them to ensure that they apply asap.  Funds will be available until they run out. 

Calling all teams 

Does your team have footage of outreach events, community service, or behind-the-scenes moments from this season? Send it our way. Email Rylie Pope, Marketing and Communications Manager at FIRST WA, at ryliep@firstwa.org by 8/28/2026. 

Important Dates

Next FTC Coaches Chat is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18 at 7:00 pm

High Level Agenda: 

• Season Registration 

• 2026 – 2027 Season Calendar Updates 

• Competition Manual Preview 

• Control System Updates 

Click here to attend the meeting. 

FTC Kickoff Registration

Kickoff is Saturday, Sept 12th at 9 am PDT! Join a kickoff event near you to celebrate the beginning of the 2026 BIOBUZZ™ season, see the new field, attend fun workshops, and interact with other FTC teams! Below are the kickoff locations and basic schedules. 

Woodinville High School 

19819 136th Ave NE     

Woodinville, WA 98072 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 2:00 pm: Event ends 

Saint Martin’s University- Cebula Hall 3rd Floor 

5000 Abbey Way SE 

Lacey, WA 98503 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:30 pm: Event ends 

Ridgeline High School  

20150 E. Country Vista Dr. 

Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 11:30 am: Event ends 

Kennewick High School  

560 W 6th Ave 

Kennewick, WA 99336 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:00 pm: Event ends 

BrickCon 2026- Meydenbauer Center  

11100 NE 6th St.  

Bellevue, WA 98004 

• 8:30 am: Doors open 

• 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

• 12:00 pm: Event ends 

To register for a kickoff, fill out this form   

More details will be sent out closer to kickoff (schedule, workshops being offered etc…) to those who have registered for the event. 

Important Dates

Next FTC Coaches Chat is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18 at 7:00 pm

High Level Agenda: 

• Season schedule Updates – We do have a few changes 

• New Control System Updates 

Click here to attend the meeting. 

Upcoming Grants to Apply For 

FIRSTGrants | Find Funding for FIRST Robotics Teams  (Not the official firstinspires page, hosted by an FRC team) 

FIRST is currently accepting applications for several sponsor-funded grants. The most active right now are: 

• BAE Systems FRC Grants (application closes Sept. 13, 2026) 

• Boston Scientific FRC Grants (closes Sept. 30, 2026, location restrictions apply) 
  Check the FIRST grant portal regularly because new sponsor grants are added throughout the season. 

• Boeing FIRST Team Grants Boeing continues to fund FIRST teams through the national FIRST grant system. Washington teams have historically been strong candidates because of Boeing’s large regional presence. Applications are managed through FIRST‘s grant portal 

• Department of Defense STEM (DoD STEM) Robotics Grants These grants support FIRST teams, particularly: Rookie teams and Military-connected schools or teams serving military families. 
  A second-round funding cycle is expected in September, making this one of the best near-term opportunities. 

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES 

• Local Education Foundations  

Many school districts have foundations that fund STEM, CTE, robotics, and enrichment activities. Washington has dozens of active education foundations that award grants annually. Examples include Bellevue Schools Foundation, Lake Washington Schools Foundation, Issaquah Schools Foundation, Highline Schools Foundation, Tacoma Community Foundation programs, and many others.  

Typical award: $500 to $10,000 
Timeline: Many fall application cycles open Aug-Oct. 

• Community Foundations 

County and regional community foundations frequently fund youth STEM programs, especially teams serving underrepresented students. Examples include Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and local county foundations throughout Washington.  

Typical award: $1,000 to $25,000+ 

Be sure to regularly check the official firstinspires site for new grants that pop up! https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/team-grant-opportunities 

For more ideas, collateral materials, templates and to view our fundraising teams meetings, go to:  https://firstwa.org/fundraising/  

For questions on fundraising and grants, contact Lila Cohen lilam@firstwa.org  

Important Dates