Gene Haas, Intuitive & Foundation Grants

The Gene Haas Foundation grant

The Gene Haas Foundation (the charitable arm associated with Haas Automation, a major CNC machine-tool maker) funds student teams in approved competitions - including FRC and FTC - in which students design and build a product that uses CNC machining. Because so many FRC teams machine custom parts, most are a natural fit.

Key points:

• Amount: FRC teams are eligible to apply for a $3,000 grant (FTC teams $2,000).
• How to apply: directly through the foundation's portal at ghaasfoundation.org/apply-now.
• Timing: for the FIRST (FRC & FTC) 2026/2027 competition season, the foundation announced it would accept applications after May 1, 2026. Confirm exact dates on the portal each year.
• Important restriction: grant funds cannot be used for any product Haas Automation manufactures or that a Haas Factory Outlet sells (including Haas Tooling or service calls). Spend Gene Haas money on other robot materials, registration, machined-part stock, travel, or non-Haas tooling instead - and never request Haas products in the application.
• Tie-in: itemizing how your team uses machining (a Haas Mini Mill, a CNC router, machined-part materials, etc.) and how you build machining skills strengthens your application.

The Intuitive Foundation grant

The Intuitive Foundation (associated with Intuitive Surgical) offers FRC team grants (typically in the ~$1,000-$2,000 range) with broad eligibility: a team must be registered with FIRST for the current season, be non-rookie, and have competed in at least one official FIRST competition. The application portal typically opens in the first week of June and closes in the second week of August, with notification in October and payments anticipated in November. You must submit your final report to remain eligible to reapply - incomplete reports cause disqualification. Email FIRST@intuitive-foundation.org with questions.

How to find more foundation grants

Beyond these two, look at:

• Your local community foundations and corporate-giving programs (search '[your city] community foundation grants' and '[local company] STEM grant').
• The Chief Delphi Grant & Sponsorship Database, a community-maintained collection of FRC grant and sponsorship opportunities.
• Tools that aggregate grants by deadline, but always verify details against the funder's official page.

Build a grant pipeline

Treat grants like a sales pipeline: maintain a spreadsheet with each grant's name, eligibility, amount, deadline, status, and the team member responsible. A team that submits 8-10 well-targeted applications a year will almost always land several.