To broaden access and reduce inequities in STEM education and after-school programming, FIRST^® has partnered with Apple and Microsoft to  provide grants of up to $50,000 to as many as 15 communities in United States and Canada for the coming school year.

The FIRST STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant is designed to provide training and technical assistance to enable community leaders to:

• Map existing community resources and identify service gaps or other unmet needs;
• Provide the supports and resources necessary in underserved communities to increase access to FIRST programs and/or develop models for inclusive practices; and
• Create the metrics to drive continuous improvement.

The funding period begins in June 2016 and concludes on June 30, 2017. Grants will range from $5,000 to $50,000 with an average award of $25,000 and may be used to cover costs for coalition capacity-building and meeting the needs of students participating in the proposed activities including tools, materials and robot kits, registration fees, stipends, travel, food, and other expenses essential to planning.

Coalitions are encouraged to develop innovative outreach approaches in participating communities, with a local nonprofit, school district, or other non-FIRST entity required to serve as the anchor organization.

Download the guidelines and fill out the forms HERE.

Letters of intent deadline: March 11, 2016.

Photo: Students from McKinley Tech High School in Washington, D.C., work on their robot in the FIRST Robotics Competition, Friday, March 5, 2010, (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

Filed under: K-12 Outreach Programs, Special Features

Tags: after-school program, FIRST, grants, nonprofit, Professional Development, Resources for Teachers, Robotics, STEM education, STEM Equity Awards, stipenss, Teacher Training, travel, underserved students