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.

Key takeaways

• Gene Haas funds teams that use CNC machining ($3,000 for FRC); apply at ghaasfoundation.org, but funds cannot buy Haas-made products
• The Intuitive Foundation grant is open to any non-rookie team that has competed once; the portal typically opens in early June and closes in mid-August
• Maintain a grant pipeline spreadsheet and use the Chief Delphi Grant & Sponsorship Database to find more opportunities

This lesson was adapted from learnfrc.com.