Through the generosity of our sponsors, our Competitive Team Grant Program matches schools and organizations interested in adopting the world's largest and fastest-growing academic robotics competitions with the program resources necessary to get started. This unique program allows the Robotics Education & Competitive Foundation to provide the necessary resources to inspire the next generation of you.
The REC currently supports competitions with the following programs*:
- VEX IQ Robotics Competition
- VEX V5 Robotics Competition
- VEX U Robotics Competition
- VEX AI Robotics Competition
- VEX Factory Automation Competition
- REC Foundation Aerial Drone Competition
- Online Challenges
*Please note that the REC may not have funds to sponsor all the programs listed above.
Some sponsors provide grants that are often specific to particular geographical regions. The Grant Support Management Team will do its best to find funding that matches your program if grants meeting your organization’s criteria are unavailable. In that case, your interest survey will be considered ‘future consideration’ and reviewed again as resources become available because new donors provide funds throughout the season. The REC Foundation does its best to support all requests but can not guarantee each applicant will receive support.
Purpose
The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation’s global mission is to provide every educator with competition, education, and workforce readiness programs to increase student engagement in science, technology, engineering, math, and computer science.
No other experience is as thrilling and rewarding as the teamwork displayed at a REC Foundation Competition. With this in mind, all the grants provided by the REC Foundation are intended for competitive teams. All granted teams must attend at least one REC Foundation-sponsored event during the current season. If you are looking for grants for classroom use, please see the Funds and Grants for Robotics Programs page on the VEX website.
Granted Programs and Eligibility
Current REC grant-sponsored programs focus on the VEX IQ Robotics Competition, VEX V5 Robotics Competition, and Aerial Drone Competition. Each requires different equipment and materials, including, but not limited to, robot/drone kits, playing fields, and game elements. Each grant-funded team must register with the REC Foundation each season and compete. Registering each team for the season allows event partners who host local events and your teams to follow their success as they compete.
In addition, teams must travel and pay for local event registrations, which vary in price. REC programs allow for teams to attend multiple events during the season. Registering for events is not part of the grant approval process and is something done later in the season when your teams are ready to compete, but you can learn how to register for an event below if you’d like to know more about that process:
- Register for a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Event
- Register for a VEX V5 Robotics Competition Event
- Register for an Aerial Drone Competition
To find local events to attend in your area, go to RobotEvents.com and select the drop-down menu under Competitions.
Choose the Right Program
Several factors should be considered when selecting a program. Two of the most important factors are the number of students that will compete and the age group they belong to. A VEX IQ Robotics Competition Team usually includes 4-6 team members, while a VEX V5 Competition Robotics Team usually consists of 5-7. There is no limit to the number of students that can participate on a team, but each team must have at least two team members to do well at an event. The game manual for each season explicitly defines eligibility based on age, which is crucial when deciding which program is right for your organization.
The age of the team members is also a factor that may determine which program to pursue. While there is an age limit for competition purposes, students can always play up with older students if necessary. Older students are not, however, allowed to play below the age requirement. For example, if you have three students who must play at a middle school level, any students who are elementary age can play on their middle school team. The inverse is unacceptable: students over the age limit for elementary cannot play on an elementary team just because one or more team members qualify. More information on the programs and age qualifications are below.
For more information on the programs and eligibility, visit the REC Library article “Which VEX Competition Do I Choose?”
VEX IQ Robotics Competition
The VEX IQ Robotics Competition Game Manual defines ‘student’ as follows:
Anyone who will be 15 or younger at VEX Worlds. This event is usually held in May, near the end of each season. Eligibility may also be granted based on a disability that has delayed education by at least one year. Students are the individuals who design, build, repair, and program the Robot with minimal Adult assistance.
Elementary School Student – Any Student born after May 1st of the competition season (i.e., who will be 12 or younger at VEX Worlds). Elementary School Students may “play up” and compete as Middle School Students.
Middle School Student – Any eligible Student who is not an Elementary School Student.
Find more information in the game manual for the season.
VEX V5 Robotics Competition
The VEX V5 Robotics Competition Game Manual defines student’ as follows:
A person is considered a Student if they meet both of the following criteria:
- Anyone earning or has earned credit toward a secondary school (i.e., high school) diploma, certificate, or other equivalent during the six (6) months preceding the VEX Robotics World Championship. Courses earning credits leading up to high school would satisfy this requirement.
- Anyone who will be 19 or younger at VEX Worlds. This event is usually held in May, near the end of each season. Eligibility may also be granted based on a disability that has delayed education by at least one year.
Middle School Student – A Student born after May 1st (i.e., who will be 15 or younger at VEX Worlds for the current season). Any Students who meet this criterion may also compete as High School Students.
High School Student – Any eligible Student who is not a Middle School Student.
Find more information in the game manual for the season.
Aerial Drone Competition
The Aerial Drone Competition Game Manual defines student as follows:
A person is considered a Student if they meet both of the following criteria:
Anyone who is earning or has earned credit toward a high school diploma, certificate, or other equivalent after September 1st of the current season. Courses earning credits leading up to high school would satisfy this requirement.
Middle School Student: A Student born after May 1st (i.e., who will be 15 or younger in May in the current season). An Elementary School Student may compete as a middle school Student.
Additional Assistance
The REC Foundation provides a wide range of assistance to coaches and teams, as described in the sections below.
Coach Academy
The Coach Academy is designed to help new and experienced coaches learn about the available resources and allow participants to interact with others to develop the best, most sustainable, and enjoyable experience for their teams. The course is asynchronous but still designed for meaningful participation and interaction with coaches nationwide and REC Staff.
REC Library
The REC Library is an excellent resource for all coaches. It is categorized by the different programs available. Go to the REC Library and select a program to view the vast amount of information available to help coaches, team members, parents, and others.
VEX Library
The VEX Library is another resource for All Things VEX! It contains build instructions, STEM Labs for lesson plans, coding, and even virtual skills exercises.
Grant Support Managers
Grant recipients are assigned to a Grant Support Manager, or GSM, when their application is submitted. The GSM is your contact throughout the season. GSMs will guide you through the entire process for grants and will continue supporting coaches throughout the season. Coaches can interact with their GSM directly but may also interact with the entire team. Coaches can email the team at grants@recf.org.
Regional Support Managers
In addition to the Grant Support Manager, a REC Foundation Regional Support Manager (RSM) is a staff member who supports the needs of teams and events within a defined region. To find your RSM, go to the Robot Events Support Page and click on your region or state. A popup will display contact information for your RSM, which you can use to ask questions about any REC Foundation programs.
Reach out directly to them if you have any questions while reviewing our Library articles or creating/running your robotics team. Your RSM can connect you with a local coach who can mentor you in your first years and point you to local or regional social media groups. Watch for Team Blast emails from your RSM and the REC Foundation. Additionally, follow REC Foundation and VEX on social media for the latest announcements.
Fundraising Resources for Teams
REC Foundation's competitive robotics programs remain among the most affordable available, but team expenses can add up over a season. Determining how much funding your team needs and identifying sponsors, donors, and fundraisers ensures your program remains sustainable season after season.
Please refer to the REC Library under More Getting Started Guides in the VIQRC Getting Started and the V5RC Getting Started sections.
Additional Expenses
REC offers various grants to support new and existing teams. However, expenses must be considered when creating and maintaining a robotics program. Each year, teams must register with the REC. They must also pay for each event they attend, and there are travel costs to consider. Depending on the program, teams may need additional materials to build the robot the kids want to create. The game changes each season, and the game elements change to accommodate the new game each season.
Grant Application Process
REC approves one grant per program per organization. Once an organization has completed a survey for one of our competitive programs, it is no longer eligible. If you cannot apply for grants or accept the terms and conditions, someone from your organization, such as a specialist or coordinator, can apply for grants and accept the T&C for you. Regardless of their role, everyone will need to complete a background check and follow the steps below.
RECF Background Check Process
In the interest of student safety, the REC Foundation is updating and expanding the requirements and process for background checks to include US-based coaches and Event Partners. Follow these steps to complete the Background Check. You must create a Robot Events account if you do not already have one. You will need to use the same email for the background check you use for your Robot Events account. Get started by visiting the REC Background Check Process page in the library. It is essential to complete this step because your survey/grant application cannot be reviewed until the background check has been processed.
Permissions
Depending on the organization, some employees may be unable to apply for grants through the REC Foundation. In addition, some may not be permitted to accept the terms and conditions necessary to receive grant materials and funds. If you cannot apply or accept terms and conditions, an authorized representative can be added as a co-applicant and listed as an organizational contact on the grant application.
Register your Teams
If you know the program that meets your teams' needs, you can register them as part of the pre-approval process. If you haven't already, you must create a Robot Events account. The person you list as the financial contact for your organization must create an account and go through the background check as well, so keep that in mind as you begin this process. If you are unsure which program is right for your organization, contact the Grant Support Managers at grants@recf.org, who will contact you to discuss grant options. Please select one of the following options below and follow the registration instructions. It is essential to know that you should never pay to register your teams if you want to receive funding for the season. In the step that explains how to complete registration, you must select “Pay Later.”
- Registering a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Team
- Registering a VEX V5 Robotics Competition Team
- Registering an Aerial Drone Competition Team
Apply for a Grant
The REC Foundation is committed to supporting you at every stage as you expand your program and inspire students through robotics. Our Grant Team diligently connects schools and organizations with funding opportunities made possible by our generous sponsors. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us at grants@recf.org.