2026 - 2027 John Deere FIRST Grant Application

2026 - 2027 John Deere FIRST Grant Application

John Deere FIRST Team Grants support teams participating in any FIRST program that are either:

  • Located in an eligible John Deere home community, or
  • Supported by a committed, in-person John Deere employee serving as a mentor or coach.   

Note: Additional funding support is available through John Deere's employee giving program, Power for Good. John Deere employees who serve as FIRST mentors or coaches can earn volunteer rewards and direct those funds to eligible FIRST teams.

Our commitment to FIRST aligns with the John Deere Foundation’s goal of serving at least one million youth by 2030. Together, John Deere and FIRST are committed to STEM for Everyone, empowering students to innovate, think creatively, solve problems, and develop leadership skills. We encourage all teams to reflect these values within their team culture.

This application provides upfront funding opportunities for:

  • FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams (with Founders Edition) in the United States and Canada
  • FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams in the United States, Canada, and Mexico
  • FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams globally

Note: Outside the United States and Canada, support for FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge teams is administered through separate grant programs managed by local FIRST Program Delivery Partners.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Eligibility Requirements

Please do not apply unless your team meets at least one of the following criteria:

  • Located in an eligible John Deere home community; or
  • Has a committed, in-person John Deere employee serving as a mentor or coach.

Important: Eligible mentors and coaches must be current John Deere employees who are eligible for the John Deere Employee Giving Program. Retirees, dealers, and contingent workers are not eligible.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Why Apply?

All teams with a confirmed John Deere employee mentor or coach should apply, even if they do not need or qualify for upfront funding. Approved teams may receive:

  • Eligibility for support if they qualify for the FIRST World Championship in Houston.
  • Specially designed John Deere Green & Yellow safety glasses (FTC and FRC teams).
  • Recognition as an official John Deere-supported team, including access to branding guidelines and logos.
  • Mentor recognition and support from John Deere, including engagement with John Deere FIRST Program Leads.
  • Inclusion in John Deere’s global reporting and celebration of support for FIRST  programs worldwide.

________________________________________________________________________________

Funding Information

Funding amounts vary for both new and returning teams based on demonstrated financial need.

Eligible Expenses (full or partial)

  • Team registration fees 
  • Robot kits
  • Field setup kits

Teams that qualify for the FIRST World Championship may also be eligible for additional funding support.

Expenses Not Covered

  • Local event registration fees
  • Premier or Open event participation fees
  • Travel expenses
  • Team apparel

__________________________________________________________________________________

Application Deadlines

Applications will be accepted while funding remains available.

Note: Review and approval of FRC grant applications will begin on or after October 5, 2026.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Next Steps

If you believe your team may be eligible, please complete the screening questions below. Eligible teams will then be directed to complete the full 2026 – 2027 John Deere FIRST Grant Application. Please submit one application per team or Class Pack. 

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
Continue