Best Grants for Robotics in Texas

Texas K–12 schools and 501(c)(3) organizations serving youth can access funding through Simmons First Foundation for special education and substance abuse or violence prevention programs, including adapted STEM and robotics-related activities. Grants of US $2,500 - US $50,000 support program costs (not admin or capital) in counties with a Simmons Bank facility.

This grant aims to enhance safety and health in U.S. mining operations through research in automation, robotics, and intelligent systems. It addresses critical issues like emergency communication and self-escape reliability while supporting the development of field-ready solutions. By leveraging advanced technologies, the initiative seeks to improve miner safety and health, reduce hazardous exposures, and foster community engagement. Applicants must be U.S. academic institutions with accredited mining programs, linking project goals to documented health burdens.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing further education in career and technical fields such as robotics, engineering, or design, including those from Texas, can apply for the Michael Dean Guilliams Memorial Scholarship, awarding approximately US $1,500. Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia supports students committed to technical professions rather than liberal arts or healthcare fields.

Texas robotics and STEAM education nonprofits can access funding through Dawn Foods Foundation to support robotics, STEAM, and related educational programs. Organizations in Dallas County and Harris County may be eligible, especially those combining robotics with literacy, vocational training, or healthy living initiatives that strengthen community vibrancy and volunteerism.

Texas public middle schools with existing PLTW Gateway robotics or STEM programs can use this US $10,000 grant to expand their PLTW Gateway offerings, including robotics-focused units, class sections, and teacher training. Eligible campuses in Marble Falls ISD can cover participation fees, required devices, core training, and program equipment and supplies through Project Lead The Way.

Public middle schools in Marble Falls ISD can receive US $20,000 over two years to launch and expand PLTW Gateway robotics and STEM units, covering fees, required technology, equipment, supplies, and teacher training costs. Focused on STEM and robotics education, Project Lead The Way requires annual reports and participation in student and teacher surveys.

Low-income or financially challenged engineering students in the U.S., including those focused on robotics and automation, can receive Last Mile support to cover final tuition and expenses needed for degree completion. Applied Materials Foundation, through the Applied Materials Momentum Fund and Last Mile Education Fund, offers up to US $10,000 and encourages recipients to explore related internship and full-time opportunities.

Engineering and robotics students in Texas and across the U.S. can receive bridge grants to cover unexpected financial barriers to completing a degree, including those in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, and related fields. Applied Materials Foundation’s Momentum Fund supports juniors, seniors, and graduate students with approximately US $1,100 to maintain educational progress and pursue career-building opportunities.

Engineering students in Texas pursuing robotics-related majors can access emergency financial assistance through Applied Materials Foundation’s Momentum Fund, administered by Last Mile Education Fund. Grants up to US $595 help low-income, DACA, F1 visa, and other eligible students cover basic needs like food, housing, transportation, and connectivity to stay on track toward their computing or engineering degrees.

Minority-serving institutions in the U.S. with STEM doctoral programs can apply for National Science Foundation CREST-RISE support, awarding US $100,000 - US $2,000,000 for research infrastructure, equipment, and graduate training. Texas universities building robotics, AI, data science, or other advanced STEM doctoral capacity may be eligible if they meet MSI criteria.

Universities and research organizations working on robotics, energy, power, and control systems in Texas can apply for National Science Foundation support through the Energy, Power, Control, and Networks program. This grant funds innovative research in networked multi-agent systems, cyber-physical control, machine learning, neuromorphic engineering, and applications such as transportation, robotics, and biomedical devices across the U.S.

Robotics-focused organizations and studios creating impact-driven real-time 3D projects can seek Unity for Humanity funding, technical support, and resources, including up to US $500,000, while based in Texas or elsewhere globally. Focused on social, educational, environmental, health, or humanitarian impact aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, Unity Technologies invites legal entities, preferably charitable or nonprofit, to apply.

Texas robotics programs associated with schools or 501(c)(3) nonprofits can access funding through John Deere Foundation to support FIRST Tech Challenge team registration and robot or field kit costs. Teams in John Deere Inspire communities, serving underserved students, or supported by John Deere employee mentors are especially encouraged to apply.

Robotics teams affiliated with schools or 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Texas and other John Deere home communities can seek support for FIRST Robotics Competition participation and related STEM activities. Grants from John Deere Foundation help teams near Travis County and other eligible areas, especially those serving underserved, underrepresented, or rural students and engaging John Deere employee mentors.

Graduate-level U.S. students in robotics, cybersecurity, computer science, electrical engineering, and related STEM fields can receive US $3,000 to cover tuition and required course expenses while studying at accredited institutions. With a mission to support advanced STEM education, AFCEA provides this scholarship to eligible students in Texas and nationwide who meet GPA and enrollment requirements.

Texas 501(c)(3) organizations and school districts offering robotics and broader technology or engineering education can apply for up to US $50,000 to deliver hands-on learning, scholarships, and workforce pathways. With a mission to build safer cities and thriving communities, Motorola Solutions Foundation prioritizes underserved youth and programs that support first responders and STEM education across North America.

The AIAA Foundation Classroom Grant Program provides funding of up to $500 for K-12 teachers to enhance student learning in STEM subjects, particularly in Aerospace. The program encourages innovative projects that address unmet educational needs. Schools can apply for a maximum of two grants per year. Eligible projects include STEM demonstration kits and robotics supplies, while funding for items like audio-visual equipment and travel is not permitted.

Texas K-12 public, private, and tribal schools serving a significant percentage of Native students can access funding through the American Indian Science and Engineering Society to build robotics and computer science capacity. The SPRK-ing Interest in Computer Science program provides Sphero robots, tablets, training, and curriculum to support culturally relevant STEM+CS and robotics activities, with priority for middle schools.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) institutions and organizations conducting Japan–U.S. collaborative policy-oriented research or dialogue projects on robotics, AI, or other science and technology issues, including those in Texas, can apply for the Japan Foundation’s Japan–U.S. Global Partnership Grant Program. Funding supports joint research, exchanges, and partnerships addressing global societal challenges across three broad thematic areas.

The High-End Instrumentation (HEI) Grant Program, offered by the NIH, invites applications for purchasing or upgrading high-end, specialized instruments, with a minimum award of $750,001 and a maximum of $2,000,000. This program supports NIH investigators aiming to enhance their research capabilities through advanced technologies such as mass spectrometers and electron microscopes. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm local time of the applicant organization.

The Creative Capital Award, established in 1999, provides unrestricted project grants ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 for innovative artistic works in various disciplines. It supports artists in visual arts, performing arts, film, and literature through a democratic, open-call process. Awardees receive professional development resources and mentorship over a five-year relationship. Additionally, recipients are automatically considered for the State of the Art Prize, which offers a $10,000 grant to one artist from each U.S. state.

The Best Buy Teen Tech Center is offering a Mini Tech Skills Workshop Grant to support local and national non-profits in providing STEAM skills workshops for youth aged 13-19. These workshops, which include topics such as coding, filmmaking, and robotics, aim to enhance technical skills and career exploration. Funding can reach up to $24,999, with a focus on hands-on, facilitator-led experiences, and additional programming opportunities may be considered.

The Russell Sage Foundation's Future of Work Grant Program seeks innovative research proposals that explore the impact of job quality changes on low- and moderately paid workers in the U.S. The program emphasizes studies on employer practices, labor market dynamics, and public policies. It prioritizes projects utilizing new data or unique methods, focusing on issues like job automation, labor market shifts post-COVID-19, and the effects of emerging technologies on workforce wellbeing.

The Webber Family Foundation's Capacity Building Grants aim to enhance the capabilities of organizations serving low-income youth in Austin, TX, focusing on education and arts. Grants of up to $25,000 support projects that align with the foundation's mission and benefit students exceeding grade-level expectations. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and primarily serve local youth. The foundation emphasizes quality education, early literacy, and out-of-school enrichment, fostering both academic and artistic skills.