Washington First Robotics
Washington First Robotics is a public charity based in Kent, Washington. It operates as FIRST Washington in the state and supports after-school, team-based STEM programs for K–12 students through FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition.
Washington First Robotics at a glance
In short: Washington First Robotics gave $1.2M across 61 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,211,395
- +8.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 61
- -18.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,859
- +33.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,686
- Total assets
- $3,784,820
- +16.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Washington First Robotics
- How to Apply
-
For the 2026 FIRST Washington grant cycle, submit an application for each team seeking consideration. Public schools seeking the separate OSPI replacement support should complete the support application, including if the team is self-sufficient.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 FIRST Washington grant application window is listed as September 14–October 5.
- Deadline
- The 2026 FIRST Washington grant application window is listed as September 14–October 5.
- Contact
Mailing address: 22426 72Nd Ave S, Kent, WA 98032
Phone: (253) 236-9327
Website: https://firstwa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Washington First Robotics funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Seattle Public Schools ($78K). Together the top 10 received $519K.
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 130 grants of 136 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization operates as FIRST Washington in Washington State. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to Washington recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 61 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Washington First Robotics gives
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2024) to $1.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 61 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Public Schools Seattle, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $77,781 |
| Federal Way School District Federal Way, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $71,646 |
| Everett School District Everett, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $68,651 |
| Bellevue School District Bellevue, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $64,433 |
| Issaquah School District Issaquah, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $56,027 |
| Renton School District Renton, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $42,286 |
| Auburn School District Auburn, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $37,243 |
| Bethel School District Spanaway, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $36,374 |
| Puyallup School District Puyallup, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $34,929 |
| Lake Washington School District Redmond, WA | Support for After School STEM Programs | $30,099 |
Ready to take the next step with Washington First Robotics?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,784,820 | $3,562,516 | $3,546,588 | $1,211,395 | 61 | $101,990 |
| 2024 | $3,260,955 | $3,005,335 | $3,146,250 | $1,116,125 | 75 | $79,229 |
| 2023 | $3,480,614 | $1,638,951 | $1,612,068 | — | — | $1,705 |
| 2022 | $3,237,595 | $1,442,784 | $1,263,374 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $3,081,738 | $932,495 | $786,510 | — | — | $297 |
| 2020 | $2,986,533 | $1,747,118 | $1,505,810 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to inspire diverse young people to participate in team-based STEM programs supported by a knowledgeable volunteer community. Its vision is to empower more young people from diverse backgrounds to become leaders and innovators in STEM.
Its programs include FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition. The organization’s 2023 filing describes grant funds earmarked for FIRST Robotics programs in grades 4–12 and says Washington public and tribal compact schools are eligible to apply.
Among its 2025 grantees, Spokane International Academy received $12,661. The academy describes its own mission as equipping students with academic skills, habits of mind, and global competence to complete advanced high-school courses and a four-year college degree, and to become leaders who can transform their communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Washington First Robotics reported 61 grants totaling $1,211,395. Grants ranged from $5,205 to $77,781, with a median of $12,686. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Washington. The largest awards included $77,781 to Seattle Public Schools, $71,646 to Federal Way School District, $68,651 to Everett School District, and $64,433 to Bellevue School District; each was for support of after-school STEM programs.
The organization’s website says that, for the 2026 grant cycle, teams must submit an application for each team they want considered. Grants will be issued separately rather than deducted from FIRST Washington registration, and school-based teams must provide information about school requirements. A separate public-school support application addresses replacement funding for lost OSPI funds; the website says support is allocated according to need and is separate from the FIRST Washington grant.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists JT Perry as chair; Rami Rafeh as vice chair; Rob Short as development chair; Jamie Garza as governance chair; Tiffany Lynch as finance chair; and Christie Baudin, Michelle Freed, Molly Zammit, Uday Shankar, and Tami Schwartz as board members.
Washington First Robotics is led by Erica Beckstrom, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 4 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Erica Beckstrom
President
Board Chair → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$61K (2021) → $148K (2025)
Fred Krug
President
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$67K (2025)
Jt Perry
Chair
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
Board Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Short
Development Chair
Director → Development Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Garza
Governance Chair
Director → Governance Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Lynch
Finance Chair
Treasurer → Finance Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lila Mowatt
Director of Development
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$107K (2024) → $112K (2025)
Adrienne Collins
Director of Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$100K (2025)
Kevin Ross
Board Member
Founding Chairman → Director, 2023
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christie Baudin
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claudius Mbemba
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tami Schwartz
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Viplav Mishra
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Freed
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly Zammit
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rami Rafeh
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Uday Shankar
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jarrod Ammons
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Priya Krishnan
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Varun Saini
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Jordan Charles (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Joydeep Hazra (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Carol Olsby (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Clayton Wood (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Dee Dee Walsh (2020–2023) — Chairperson
- Former: Patrick Jenny (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Susan Saideman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mary Waiss (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Dona Keating (2023) — Director
- Former: Priya Cloutier (2023) — Director
- Former: Alex Tokman (2020–2022) — Board Chair
- Former: Bob Strasser (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Bruce Shafer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Christy Barwick (2020–2022) — Finance Chair
- Former: Graham Smith (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: John Hotta (2020–2022) — Reg Council Chair
- Former: Rob'n T. Vazquez (2021–2022) — Director of Finance
- Former: Christy Johnson (2020–2021) — Governance Chair
- Former: Janis Machala (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Christoph Wimmer (2021) — Director
- Former: Christopher Wimmer (2020) — Past Chair
- Former: Eric Harris (2020) — Director
- Former: Erin McCallum (2020) — President
- Former: Mark Hofer (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $148K, to Erica Beckstrom (President Until AUG 2024). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Washington First Robotics
How much does Washington First Robotics give each year?
Washington First Robotics gave $1.2M across 61 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 75 grants.
What is Washington First Robotics's typical grant size?
Washington First Robotics's median grant in 2025 was $12,686, and its average grant was $19,859, across 61 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Washington First Robotics give grants?
Washington First Robotics gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Spokane, WA (3 grants) and Vancouver, WA (2 grants).
Does Washington First Robotics give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 61 grants with a stated purpose on Washington First Robotics's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for After School STEM Programs" (61 grants).
Who are Washington First Robotics's largest grantees?
Washington First Robotics's largest 2025 grantees include Seattle Public Schools ($77,781), Federal Way School District ($71,646) and Everett School District ($68,651), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Washington First Robotics?
Washington First Robotics reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.6M.
What does Washington First Robotics fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to inspire diverse young people to participate in team-based STEM programs supported by a knowledgeable volunteer community. Its vision is to empower more young people from diverse backgrounds to become leaders and innovators in STEM. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Washington First Robotics?
For the 2026 FIRST Washington grant cycle, submit an application for each team seeking consideration. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Washington First Robotics's EIN?
Washington First Robotics's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2443839. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Washington First Robotics funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/washington-first-robotics-morg_c681587eb7dd48479dc6179d9a1e53a8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_452443839_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Washington First Robotics funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/washington-first-robotics-morg_c681587eb7dd48479dc6179d9a1e53a8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Washington First Robotics's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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