Washington First Robotics
Washington First Robotics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Kent, Washington (EIN 45-2443839). The organization operates as FIRST Washington, a state-level affiliate of the national FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) organization. The organization provides comprehensive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) programming designed to inspire young people to become future leaders and innovators in STEM fields.
Key facts about Washington First Robotics
- EIN
- 45-2443839
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,211,395
- Grants made (2025)
- 61
- Average grant
- $19,859
- Median grant
- $12,686
- Total assets
- $3,784,820
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Washington First Robotics funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Washington First Robotics's 61 itemized 2025 grants were Washington (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Spokane, WA (3 grants) and Vancouver, WA (2 grants). None of its 61 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for After School STEM Programs" (61 grants).
How Washington First Robotics gives
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Washington First Robotics
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
+16.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+8.5% YoY
Grant Count
61
-18.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+33.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To inspire diverse young people to participate in team-based STEM programs supported by a knowledgeable volunteer community.
Vision: To empower more young people from diverse backgrounds to become leaders and innovators in STEM.
Washington First Robotics operates three primary after-school STEM programs for K-12 students:
- FIRST LEGO League – for grades 4-8 (ages 9-14)
- FIRST Tech Challenge – for grades 7-12 (ages 12-18)
- FIRST Robotics Competition – for grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)
Programs emphasize hands-on learning, team-based problem solving, mentorship, and celebration. The organization serves students from underrepresented backgrounds, with approximately 40% of participants from Title 1 schools, 44% identifying as minority youth, and 36% being girls.
Grantmaking
Washington First Robotics makes grants to schools and educational organizations to support STEM programming. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Washington First Robotics operates statewide throughout Washington. The organization serves students in grades 4-12 across the state, including schools in Arlington, Spokane, Vancouver, and other regions.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 61 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
- Total Revenue: $3,562,516
- Total Expenses: $3,546,588
- Net Income: $15,928
- Total Assets: $3,784,820
- Total Liabilities: $755,456
- Net Assets: $3,029,364
Revenue Sources (FY 2025):
- Contributions: $2,882,504 (80.9%)
- Program Services: $578,022 (16.2%)
- Investment Income: $101,990 (2.9%)
Notable Expenses (FY 2025):
- Executive Compensation: $217,293 (6.1%)
- Other Salaries and Wages: $663,415 (18.7%)
- Professional Fundraising Fees: $7,845 (0.2%)
Staffing: 13 employees
Tax-Exempt Status: Recognized since September 2011
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,784,820 | $3,260,955 | $3,480,614 |
| Revenue | $3,562,516 | $3,005,335 | $1,638,951 |
| Expenses | $3,546,588 | $3,146,250 | $1,612,068 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $101,990 | $79,229 | $1,705 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Seattle Public Schools ($77,781), Federal Way School District ($71,646), Everett School District ($68,651).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Fred Krug
- Board/Officers: Christy Barwick, Erica Beckstrom, Christoph Wimmer (Governor)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JT Perry | Chair | 3 | — |
| Rami Rafeh | Vice Chair | 3 | — |
| Rob Short | Development Chair | 3 | — |
| Jamie Garza | Governance Chair | 3 | — |
| Tiffany Lynch | Finance Chair | 3 | — |
| Christie Baudin | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Michelle Freed | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Molly Zammit | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Uday Shankar | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Tami Schwartz | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Varun Saini | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Kevin Ross | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Viplav Mishra | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Claudius Mbemba | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Priya Krishnan | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jarrod Ammons | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Fred Krug | President | 40 | $66,923 |
| Erica Beckstrom | President Until Aug 2024 | 20 | $147,834 |
| Adrienne Collins | Director of Programs | 40 | $100,248 |
| Lila Mowatt | Director of Development | 40 | $111,790 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Washington First Robotics operates a Booster Account program that allows FIRST teams to fundraise and receive tax-deductible donations. The organization serves as a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent for team fundraising efforts, providing oversight of donated funds and supporting program development.
The organization receives significant funding support from national sources, including the US Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology and the American Online Giving Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Washington First Robotics fund?
**Mission:** To inspire diverse young people to participate in team-based STEM programs supported by a knowledgeable volunteer community. **Vision:** To empower more young people from diverse backgrounds to become leaders and innovators in STEM. Washington First Robotics operates three primary after-school STEM programs for K-12 students: • **FIRST LEGO League** – for grades 4-8 (ages 9-14) • **FIRST Tech Challenge** – for grades 7-12 (ages 12-18) • **FIRST Robotics Competition** – for grades 9…
How do I apply for a grant from Washington First Robotics?
Washington First Robotics makes grants to schools and educational organizations to support STEM programming. Recent grants include: • Arlington Education Association/Arlington School District No. 16: $15,449 (2025) • Skyview High School Boosters Club: $15,100 (2025) • Spokane International Academy: $12,661 (2025) The organization also administers grant funding from the state. In 2023-2024, Washington First Robotics received a $1,421,425 contract from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instr…
Where does Washington First Robotics make grants?
Washington First Robotics operates statewide throughout Washington. The organization serves students in grades 4-12 across the state, including schools in Arlington, Spokane, Vancouver, and other regions.
What size grants does Washington First Robotics award?
In 2025, Washington First Robotics awarded 61 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.