FIRST (organization)

Contents

FIRST (organization)

FIRST is an international nonprofit organization that promotes youth STEM engagement through robotics competitions, mentorship, and experiential learning, founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989 and headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire. FIRST organizes regional, national, and international events that bring together students, volunteers, corporate partners, and educational institutions such as NASA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of California, Berkeley to advance workforce development, innovation, and community outreach.

History

FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen with support from engineers and educators linked to institutions like MIT, NASA, GE, Bosch, and Ford Motor Company to address gaps noted by organizations such as the National Science Foundation and American Association for the Advancement of Science. Early milestones included inaugural competitions and partnerships with regional sponsors including NASA Johnson Space Center, Honeywell, Toyota, Rockwell International, and Intel Corporation, which paralleled initiatives by Project Lead The Way and programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In the 1990s and 2000s, FIRST expanded internationally with events in collaboration with FIRST Canada, FIRST UK, FIRST Australia, FIRST Global, and the European Union educational networks, while engaging corporate partners like Boeing, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, and Siemens. Major public recognitions included appearances at events hosted by The White House and endorsements by figures such as Bill Gates, Barack Obama, George H. W. Bush, and Mitt Romney, alongside collaborations with nonprofit stakeholders like Girls Who Code and The Smithsonian Institution.

FIRST administers multiple tiered programs tailored by age and skill level, each with distinct formats and rules created in consultation with partners such as NASA, National Science Teachers Association, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The flagship high-school competition, FIRST Robotics Competition, culminates in regional and world championships involving teams that have previously advanced to championships hosted in venues like Edward Jones Dome, George R. Brown Convention Center, Truist Center, and Walt Disney World. FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Lego League operate with frameworks influenced by educational standards from Common Core State Standards Initiative and assessments used by institutions such as ETS and International Baccalaureate. FIRST also runs outreach formats such as FIRST Impact Award initiatives and community engagement programs partnered with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, YMCA, Teach For America, and Habitat for Humanity. Competitions frequently feature keynote speakers and judges drawn from NASA Astronaut Corps, Amazon, Google, Lockheed Martin, and Tesla, Inc..

FIRST is governed by a board of directors composed of leaders from corporations, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations including executives formerly associated with General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Intel Corporation, AT&T, and universities such as Princeton University and University of Michigan. Executive leadership reports work with program directors, regional coordinators, and volunteer networks aligned with chapters like FIRST Robotics Competition Regionals and national partners such as FIRST Canada and FIRST UK. Governance structures reflect nonprofit practices promoted by entities like Council on Foundations, BoardSource, and Independent Sector, and compliance considerations often reference standards used by IRS and state charity regulators in the United States. Advisory councils include educators from National Science Teachers Association, corporate liaisons from Microsoft and Siemens, and former participants now affiliated with institutions such as Harvard University and Yale University.

FIRST reports outcomes related to STEM persistence, college matriculation, and career entry, with alumni working at organizations including SpaceX, Boeing, Google, Apple Inc., and Medtronic. Research partnerships with universities like MIT, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Washington have studied FIRST’s effects on diversity and retention, often citing comparisons to programs run by Khan Academy and Code.org. FIRST’s outreach targets underserved communities through collaborations with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Junior Achievement USA, Urban League, Teach For America, and municipal initiatives in cities like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Sydney. Notable alumni and mentors have achieved recognition through awards such as the MacArthur Fellowship, National Medal of Technology, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and industry honors from IEEE and ASME.

FIRST’s funding model comprises corporate sponsorships, philanthropic grants, event fees, and donations from partners such as Kraft Heinz, Disney, NASA, Intel Corporation, Boeing, Rockwell Collins, Toyota, and Under Armour. Major philanthropic supporters have included foundations like Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and family offices associated with figures such as Paul Allen and Mark Zuckerberg. Strategic partnerships with academic institutions like MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Rochester Institute of Technology support curriculum development, while corporate alliances with Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Siemens, and Autodesk provide technical resources, mentor networks, and judging panels. Government and public-sector collaborations have involved agencies such as NASA, U.S. Department of Education, and state education departments in programs modeled on workforce initiatives from Department of Labor.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New Hampshire