Kentucky · Nonprofit
Ky FIRST Robotics Inc
Ky FIRST Robotics Inc (Kentucky) receives grants from 8 organizations whose IRS filings report $113,129 to it, the largest being THE ARGOSY FOUNDATION ($45,000). 3 of them have funded it in more than one year.
- Revenue FY2025
- $251k
- Funders on record
- 8
- Grants received
- $113k
- Net assets
- $115k
What Ky FIRST Robotics Inc does
Mission
KY FIRST Robotics mission is to build a strong sustainable robotics program for Kentuckys K-12 students based on the belief that every student can succeed when provided with the tools mentorship and hands-on experiences needed to see themselves as innovators and leaders. The organizations vision is to inspire the next generation of problem solvers and leaders. To achieve this mission KY FIRST Robotics supports the implementation and growth of FIRST robotics programs across the state including programs that serve students from elementary through high school. The organizations primary activities include organizing and hosting robotics competitions and events supporting teams and coaches throughout the season and coordinating opportunities for students to participate in hands-on STEM learning experiences. During the tax year KY FIRST Robotics provided program support through event planning and execution communication and coordination with teams and volunteers and collabo
As stated on its FY2025 Form 990.
Programs
KY FIRST Robotics supports the implementation and growth of FIRST Tech Challenge FTC programs serving middle and high school students across Kentucky. During the reporting period the organization expanded its program offerings by launching an international premier FTC event in Kentucky bringing teams from beyond the state to participate in a high-level competitive experience. In addition the organization provided coordination resources and guidance to teams and coaches and hosted multiple events throughout the season. These efforts resulted in significant growth in the number of participating teams and events. Students engaged in hands-on STEM learning through designing building and programming robots while developing skills in teamwork problem-solving and engineering design.
$121,709 spent$120,124 earned by the program75% of program spendingKY FIRST Robotics supports high school teams participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition FRC. During the reporting period the organization built on prior program success increasing participation from 10 to 11 teams statewide. Activities included ongoing team support coordination and the continuation of an off-season event that provided additional opportunities for students to engage in robotics competition outside of the traditional season. These experiences allowed students to apply advanced engineering and programming concepts in a team-based environment while developing collaboration leadership and technical skills.
$37,364 spent$9,265 earned by the program23% of program spendingKY FIRST Robotics operates a Student Board of Directors program designed to develop student leadership and increase engagement across the organization. During the reporting period the program was in a growth phase with students actively participating in meetings planning initiatives and supporting outreach efforts. This program provided students with opportunities to build leadership communication and organizational skills while contributing to the direction and impact of robotics programs across the state.
$2,229 spent1% of program spendingOther program services, not described on the e-filed return.
$0 spent0% of program spending
The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $161,302.
The organization over time
Each line starts at 100 in 2022, so what you read is the shape rather than the size: 150 means half as much again as 2022, 50 means half. The number beside each label in the key is where it ended. The shaded band is where the middle 50% of its peers' revenue would sit, given their growth.
Balance sheet
Total assets and total liabilities at each year end, in dollars. The largest one-year move in total assets was 2024 to 2025, from $42k to $121k (+188%).
How it's funded, over time
Each bar is one year's revenue split into where it came from, and every bar is the same height — these are shares, not amounts, so a year that raised twice as much looks the same size. Hover a bar for the split.
48% of Ky FIRST Robotics Inc’s revenue is contributions — about as donation-reliant as the typical peer (83% for the typical peer).
Surplus & reserves
Operating surplus or deficit each year, and months of liquidity in hand. 1 of the last 4 reported years ran a deficit.
reserve
Leadership and staff
The officers, directors, trustees and key employees listed on each return. Joined and no longer listed compare each filing with the year before, matching people by surname and first initial; a year after a gap, or a roster under three people, has no comparison.
Chief executive
Kelli Gowan
Executive Director
As listed on its FY2025 Form 990.
Who funds it, year by year
Grant support over time, funder by funder — shade shows the grant size each year.
3 of 8 of your funders are donor-advised or pass-through sponsors (tagged DAF) — 16% of grant dollars received. That money is really individual donors directing a sponsor; the institutions to cultivate are the non-DAF funders.
From the IRS filings of Ky FIRST Robotics Inc’s funders (the co-funder graph). Association, not causation. Trends are read to FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving. FY2024–FY2026 are still being filed and are shown unshaded; they do not move any figure on this page.
How concentrated its funding is
Ky FIRST Robotics Inc leans on a few funders — its largest provides 40% of grant income and the top three 77%; half comes from just 2 funders.
the vertical line marks half of all grant income — 2 funders to its left
46% of the income these shares are computed over arrives through pass-through sponsors or from payers whose filings do not say what kind of payment it is. Concentration is still measured over all of it, because the money is real; what it does not support is a claim about how many institutions have chosen to fund Ky FIRST Robotics Inc.
“Effective funders” = inverse Herfindahl index (1 / Σ shareᵢ²) — the number of equal-sized funders that would give the same concentration. Trends are read to FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving. FY2024–FY2026 are still being filed and are shown unshaded; they do not move any figure on this page.
Where its funders are
Ky FIRST Robotics Inc draws 87% of its grant income from funders outside Kentucky, across 4 states in all.
Funder states come from each funder’s own filing. $18k arriving through sponsors registered in 3 states is excluded from the map and the split above: a sponsor holds money on a donor’s behalf, so its registered address would place those dollars somewhere no donor need ever have been. Trends are read to FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving. FY2024–FY2026 are still being filed and are shown unshaded; they do not move any figure on this page.
Against its field
Ky FIRST Robotics Inc runs a healthier operating margin than three-quarters of the 3,734 youth development nonprofits its size.
this organization peer median middle 50% of peers· 3,734 youth development nonprofits $100k–$1M, FY2025
Organizations like Ky FIRST Robotics Inc
Organizations whose mission and program text most resemble this one, by semantic similarity over every organization in the US filings — the closest peers, and often the clearest route to shared or prospective funders.
In Kentucky
Nationally
Read directly from this organization’s own Form 990, as neutral context.
Where the money goes
91% of spending goes to programs.
Governance
Public support
37%
Share of support from the public (Schedule A) — the basis for its public-charity status.
Footprint & structure
Files a return copy in 1 state
Screen this organization
A dated, signed PDF of the compliance screen for Ky FIRST Robotics Inc: IRS status (Business Master File, Publication 78, auto-revocation), the OFAC sanctions lists, the Internal Revenue Bulletin, and California registration, with the Rev. Proc. 2018-32 §8.01 reliance elements stated element by element. Generated from the current files at the moment you download it.
Screens are triage, not determinations; a source that cannot be read reports not screened, never clear. Screen this nonprofit · How the screen works · on the API as GET /api/screening/{ein}?format=pdf
Questions and answers
- Who funds Ky FIRST Robotics Inc?
- Ky FIRST Robotics Inc (Kentucky) receives grants from 8 organizations whose IRS filings report $113,129 to it, the largest being THE ARGOSY FOUNDATION ($45,000). 3 of them have funded it in more than one year.
- How many funders does Ky FIRST Robotics Inc have?
- IRS filings report 8 organizations giving $113,129 in grants to Ky FIRST Robotics Inc, 3 of which have funded it in more than one year.
- Who is the largest funder of Ky FIRST Robotics Inc?
- THE ARGOSY FOUNDATION is the largest funder on record, with $45,000 in grants. The full list of funders is on this page.
- How can an organization like Ky FIRST Robotics Inc find more funders?
- Start with the funders already giving here, then look at the foundations that back similar organizations in Kentucky. The funding by cause and by state pages list the largest funders for a given area and how to approach them.
Play a game about who funds Ky FIRST Robotics →
These figures are read directly from IRS Form 990 / 990-PF e-file XML: this organization’s own return for FY2025 (financials across 2022–2025), and the filings of 8 funders that report grants to it. “On record” means captured in the filings we have parsed — a funder that does not e-file, or whose grant detail is not itemized, will not appear. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind. Trends on this page end at FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving; later years are shown and marked, and move no figure. Data on this page was exported October 22, 2026. What this page cannot tell you · view filing