Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) Competitive Team Grant Program connects schools and organizations with resources to support a competition team.
Before applying for a RECF Grant, we recommend reviewing the Aerial Drone Competition FAQ Page. This page will answer most questions about the program, including timeline, equipment needs, registration, equipment costs, team size, and other additional resources.
After reading the FAQ, please contact your Drone Regional Support Manager(RSM) if you still have questions about the Aerial Drone Competition.
If you have questions about the grant process or requirements, please contact a Grant Support Manager (GSM) at grants@recf.org.
All RECF Grants recipients are required to:
- Attend at least one competition during the current season.
- Register their teams in the following competition season.
Important:
- RECF Grants are available only for competition teams and event partners and are not intended for general classroom use.
- Grants typically cover only a portion of the total costs of running a team.
- While grants for returning teams may occasionally be available, they are not guaranteed. We strongly encourage all teams to engage in fundraising activities during the season to ensure future participation.
Available Grants
As grants become available, we will post them here. In the meantime, we encourage you to complete a grant application. Our grant team will contact you once a suitable opportunity arises.
Complete a Grant Application
STEP 1: Create an Account
Create an account on RECFevents.org following these instructions.
STEP 2: Complete Background Check
Complete a RECF Background Check online with Sterling Volunteers. This is a requirement for all primary coaches, secondary coaches, and event partners.
Coaches can find the background check instructions in the REC Library.
STEP 3: Register your Competition Teams
Register your team(s) on RECFevents.org following these instructions and select Pay Later during checkout.
At this stage, you're simply registering the number of teams you'd like to have—there’s no need to know which students will be on each team or how many students will be on each team. Coaches may enter that information, which can be added later.
If the RECF is able to award you a grant for team registrations, the corresponding number of team registrations will be marked as paid.
STEP 4: Complete the Grant Application
Applications for 2025 -2026 will open soon. Please check back regularly for updates.
Important:
- Please use the same email address in your grant application as you used in your RECFevents account to ensure we can accurately match your information.
- If another person is required to apply and/or accept the grant's terms and conditions, please add the authorized representative as a co-applicant on the grant application and as an organizational contact in the team contacts (Step 3). Once the authorized representative is added to the grant application, the primary applicant will receive an email requesting confirmation of the addition.
Step 5: Communicate with a Grant Support Manager
The Grant Support Manager will review your grant application, and the following may occur:
- RECF may reach out to ask additional questions or documentation.
- A grant may be approved.
- If no grants are currently available or your school/organization does not meet the eligibility criteria, your application will be placed under 'future consideration.' If additional funding becomes available, the grant team will review your request to determine eligibility.
RECF does its best to support all requests, but cannot guarantee that each application will receive a grant.
Step 6: Finalize Terms and Conditions
If grant funding has been awarded, a Grant Support Manager will work with you and
- Confirm Shipping Address*
- Review terms and conditions
- Assist with any grant requirements
- Introduce you to your Regional Support Manager
Important information about shipping:
Please note that your items may arrive in separate shipments, depending on the contents of your grant package.
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CoDrones, drone cases, batteries, and related accessories will be shipped directly from our product partner, Robolink.
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Competition field elements, game elements, trophies, and other competition accessories will be shipped separately by our partner, Drone Competition Gates.
We recommend keeping an eye out for multiple deliveries if your order includes items from both partners.
Step 7: Get Started!
For Aerial Drone Competition:
- Reviewing this resource page in our REC Library. Competition Manual, Printable Resources, Training, and Certifications.
- Coaches start with the Coach Training and Certification Course
- Students begin with the Robolink’s Getting Started with the CoDrone EDU Courses
Find a competition and register each team for one or more events.
- Aerial Drone Competitions typically run from October through April and are hosted by local event partners in communities across your region.
Event dates and locations are posted throughout the summer and fall as the RECF Drone Support Team approves them. We aim to have all events published by December 1st. - Please contact your Regional Support Manager if you can't find a competition that fits your schedule or location. They may be aware of events in the planning stages or help you find a suitable competition.
Need help?
- If you have questions about your grant, contact your dedicated Grant Support Manager at grants@recf.org.
- If you have questions about your competition team, contact your Regional Support Manager.
- If you have technical questions about the CoDrone EDU, reach out to our product partner, Robolink. at support@robolink.com.
Welcome to the RECF Drone Programs! We look forward to working with you.