Funding search · robotics and AI · California
Who funds robotics and AI work in California
15 funders have a record of paying for robotics and AI work by California recipients: 155 grants totaling $5.8M, most recently in 2025 — mostly private foundations, plus grantmaking charities. The largest by matched giving are For Inspiration and Recognition of ($851,393), Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation ($39,000) and Kla Foundation ($51,500).
From IRS Form 990-PF and 990 Schedule I filings, 2019–2025. Grants already paid to California recipients — evidence of what these funders back, not open calls.
For Inspiration and Recognition ofManchester, NHCharity · may take applications
53 matching grants · $851,393 · through 2024Largest: $120,000 to FIRST California Robotics — program support
Largest: $5,000 to FIRST CALIFORNIA ROBOTICS — robotics program
Largest: $5,000 to ORCUTT ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL SPARTANTRONICS ROBOTICS — bright funds grant was help up in dec 2021 -robotics grant
The San Diego FoundationSan Diego, CACharity · may take applications
8 matching grants · $262,406 · through 2024Largest: $72,590 to GREATER THAN TECH — for spring enrichment program on robotics for bipoc middle school girls from underserved communities
Largest: $50,000 to THE SAN JOSE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION — steam at the library programming providing coding, robotics, computer science, and technology activities to k-12 students
Largest: $60,000 to GRAUER FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION — to support robotics education and to endow the loewy-linz chair in stem innovation to attract and retain exceptional scholars in stem education.
Largest: $106,500 to CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER - ROBOTIC SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP — robotic surgical fellowship
Largest: $35,000 to CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE — cams robotics program
Largest: $5,000 to Beyer Robotics Booster Club — funding for two robot kits
Largest: $50,000 to ALTASEA AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES — grounded in cross-sector partnerships, altasea's project blue education program was designed to teach young people, particularly students of color about california's greatest asset…
Largest: $185,677 to DOWNEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT — provide aid to innovative education for the downey unified school district across 20 k12 schools + adult school: robotics clubs 3-12 grades,museum programs grades 3-5; 17 teacher/p…
Largest: $50,000 to PRESIDENT-BOARD OF TRUSTEES SANTA CLARA COLLEGE — santa clara university - scholarship program; student internships in robotics
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Start with one paperBroader: robotics and AI funders nationally · all California-based grantmakers