Partner with UFI
UFI is an education nonprofit. Partners make the teaching possible by funding the programs that open this field to learners who could not otherwise afford it, from K-12 robotics courses to professional certifications and competitions. In return, partners help shape what UFI teaches and are recognized as champions of the field’s future. UFI makes no hiring commitments and brokers no placements. We connect people to knowledge, not to jobs.
Founding Partner: $500K+
What You Fund:
– A major program area, such as a school district’s robotics courses or a full certification cohort
– Co-branded competition (e.g., “YOUR COMPANY Mission-Ready Challenge”)
– Equipment, software, and instructional materials across programs
What You Enable:
– Learners across age groups access UFI programs at no cost
– Your company designs competition challenges aligned with hiring needs
– Your team sees the work top learners produce
Benefits:
– Advisory board seat (help guide what UFI teaches and how)
– Early visibility into program graduates’ projects and skills
– Host learners for educational site visits and guest instruction
– Recognition as the lead sponsor of 50 to 100 learners’ training each year
Program Partner: $100K – $499K
What You Fund:
– A program track, such as an in-school course series or a competition
– Certification or training for a cohort of learners
– Equipment and software for training programs
What You Enable:
– Learners gain skills and credentials they could not otherwise access
– A competition challenge informed by real operational problems
– Recognition across the schools and campuses UFI serves
Benefits:
– Early visibility into program graduates’ projects and skills
– Guest instructor slots (your engineers teach modules and mentor learners)
– Recognition as a sponsor of 25 to 50 learners’ training each year
– Logo placement on competition materials and UFI website
Supporting Partner: $25K – $99K
What You Fund:
– Training or certification for a group of learners
– Partial competition sponsorship
– Equipment/software donations (in-kind)
What You Enable:
– Learners who could not otherwise afford to enter the field
– More people gain access to learning in unmanned systems
Benefits:
– Recognition as a Supporting Partner across UFI programs
– Presence at competition and learning events
– Acknowledgment in program and event materials
Community Partner: Up to $25K
What You Fund:
– Individual learner scholarships across any UFI program
– Event or workshop sponsorship
– In-kind contributions (equipment, software, facility access, subject matter experts)
What You Enable:
– Direct support for learners entering the field
– Expanded reach and accessibility for UFI programs
Benefits:
– Recognition on UFI website as a Community Partner
– Acknowledgment in UFI program materials
– Participation in UFI events and demonstrations
In-Kind Partnerships
What You Provide:
– Drones, sensors, or ground vehicles for training
– Software licenses (flight planning, data analytics, simulation)
– Facility access for learning sessions, labs, or site visits
– Subject matter experts (guest lectures, mentorship)
What You Enable:
– Hands-on training with real industry equipment
– Learners train on the same tools used across the field
Benefits:
– Logo placement and recognition as an education partner
– Student feedback on your products (real-world beta testing)
– Brand visibility with the next generation entering the field
Why Partner with UFI?
Most companies only encounter emerging talent in this field at the very end of a student’s education, if at all.
UFI partners are present throughout the learning journey, through funding programs, judging competitions, and providing equipment and instruction. You help shape a generation of practitioners, and your support is visible at every step.
Tax-Advantaged Investment
UFI is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation (EIN: 41-3641601). All partnership contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Measurable Outcomes
We track:
– Learners taught
– Certifications earned
– Competition participation
– Programs delivered
Every partnership dollar is tied to a measurable educational outcome.
Current Partners
Founding partnerships are in development.
To discuss partnership options, contact us
Agricultural Technology Track (In Development)
UFI is developing a competition track focused on precision agriculture – one of the fastest-growing operational sectors for unmanned systems. Student teams will solve real-world challenges submitted by working farms and evaluated by agricultural technology companies.
Ag-tech companies interested in shaping this track should contact us