First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarships

Our Scholarship Program helps children of first responders achieve their goals through scholarships and a powerful community network.

Each recipient is a member of our Scholars Council, a group of peers and working professionals connected to a broader community of supportive mentors and partner organizations! The deadline to apply is May 31, 2024.

We are aware that the U.S. Department of Education is delayed in processing FAFSA information. In an effort to allow all students to apply, no decisions will be made by FRCF until after the May 31 deadline.

First responders know all too well that the sacrifices required by their dangerous jobs are not theirs alone—that their entire family makes sacrifices. First responder families accept these sacrifices because of their shared sense of duty to help others. But the absence of a parent, made permanent when they make the ultimate sacrifice, often means kids miss out on emotional support and sage advice about education from that parent. This, coupled with the cost of higher education that’s out of reach for many first responder families, can put these children at a disadvantage to realizing their full potential.

Second, our Scholars Council is a group of peers and working professionals connected to a broader community of supportive mentors and partner organizations. Recognizing that success requires more than schooling, the Scholars Council provides scholarship recipients with access to internships and jobs, career advice and mentorship, skills development and leadership opportunities. achievements such as demonstrated leadership, excellence in the arts or sports, and/or volunteer activities benefiting the community.

The number of scholarships awarded varies from year to year. Scholarships may be renewed annually for up to four years depending on the availability of funds, the applicant’s financial need, and the recipient’s academic record.

When selecting award recipients, the Scholarship Committee evaluates many different aspects of a student’s application. Priority is generally given to students whose parent has suffered a line of duty disability or line of duty death and demonstrate the greatest financial need, though all eligible children of first responders are encouraged to apply. Scholarships are remitted directly to the student’s school, and as such, can only be applied to the tuition and room and board bills. In the event that there is no balance towards which to apply the scholarship, the funds will be returned to the Foundation.

Eligibility

• Applicant must be the biological, adopted or step-child of an active or retired police officer, firefighter, EMT, paramedic or 911 dispatcher.
• Applicants who are the child of a deceased first responder must have been conceived prior to the death or total and permanent disability of the eligible first responder.
• Applicants who are an adopted child must have had the adoption process begun prior to the date of scholarship application submission. If the first responder is deceased or has total and permanent disability, the adoption process must have started prior to the death or total and permanent disability.
• Applicants who are a stepchild must be listed as a dependent on the eligible first responder’s federal and state income tax returns. If the first responder is deceased or has total and permanent disability, the applicant must be listed as a dependent in the income tax years immediately prior to the death or total and permanent disability.
• Applicant must be pursuing a bachelor’s, associate’s, certificate, graduate or law degree at any accredited college, university or technical/vocational institution in the United States that participates in the federal financial aid programs offered through the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student during the entire academic year.
• Applicant must have and maintain a 2.7 out of a 4.0 grade point average (80 out of 100 point scale), or the equivalent as documented by the Office of the Registrar at their academic institution.
• Applicant must be making satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of their program as defined and documented by the academic institution.
• Applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and attending school in the United States.
• Current First Responders Children’s Foundation officers and employees and members of their immediate families are not eligible to apply.
• Scholarship recipients must reapply for their scholarship each year.
• Scholarship recipients are eligible to reapply and receive a scholarship for up to four years maximum.