First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by First Responders Children's Foundation

Program overview
Our scholarship initiative supports the children of first responders by providing financial awards and access to a strong peer and professional network. Every awardee becomes part of the Scholars Council — a community of fellow students and working professionals linked to a wider network of mentors and partner organizations.

Award details
Scholarships are granted for one academic year. Awards are determined by demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, and other accomplishments such as leadership, artistic or athletic excellence, and community service/volunteer work. The total number of scholarships varies annually. Recipients may be considered for renewal each year for up to four years, subject to available funding, continuing financial need, and satisfactory academic performance.

Eligibility requirements
- Relationship to first responder: Applicant must be the biological child, legally adopted child, or stepchild of an active or retired police officer, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, or 911 dispatcher.
- Children of deceased or totally and permanently disabled first responders: If the eligible first responder is deceased or has a total and permanent disability, the applicant must have been conceived prior to the death or the onset of total and permanent disability.
- Adopted children: For applicants who are adopted, the adoption process must have been initiated before the scholarship application date. If the eligible first responder is deceased or has a total and permanent disability, the adoption process must have begun before that death or disability.
- Stepchildren: A stepchild applicant must be claimed as a dependent on the eligible first responder’s federal and state income tax returns. If the first responder is deceased or has a total and permanent disability, the applicant must have been listed as a dependent on the first responder’s income tax returns for the tax years immediately preceding the death or disability.
- Academic program and institution: Applicant must be enrolled full time for the entire academic year in pursuit of a bachelor’s, associate’s, certificate, graduate, or law degree at an accredited U.S. college, university, or technical/vocational institution that participates in federal student aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Enrollment status: Full-time enrollment for the full academic year is required.
- Grade point and progress: Applicant must hold and maintain at least a 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or 80 on a 100-point scale), as verified by the institution’s Office of the Registrar, and must be making satisfactory academic progress as defined and documented by the institution.
- Citizenship/residency and location of study: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and attend school within the United States.
- Exclusions: Current officers and employees of the First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF) and members of their immediate families are not eligible to apply.
- Renewal and participation: Scholarship recipients must submit a renewal application each year. Recipients may receive support for a maximum of four years. To be eligible for renewal, scholars are expected to take part in Scholars Council activities and respond to all required communications and outreach from the First Responders Children’s Foundation.