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!

Scholarships are awarded for a single academic year. Awards are based on financial need, academic merit, and 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.

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.
• To be eligible for renewal, scholars are required to actively participate in Scholar Council events and respond to all required communications and outreach from FRCF.