First Responders Children's Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1+ million (scholarships alone in 2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: 30 days for initial LOI review; 2-5 weeks for full proposal decision
Grant Range: $1,000 - $25,000 (agency grants); up to $2,500 (individual hardship grants)
Geographic Focus: Nationwide - all 50 U.S. states

Contact Details

Website: https://1strcf.org/
Phone: (646) 822-4236
Email: Info@1stRCF.org
Agency Grant Inquiries: Hannah@1strcf.org
Address: 38 East 32nd Street, Suite 602, New York, NY 10016

Overview

The First Responders Children's Foundation (FRCF) was established in 2002 by businessman Alfred R. Kahn in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when 800 children lost a first responder parent. Originally focused on scholarships, the foundation has evolved under President and CEO Jillian Crane's leadership since 2019 to provide comprehensive support to first responder families nationwide. The organization expanded its definition of "first responder" to include nurses, medical workers, and 911 dispatchers, and pivoted its focus from scholarships alone to broader financial assistance, mental health support, bereavement assistance, and disaster relief. Today, FRCF provides transformational programs and services to over 150,000 children of first responders annually. The organization has earned a 4-star rating (96% score) from Charity Navigator. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FRCF awarded grants totaling $7.31 million to 7,539 first responders across all fifty states who experienced financial hardship.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Agency Grants (rolling basis, online application)

Mental and Behavioral Health Grants: $5,000 - $25,000 for first responder agencies and nonprofits supporting mental and behavioral health activities, initiatives, and programs for first responders and their families
Youth Education Activities and Programs: $1,000 - $5,000 for first responder agencies and nonprofits for activities, initiatives, and programs that pair youth with local first responders through arts, sports, education, or community service
First Responder Family Support: $1,000 - $5,000 for programs supporting first responder families

Individual/Family Grants (rolling basis, online application)

Emergency Hardship Grants: Up to $2,500 one-time awards for first responders in dire need of financial assistance related to housing distress, extenuating childcare/eldercare expenses, and medical and/or mental health expenses related to their position
Emergency Response Fund: Financial assistance for unforeseen medical expenses as well as food, supplies, rent, mortgage, utility, and childcare assistance
Bereavement Assistance: Direct financial support for families experiencing loss of a first responder

Scholarship Program (annual application)

College scholarships for children of first responders (in 2024: 366 scholarships totaling $1.036 million)
Over 60% of scholarships support children whose parents died or were disabled in the line of duty
16% granted to first-generation college students
Over 5 years: 1,700+ scholarships totaling $4.9 million

Other Programs

Mental Health Resiliency Program: Up to 10 hours monthly of expert therapy at no cost to families
Natural Disaster Relief: Partnership with SERVPRO to assist families impacted by emergencies
Toy Express: Holiday toy distribution to 26,000+ children at 70 events in 12 states
Community Engagement: Educational programs including music camps, fishing camps, and firefighting cadet camps

Priority Areas

FRCF actively funds programs and provides support in these areas:

Mental and behavioral health services for first responders and their families
Educational programming that connects youth with local first responders
Financial hardship assistance for housing, childcare, eldercare, and medical expenses
College scholarships for children of first responders, with priority for children whose parents died or were disabled in the line of duty
Bereavement support for families who have lost a first responder
Community engagement programs that benefit children
Disaster relief for first responder families affected by natural disasters

What They Don't Fund

For agency grants, FRCF does not fund:

Individual applicants (separate individual grant programs exist for first responders and their families)
General operating support
Grants where FRCF funding would account for more than 50% of the total project budget
Applications from foundation officers, committee members, employees, and their immediate families

Governance and Leadership

Alfred R. Kahn - Founder and Chairman of the Board

Established FRCF in 2002 following 9/11
Quote: "We're grateful for your support in putting the children of our first responders first."
Background in the toy industry; instrumental in creating the Toy Express program

Jillian Crane - President and CEO

Joined Board of Directors in 2013, became Board President in 2019, now serves as President and CEO
Under her leadership, FRCF evolved its mission to serve over 150,000 children annually
Expanded the definition of "first responder" to include nurses, medical workers, and 911 dispatchers
Pivoted organizational focus from scholarships to comprehensive financial assistance and support services
Launched new programs including resiliency/mental health, bereavement assistance, disaster relief, and community engagement
Background: Vice Chairman of Kidtagious Entertainment; actress with credits including Netflix's Spinning Out; holds Bachelor's degree in Theater and Political Science from Boston University with Shakespeare training from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Recent Board Additions (2024-2025):

Ray Donovan (October 2024) - Founder and CEO of Stack21 Strategic Investigative Solutions
Mike Cory (July 2024) - Executive Vice President and COO of CSX
Kent Chrisman (July 2024) - Senior Director of Security and Corporate Services of Devon Energy
Marc Hagle (July 2024) - CEO of Tricor International LLC
Cindy Brown (2025) - Founding partner of C2 Advisors at UBS, with 30 years of experience
Kerry Watson (2025) - Longtime public safety officer
John Yawn (2025) - Chief Operations Officer of Sunbelt Merchant Group
Rob Rajkowski (2025) - Chief Marketing Officer of SERVPRO
Michael Beneville - Design visionary and innovator

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Agency Grants:

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Step 1: Review Alignment Before applying, review the FRCF mission statement, priority funding areas, past grant awardees, and website to ensure priorities align.

Step 2: Submit Letter of Intent (LOI) Submit a one-to-two page Letter of Intent on agency/foundation letterhead to Hannah@1strcf.org. The LOI should describe:

Organization's mission and history
Work for which funds are being sought
Proposed budget
Evidence of tax-exempt status (if applicable)

Step 3: Initial Review The FRCF Grant Program Team and Grant Committee review the LOI. Applicants will hear back within 30 days with one of the following:

A request to submit a full grant proposal
Notification that the proposal does not align with current priorities

Step 4: Full Grant Proposal If a complete grant proposal is requested, applicants have five weeks to complete the application.

For Individual/Family Grants: Applications for Emergency Hardship Grants and Emergency Response Fund assistance are submitted through online portals on the FRCF website at https://1strcf.org/financial-assistance-new/

For Scholarships: Annual scholarship applications are submitted through online platforms (e.g., Kaleidoscope Scholarship Platform). The foundation expects over 800 scholarship applicants annually.

Decision Timeline

LOI Review: Within 30 days of submission
Full Proposal Decision: 2-5 weeks after submission of complete application
Rolling Basis: Agency grant proposals are accepted throughout the year with no fixed deadlines

Success Rates

Specific success rates for agency grants are not publicly available. For the scholarship program, the foundation received over 800 applications and awarded 366 scholarships in 2024, suggesting approximately a 45% success rate for scholarships, though this varies year to year.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation accepts grant proposals on a rolling basis throughout the year. No specific restrictions on reapplication were documented, though applicants are encouraged to ensure strong alignment with FRCF's mission and priority areas before applying or reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Selection Criteria for Agency Grants

FRCF evaluates agency grant proposals based on:

Alignment with Priority Funding Areas: The program/project must align with one of FRCF's priority funding areas and address a significant demand affecting children of first responders or children in the first responder agency's community
Evidence of Careful Planning: Demonstrate thoughtful planning to address community needs and access to community resources
Reasonable Budget: Present a researched budget that aligns with the proposal narrative. Critical requirement: A grant from FRCF should not account for more than 50% of the total project budget
Capacity to Mobilize Resources: Show the ability to mobilize resources including financial support, in-kind support, and volunteers to sustain programs beyond the grant period

Selection Criteria for Scholarships

The Scholarship Committee evaluates:

Financial need - primary consideration
Academic merit
Achievements including demonstrated leadership, excellence in the arts or sports, and/or volunteer activities benefiting the community
Priority: Generally given to students whose parent has suffered a line of duty disability or line of duty death and demonstrate the greatest financial need

Required materials include:

Personal statement not exceeding 700 words summarizing personal and professional achievements and career goals
Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (birth certificate, naturalization papers, or passport)

Funder-Specific Advice

Review past grant awardees: FRCF specifically recommends reviewing their past grant awardees and website to ensure your organization's priorities align before submitting an LOI
Demonstrate sustainability: Show how you will mobilize financial support, in-kind support, and volunteers to sustain the program beyond the initial grant
Keep FRCF funding proportional: Ensure FRCF grant would not exceed 50% of your total project budget - this demonstrates your organization's capacity and commitment
Focus on first responder families and communities: Projects must demonstrate significant demand affecting children of first responders or children in the first responder agency's community

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Mission evolution matters: FRCF has expanded beyond traditional definitions of first responders to include nurses, medical workers, and 911 dispatchers—tailor your application to this broader understanding
Financial sustainability is critical: Your project budget must show that FRCF's grant will account for less than 50% of total costs, demonstrating other sources of support
Rolling applications mean no waiting: Submit your LOI any time of year, with guaranteed feedback within 30 days—no need to wait for annual deadlines
Priority is mental health and youth engagement: The highest grant amounts ($5,000-$25,000) are available for mental and behavioral health initiatives, making this a strategic focus area
Alignment review is essential: FRCF explicitly asks applicants to review their website, mission, and past grant awardees before applying—doing this homework demonstrates respect for their process
Fast turnaround after LOI approval: If invited to submit a full proposal, you'll have five weeks to complete it and receive a decision within 2-5 weeks—plan accordingly
National scope with local impact: FRCF operates in all 50 states and values programs that demonstrate community-level impact for first responder families

References

Charity Navigator - Rating for First Responders Children's Foundation - Accessed December 2024
First Responders Children's Foundation - Official Website - Accessed December 2024
First Responders Children's Foundation - GuideStar Profile - Accessed December 2024
First Responders Childrens Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Accessed December 2024
First Responders Children's Foundation | Nonprofit Spotlight - Philanthropy News Digest - Accessed December 2024
Financial Assistance - First Responders Children's Foundation - Accessed December 2024
Our Programs - First Responders Children's Foundation - Accessed December 2024
First Responders Children's Foundation Announces $1.036 Million in Grants - Globe Newswire - August 8, 2024
Meet Jillian Crane | President & CEO of FRCF - Accessed December 2024
Meet Al Kahn | Founder & Chairman of FRCF - Accessed December 2024
Ray Donovan Joins First Responders Children's Foundation National Board - Globe Newswire - October 22, 2024
Three Industry Leaders Join First Responders Children's Foundation National Board - Globe Newswire - July 10, 2024
About - First Responders Children's Foundation - Accessed December 2024
2024 Impact Report - First Responders Children's Foundation - Accessed December 2024