First Responders Children's Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $31,536,107 (FY 2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: 2-5 weeks (agency grants); within 30 days for initial LOI response
Grant Range: $1,000 - $25,000 (agency/community grants); up to $6,250 annually (scholarships); up to $2,500 (emergency hardship)
Geographic Focus: National (United States)

Contact Details

Website: https://1strcf.org

Phone: (646) 822-4236

General Email: [email protected]

Grant Proposals: Hannah@1stRCF.org

Address: 38 E 32nd St Rm 602, New York, NY 10016

Overview

Founded in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks when 800 children lost a first responder parent, the First Responders Children's Foundation (FRCF) has evolved into a leading national 501(c)(3) organization supporting first responders and their families. With annual revenue of over $31 million, FRCF has expanded its mission significantly under CEO Jillian Crane's leadership since 2022. The foundation broadened its definition of "first responders" to include nurses, medical workers, and 911 dispatchers, while pivoting from a scholarship-focused model to comprehensive financial assistance. In 2022 alone, FRCF positively impacted over 130,000 children. The organization earned a 4-star rating (96%) from Charity Navigator. Over the past five years, FRCF has awarded more than 1,700 scholarships totaling $4.9 million, alongside expanding programs in mental health, bereavement assistance, disaster relief, and community engagement.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Scholarships for Children of First Responders

Amount: Up to $6,250 annually, renewable for up to four years
Deadline: May 31 annually
Application: Online portal via Kaleidoscope platform
Based on financial need, academic merit, and achievements (leadership, volunteer work)
Priority given to children whose first responder parent suffered a line-of-duty disability or death
Recent awards: $1.036 million to 366 students (2024); $905,288 to 300 students (2025)
16% awarded to first-generation college students; over 60% support children of deceased or disabled first responders

Mental and Behavioral Health Grants

Amount: $5,000 - $25,000
For first responder agencies and nonprofits supporting mental health activities, initiatives, and programs for first responders and their families
Application: Rolling basis
Recent example: $100,000 awarded to FDNY Foundation for peer-to-peer counseling, NYC Police Foundation for yoga studio and Health & Wellness Welcome Center, and Friends of Firefighters for clinical support

Youth Education Activities and Programs Grants

Amount: $1,000 - $5,000
For programs pairing youth with local first responders through arts, sports, education, or community service
Application: Rolling basis
Examples: NYPD Music Camp, Gloucester PD Fishing Camp, Junior First Responders Firefighting Cadet Camp, Toy Express program (distributed almost 120,000 toys to 200 agencies)

First Responder Family Support Grants

Amount: $1,000 - $5,000
For programs that support, honor, and elevate the profile of first responder families in need
Application: Rolling basis

Emergency Hardship Grants (Direct to Families)

Amount: Up to $2,500 (one-time award)
For first responders in dire financial need due to unforeseen childcare emergencies or housing insecurity from fire, natural disasters, or other circumstances
May assist families who experienced loss of a first responder (not line-of-duty related)
Processing time: Minimum 2 weeks
Application: Online form at 1strcf.org/emergency-hardship-grant-form/
Note: Limited fund; only applications most aligned with mission considered

Mental Health Counseling for Children

10 free, confidential sessions with culturally competent therapists
Specifically for children of first responders
Program launched after COVID-19

Priority Areas

Children of first responders who have lost a parent in the line of duty
Families enduring significant financial hardship due to tragic circumstances
Mental and behavioral health support for first responders and their families
Educational activities and programs that foster healthy relationships between first responders and children in the communities they serve
Community engagement programs that inspire a new generation interested in first responder careers
Disaster relief and emergency assistance for first responder families
Bereavement assistance

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not explicitly detailed, but the foundation's focus is clearly on:

Direct support to first responders and their families
Programs that benefit children or the community through first responder engagement
Mental health and educational initiatives

Applications are reviewed for alignment with the foundation's mission, suggesting projects outside the first responder family/community sphere are unlikely to be funded.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

Jillian Crane, President & CEO - Joined FRCF's Board of Directors in 2013, became Board President in 2019, and was appointed President and CEO in 2022 after securing a major gift from MacKenzie Scott. Under her leadership, FRCF evolved its mission, expanding the definition of 'first responder' to include nurses, medical workers, and 911 dispatchers, and pivoted from scholarships to broader financial assistance. She launched new programs including resiliency/mental health, bereavement assistance, disaster relief, and community engagement. Crane states the mission is "to really take care of the children of those who run into danger for us" and emphasizes "Our mission is to support first responders and their families, especially in times of crisis."

Founder and Chairman - Established FRCF following the 9/11 terrorist attacks when 800 children lost a first responder parent.

Board of Directors:

Larry - Founding board member of FRCF; founder of the Twin Towers Fund after the 2001 terrorist attacks, the Twin Towers Scholarship Fund, and America's Camp
Cindy Brown - 30 years of experience addressing complex wealth issues including estate and tax planning, investment management, and philanthropy; recognized as a Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Management Team"
Kerry Watson - Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for The Baltimore Orioles since September 2023, leading government affairs and community engagement; previously spent 20 years with the Prince George's County Police Department in Maryland
John Yawn - Chief Operations Officer of Sunbelt Merchant Group since 2018
Rob Rajkowski - Chief Marketing Officer at SERVPRO
Mike Cory - Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at CSX, responsible for overseeing operations strategy
Cheryl Whaley - Board Member
Allison Isaacson Beahm - Board Member

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Scholarships (Children of First Responders):

Application Portal: Apply online via Kaleidoscope platform (apply.mykaleidoscope.com)
Deadline: May 31 annually (expected to reopen April 2026 for next cycle)
Requirements:
- Picture of applicant
- Picture of first responder's ID OR letter from employer
- Proof of United States residency or permanent citizenship
Eligibility: Biological, adopted, or step-child of a police officer, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, or 911 dispatcher
Renewal: Must reapply annually; renewable up to four years

For Agency/Community Engagement Grants:

Application Method: Rolling basis throughout the year
Step 1: Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Hannah@1stRCF.org
- Brief, 1-2 page informative letter on agency/foundation letterhead
- Describe organization's mission, history, and work for which funds are sought
Step 2: If complete grant proposal requested, you have five weeks to complete the application
Eligibility:
- First responder agency or department
- Public entity or 501(c)(3) charitable organization partnered with a first responder agency
- Entity providing programs/services to benefit children and facilitating interaction with a first responder agency

For Emergency Hardship Grants (Families):

Application Portal: Online form at 1strcf.org/emergency-hardship-grant-form/
Eligibility: First responders or family members who are U.S. residents in dire financial need due to unforeseen childcare emergencies or housing insecurity
Processing: Minimum 2 weeks (unable to remit awards needed within 2 weeks)

Decision Timeline

Agency/Community Engagement Grants:

Initial LOI response: Within 30 days of submission
Full proposal decision: 2-5 weeks after submission

Scholarships:

Applications reviewed after May 31 deadline
Awards announced typically in August

Emergency Hardship Grants:

Minimum 2-week processing time
Reviewed on a case-by-case basis by Emergency Hardship Grant committee

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, the foundation notes:

The Emergency Hardship Grant Fund is limited, and only applications most aligned with the mission will be considered
Scholarship priority is given to students whose first responder parent has suffered a line-of-duty disability or death and demonstrate the greatest financial need
Over 60% of scholarships support children of deceased or disabled first responders

Reapplication Policy

Scholarships: Recipients must reapply each year and are eligible to receive scholarships for up to four years maximum.

Agency Grants: No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Emergency Hardship Grants: No publicly stated reapplication restrictions, though these are one-time awards designed for immediate crisis situations.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Mission: FRCF emphasizes that applications should demonstrate clear alignment with the foundation's mission to support first responders and their families. CEO Jillian Crane's philosophy centers on "taking care of the children of those who run into danger for us," so programs should clearly demonstrate benefit to this population.

Financial Need Demonstration: For scholarships, priority is given to students demonstrating the greatest financial need, particularly those whose first responder parent suffered a line-of-duty disability or death. Emergency Hardship Grant applications must demonstrate "dire financial need."

Community Impact: Successful community engagement programs foster healthy relationships between first responders and children in the communities they serve. Examples include the NYPD Music Camp, Gloucester PD Fishing Camp, and Junior First Responders Firefighting Cadet Camp, which stimulate curiosity, confidence, and teach children the importance of helping others.

Mental Health Focus: The foundation prioritized mental health programs after COVID-19, awarding significant grants to organizations providing peer-to-peer counseling, wellness centers, and clinical support. Applications addressing mental and behavioral health needs are particularly well-aligned with current priorities.

First Responder Partnership: For agency grants, demonstrating partnership with or direct connection to first responder agencies strengthens applications. The foundation seeks to support programs created by or operated in collaboration with law enforcement, firefighting, EMS, or 911 dispatch organizations.

Academic Merit and Leadership: For scholarships, beyond financial need, the foundation values academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, excellence in arts or sports, and volunteer activities benefiting the community.

Timing and Preparedness: Review FRCF's mission statement, priority funding areas, past grant awardees, and website before applying to ensure priorities align. The foundation expects applicants to demonstrate they've done this research in their Letter of Intent.

Recent Funding Examples:

$100,000 to mental health programs (FDNY Foundation, NYC Police Foundation, Friends of Firefighters)
$120,000 to 81 NYPD and FDNY family scholarships
Toy Express program reaching 200 agencies with 120,000 toys
Programs pairing youth with first responders through arts, sports, education, or community service

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Mission evolution matters: FRCF has significantly expanded its definition of "first responders" to include nurses, medical workers, and 911 dispatchers, and broadened from scholarships to comprehensive family support. Proposals should reflect this expanded scope.
Priority given to line-of-duty cases: Over 60% of scholarships support children whose first responder parent died or was disabled in the line of duty. Applications demonstrating this connection have significantly higher priority.
Rolling applications welcome: Unlike many foundations, FRCF accepts agency grant proposals throughout the year on a rolling basis, allowing flexibility in submission timing.
Quick turnaround: Decision timelines are notably fast (2-5 weeks for proposals; within 30 days for LOI response), suggesting efficient review processes but also that applications should be submission-ready.
Start with LOI: For agency grants, the Letter of Intent is the critical first step. Keep it brief (1-2 pages) but demonstrate clear mission alignment and organizational credibility.
Mental health is a priority: Since COVID-19, mental health programs have become a significant focus, with substantial grants ($5,000-$25,000 range) available for mental and behavioral health initiatives.
Community engagement valued: Programs that inspire the next generation of first responders and foster positive relationships between first responders and communities (like camps, arts programs, and youth activities) are consistently funded.

References

First Responders Children's Foundation Official Website: https://1strcf.org (accessed January 2026)
First Responders Children's Foundation, "Our Programs": https://1strcf.org/our-programs/ (accessed January 2026)
First Responders Children's Foundation, "Community Engagement": https://1strcf.org/community-engagement/ (accessed January 2026)
First Responders Children's Foundation, "About": https://1strcf.org/about/ (accessed January 2026)
Charity Navigator, "Rating for First Responders Children's Foundation": https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/050536854 (accessed January 2026)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, "First Responders Childrens Foundation": https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/50536854 (accessed January 2026)
GlobeNewswire, "First Responders Children's Foundation Announces $120,000 in Grants for Scholarships" (October 1, 2024)
GlobeNewswire, "First Responders Children's Foundation Announces $1.036 Million in Grants for 366 Scholarships" (August 8, 2024)
PR Newswire, "First Responders Children's Foundation Announces More Than $900,000 in Scholarships for Children of First Responders" (2025)
PR Newswire, "John Yawn and Rob Rajkowski Join First Responders Children's Foundation Board of Directors" (2024)
Dan's Papers, "First Responders Children's Foundation Aids Heroes' Families" (September 2024), featuring quotes from CEO Jillian Crane
Global Citizen, "Started in the Wake of 9/11, This Organization Is Now Helping COVID-19 Frontline Workers" (2020)
Philanthropy News Digest, "First Responders Children's Foundation Nonprofit Spotlight" (accessed January 2026)
First Responders Children's Foundation, "Meet Jillian Crane | President & CEO of FRCF": https://1strcf.org/meet-jillian-crane/ (accessed January 2026)