First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is for the children of first responders, and the eligibility gate is far wider than families expect: it covers biological, adopted and step-children of ACTIVE or RETIRED police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and 911 dispatchers, not only those who died in the line of duty. That makes the eligible population roughly five million households. In the 2026 cycle the foundation awarded $905,943 across 249 students in 41 states, an average close to $3,600. Selection weighs financial need, academic merit, leadership, arts or sports involvement and community service.

Other deadlines near this one

• Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
  Due March 1, 2027 · Up to $10,000/yr (tuition, mandatory fees, room and board)
• Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) Matching Student Scholarship
  Due March 1, 2027 · $1,250-$6,500/yr (most students receive about $2,000/yr)
• Communities Foundation of Texas Universal Scholarship Application
  Due March 1, 2027 · Varies by fund (50+ opportunities, roughly $1.5 to $2 million annually)

How hard is the First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarship to win?

Real competition, but not a lottery. The time cost is low enough relative to the award that a qualified student comes out ahead by applying.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
• Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
• Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
• Fewer rivalsRequires a specific life circumstance

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarship?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Open to high school seniors and current college students
• ✓For parent first responder or parent first responder line of duty death

What the application takes

• Essay required.
• Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is March 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 1 each year.

Applications close

March 1, 2027

Common questions about the First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarship

More need-based scholarships

• Foundation for Orange County Public Schools Scholarships
  $1,000 to $3,500 for most cash awards · due February 28, 2027
• Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools Scholarships
  Mostly $500 to $2,000, with occasional larger awards and a two-year Florida Prepaid award · due April 1, 2027
• Greater Houston Community Foundation Scholarships
  Varies by fund (60+ programs, over $5.7 million distributed annually) · due February 28, 2027
• Gulf Coast Community Foundation Scholarships
  Varies by fund; the most recent year averaged about $3,000 per student across multiple awards · due March 2, 2027
• Hagan Scholarship
  Up to $7,500/semester x 8 semesters (up to $60,000) · due December 1, 2026
• Horatio Alger National Scholarship
  $25,000 · due March 1, 2027

Lists this award appears on

• Need-Based Scholarships and Grants
• Scholarships With March Deadlines