First Responders Children's Foundation

What First Responders Children's Foundation does

First Responders Children's Foundation (legal name: National Law Enforcement and Firefighters Children's Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City that delivers a multi-program service portfolio to children of U.S. first responders — firefighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs, corrections officers, and 911 dispatchers. Founded in 2001 in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 in response to approximately 800 children who lost a first responder parent, the Foundation has cumulatively impacted 400,000+ first responder family members across its six core programs: Scholarship Program (college and vocational scholarships, historically $1.14M annually across 413 awards in 2023), Mental Health Resiliency Program (free confidential counseling, active in 7 states with a Hawaii partnership delivering 150 hours/month), Bereavement Assistance, Financial Assistance grants, Natural Disaster Relief, and the Nationwide Toy Express (70 events across 12 states, 26,000+ children served in 2025).

The Foundation operates a community-led go-to-market model, reaching first responder families through agency partnerships, peer referrals, the Scholars Council alumni network, and corporate partner channels rather than any proprietary technology platform. Revenue is generated entirely through donations across four streams: individual giving, corporate sponsorships (CSX, SERVPRO, Devon Energy, UMG Nashville, Home Clean Heroes, Mattel, Spin Master), foundation and trust grants (Chris & Libby Julien Revocable Trust $870K, MacKenzie Scott, ERK Foundation), and entertainment-industry partnerships (SB Projects' $5M+ donation from 'Stuck With U' proceeds). All programs and services are provided free of charge to eligible first responder families.

The Foundation is led by President & CEO Jillian Crane and Founder/Chairman Al Kahn, with a board that includes former FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro, former NYPD officer Tom Harris, and corporate representatives from Devon Energy, SERVPRO, and Hulu/Disney. It maintains a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and a Charity Navigator four-star rating, and is the recognized convener of National First Responders Day on October 28, with a presidential proclamation and 19 state gubernatorial proclamations supporting the designation.

Name

First Responders Children's Foundation

Legal name

National Law Enforcement and Firefighters Children's Foundation

Website

https://1strcf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Responders Children's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 that delivers scholarships, mental health counseling, bereavement support, financial grants, disaster relief, and a holiday Toy Express program to children of U.S. first responders, funded through corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Family Support Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

Keywords

• Nonprofit charitable foundation
• First responder family support
• Scholarship and mental health programs
• Bereavement and disaster relief
• Community youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: General public donations through the website, event fundraising, and direct contributions supporting all foundation programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners including CSX, SERVPRO, Devon Energy, and others provide financial support, in-kind donations, and employee volunteer hours for programs like Toy Express and scholarships.
3. Foundation & Trust Grants: Major gifts from foundations and trusts such as the Chris & Libby Julien Revocable Trust ($870,000) and MacKenzie Scott donation support specific programs and general operations.
4. Entertainment Industry Partnerships: Partnerships with entertainment entities like Universal Music Group Nashville and Scooter Braun/SB Projects generate funds through initiatives like Parade of Trees and music streaming royalties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Responders Children's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers charitable programs to children and families of U.S. first responders. Its core offerings include a Scholarship Program (up to $20,000 over four years plus Scholars Council membership), a free confidential Mental Health Resiliency Program, Bereavement Assistance, Financial Assistance grants, Natural Disaster Relief, and the annual Nationwide Toy Express holiday toy distribution program.

Product overview

First Responders Children's Foundation is a nonprofit organization operating as a single unified charitable entity with multiple program offerings. The core portfolio includes: Scholarship Program (awarding college/vocational scholarships and access to the Scholars Council network), Mental Health Resiliency Program (free confidential counseling), Bereavement Assistance, Financial Assistance grants, Natural Disaster Relief, and the Nationwide Toy Express holiday program. Supporting programs include Community Engagement activities, the First on the Scene podcast, Prescription Drug Discount Card benefit, and annual events including National First Responders Day, Thanksgiving Parade Breakfast, and the 25th Anniversary Gala. The organization was founded in response to 9/11 to support children who lost first responder parents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 400,000+ children and family members of first responders impacted by programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• CSXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025CSX and FRCF partner on the Pride in Service program featuring scholarships and Toy Express. In 2025, the Toy Express program reached 70 events across 12 states, delivering toys to over 26,000 children. CSX employees actively participate in events and have contributed to 192+ scholarship recipients.
• McDaniel CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025McDaniel College expanded Legacy Scholarships to children of first responders valued at up to $132,000 over four years, applicable for Fall 2026 admission.
• SERVPROcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025SERVPRO is a presenting sponsor for National First Responders Day and co-hosts First Responder Family Appreciation Days. Together they have provided over 20 grants and thousands of supplies to first responder families, including over 120 grants to families affected by disasters in 2023-2024.
• Seaglass Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Partnership to provide 150 hours per month of mental health counseling to children of Hawaii first responders. FRCF provides up to 10 hours monthly of expert therapy at no cost to families through culturally competent, trauma-trained therapists.
• Patrick CantlayminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 December 2023Top-ranked PGA Tour golfer joined as official ambassador with campaign to assist first responder families impacted by 2023 Hawaii wildfires.
• Devon EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2023Devon Energy supports FRCF scholarship program in six states. Christina Rehkop from Devon Energy joined the board to help expand programs into the southwest region.
• Universal Music Group NashvillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2023Parade of Trees initiative with UMG Nashville artists raising funds for mental health services and scholarships. Raised $176,281.62 in 2023. Features artists including Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and others.
• Home Clean HeroesmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 March 2023Home Clean Heroes franchise donates $1 per service to FRCF and provided over $18,000 in grants and scholarships. Operating in 14 territories across six states.
• MattelmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 December 2022Mattel donated over 2,000 toys for delivery to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt through Toy Express program.
• Spin MastermajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 November 2022Spin Master donated 50,000 toys for Hurricane Ian affected families through the Toy Express program, delivered to Lee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties in Florida.
• Scooter Braun / SB ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022The Children of Heroes Scholarship was created in partnership with Scooter Braun and SB Projects, with over $5 million donated from 'Stuck With U' proceeds. This funded 283 scholarships, 108 funerals, and 1,965 hardship grants.
• Motorola Solutions FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to create a career mentoring program for children of fallen first responders.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans and their families with mental health, career, and long-term support programs. While focused on military rather than first responder families, the mission, program structure, and donor demographics substantially overlap.
• Fisher House Foundation: Major nonprofit providing free housing for military and veteran families near medical treatment facilities, plus scholarship and emergency assistance programs. Overlaps with FRCF on family-centered emergency support and scholarships, though serving military rather than first responder families.
• Salvation Army: Large faith-based nonprofit that operates disaster relief, family assistance, and community programs including those serving first responder families. While broader in mission, the disaster relief and emergency family assistance programs directly overlap with FRCF's natural disaster relief and hardship grant offerings.
• Homes for Our Troops: Nonprofit building specially adapted homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. While focused on veterans rather than first responder families, the post-9/11 origin, mission-driven donor base, and structured corporate partnership model are comparable to FRCF.

Direct peers

• Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Foundation founded in memory of firefighter Stephen Siller (9/11) that supports first responder and military families through mortgage payoffs, scholarships, and disaster relief — directly comparable to FRCF's mission, beneficiary base, and origin story tied to 9/11.
• Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.): National nonprofit that provides resources to surviving families of officers killed in the line of duty, including peer support, counseling, and financial assistance — directly comparable to FRCF's bereavement and family support programs for a closely related beneficiary group.
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: Federal nonprofit supporting families of firefighters who died in the line of duty, providing grief counseling, scholarships, and memorial programs — overlapping beneficiary base (children of firefighters) and program mix with FRCF.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Major nonprofit supporting first responders, veterans, and their families through programs similar to FRCF (mental health, scholarships, grants, family support). Notably, FRCF's current Chief Marketing and Development Officer Elizabeth Fields was previously COO at Gary Sinise Foundation, making it a particularly close peer.

Regional players

• 100 Club (National network of affiliates): Network of regional nonprofits (originally Houston) that provide immediate financial assistance and ongoing support to families of first responders killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. Comparable beneficiary population and bereavement/financial assistance programs to FRCF.
• Police Benevolent Foundation: Nonprofit affiliate of police unions that supports families of law enforcement officers through line-of-duty death benefits, scholarships, and emergency grants — closely aligned with FRCF's law enforcement family programs, though typically operating through state/regional affiliates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/1strcf
• Facebookfacebook.com/1strcf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1strcf
• Instagraminstagram.com/1strcf/?hl=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about First Responders Children's Foundation