New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund

What New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund does

The New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund, operating publicly as "Answer the Call," is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 by former Major League Baseball player Daniel J. "Rusty" Staub to provide financial assistance and a sustained support network to the families of New York City Police Officers, Firefighters, Port Authority Police, and EMS Personnel killed in the line of duty. The organization currently serves more than 500 beneficiary families through immediate death benefits ($25,000), ongoing lifetime stipends, college-education assistance, community events, and a mentorship program connecting children of fallen heroes with corporate partners such as PwC and Marvel Entertainment. Since inception, the fund reports distributing over $140 million directly to qualifying families.

The organization's underlying "product" is a multi-channel donor and community engagement platform rather than a technology product. Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions across five streams: one-time donations (processed via Blackbaud donor forms), recurring/sustained giving on weekly-to-annual cadences, event fundraising (41st Annual Gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Game & Family Day at Citi Field, Red & Blue Soiree, golf tournaments), corporate sponsorships (premier partners include KKR, Allied World, Anheuser-Busch, Hyundai, and Aramark), and planned giving through the Legacy Circle estate-planning program. Endurance-sports fundraising via Team Answer the Call — charity partner slots in the TCS NYC Marathon (Silver $4,500, Gold $10,000) and the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon (Bronze $1,500, Silver $2,000, Gold $4,000) — provides a scalable volunteer-driven acquisition channel.

The go-to-market model is event-driven and relationship-based rather than sales-driven: the fund cultivates donors through high-touch galas, family gatherings, and media coverage in outlets including the New York Post, CBS Local NY, News 12, NY1, AM New York, Sports Illustrated, and AP News, alongside a managed social presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and YouTube. The organization is governed by a board that includes figures with direct family ties to NYPD and FDNY (John Neary) and operates with a lean staff of fewer than ten employees from its headquarters at 4 World Trade Center. The 2026 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce $2 million donation is the most prominent recent fundraising event and underscores the organization's access to high-profile celebrity supporters.

Name

New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund

Legal name

N.Y. Police and Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund, Inc.

Website

https://answerthecall.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund (Answer the Call) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides financial assistance and a lifelong support network to 500+ families of NYPD, FDNY, PAPD, and EMS personnel killed in the line of duty, funded through donations, events, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Charitable Services for First Responder Families

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• First responder family support
• Nonprofit financial assistance
• Line of duty benefits
• Fallen hero family services
• Charitable community 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, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual and corporate donations from supporters who want to provide financial assistance to families of fallen first responders.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue from special events including annual galas, golf tournaments, and charity races (marathon, half marathon). Participants raise funds through registration fees and fundraising commitments.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for recognition at events and association with the charitable cause.
4. Planned Giving/Legacy Gifts: Bequests and estate planning gifts from donors who include the organization in their wills or estate plans.
5. Sustained/Recurring Giving: Donors make regular recurring gifts on weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual basis via credit card.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides immediate and lifelong financial assistance — including a $25,000 death benefit, ongoing annual stipends, and college education support — to widows, widowers, and children of NYPD officers, FDNY firefighters, Port Authority Police, and EMS personnel killed in the line of duty. Beyond financial aid, it delivers a community support network through events (Annual Gala, Game & Family Day at Citi Field, Red & Blue Soiree, golf tournaments), endurance-sports fundraising teams, a Day in the Life mentorship program, and volunteer/internship engagement. The organization currently supports more than 500 families.

Product overview

The New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund (Answer the Call) operates as a single unified charitable organization offering multiple interconnected programs to support families of fallen NYC first responders. The core offering centers on financial assistance through donation programs (one-time gifts, sustained/recurring giving, and planned legacy gifts through the Legacy Circle). Additional support comes through community-building events including the Annual Gala, Game & Family Day at Citi Field, Red & Blue Soiree for young professionals, and golf tournaments. The organization runs Team Answer the Call, a fundraising endurance sports program partnering with the TCS NYC Marathon and United Airlines NYC Half Marathon. Volunteer and internship programs provide operational support while the Day in the Life mentorship program connects family members with career experiences at partner organizations. All programs are unified by the mission to provide lifelong financial and emotional support to 500+ families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• One-Time Donation Program
• Sustained Giving (Recurring Gifts)

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ families currently supported with lifelong financial assistance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• NY Mets / Citi FieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NY Mets and Citi Field host the Annual Game & Family Day event, one of Answer the Call's signature traditions. Families attend a pre-game reception at Bullpen Plaza followed by watching the Mets game, creating community connection and memorable experiences for fallen hero families.
• Allied WorldmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied World is a premier sponsor of the Annual Game & Family Day event, providing financial support that enables the organization to offer additional game tickets to beneficiary families.
• Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe law firm hosts the Annual Holiday Party for beneficiary families at their offices, demonstrating long-term commitment to the organization's mission since at least 2014.
• PwCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPwC participates in the 'Day in the Life' mentorship program, hosting children of fallen first responders for workplace experience to help them discover career possibilities.
• Marvel EntertainmentminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMarvel Entertainment participates in the 'Day in the Life' mentorship program, hosting children of fallen first responders to learn about careers in entertainment and media.
• Ed RandallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEd Randall hosts the Citi Field Picnic event benefiting Answer the Call, combining baseball event fundraising with first responder family support.
• Anheuser-BuschminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Annual Game & Family Day event.
• Hyundai Motor AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Annual Game & Family Day event and supporter of first responder families.
• AramarkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for events serving fallen first responder families.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund: Direct peer — national nonprofit honoring fallen law enforcement officers through memorial, research, and survivor support programs. Closely analogous mission to Answer the Call's NYPD/PAPD family support function.
• Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Direct peer — also provides financial support and services to families of fallen first responders (originally FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller). Operates with a similar NYC-anchored fundraising model featuring galas, runs, and celebrity engagement.
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: Direct peer — national nonprofit supporting families of fallen firefighters with financial assistance, grief support, and recognition programs. Comparable mission to Answer the Call but operates at national scale and includes a memorial weekend event.
• Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.): Direct peer — national nonprofit providing resources and support to families of officers killed in the line of duty. Closely analogous to Answer the Call's mission on the law enforcement side, including survivor support programs and peer networks.
• Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Direct peer — supporting first responder and military families through mortgage payoffs, smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans, and scholarships for fallen heroes' children. Strongly comparable revenue model built on celebrity ties, national runs, and galas.

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Broader incumbent — large national nonprofit supporting wounded veterans and military families with physical/mental wellness programs and financial assistance. Comparable beneficiary-support model and event-driven fundraising but serves military rather than first-responder population.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Broader incumbent — celebrity-founded nonprofit supporting first responders, veterans, and military families with financial grants, mental wellness programs, and community events. Comparable celebrity-driven fundraising model but with a wider scope spanning veterans and active-duty military.

Others

• 9/11 Memorial & Museum: Adjacent organization — NYC-based memorial and museum directly tied to the same 9/11 first-responder community that anchors Answer the Call's largest beneficiary cohort. Thematically linked through shared mission of honoring fallen first responders and sustaining family connections.

Regional players

• FDNY Foundation: Regional peer — NYC-affiliated foundation supporting FDNY members and families through fundraising and program funding. Operates in the same NYC first-responder ecosystem but focuses broadly on department needs rather than exclusively on line-of-duty survivor support.
• NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association: Regional peer — NYC police union that supports officer families through hardship funds, scholarships, and survivor benefits. Operates in the same geographic ecosystem and serves overlapping NYPD families but is structured as a labor organization rather than a pure charity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/answerthecall
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCThMrqt-s47dlEf2ddoB2Tg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AnswerTheCallNYC
• Instagraminstagram.com/answerthecallnyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund