Motorola Solutions Foundation Grants

Why It Matters

Motorola Solutions Foundation explicitly funds “scholarships to families of fallen first responders,” making this program a direct match for FOH’s Children’s Fund scholarships. A $50K award underwrites roughly ten additional first responder family scholarships and creates an entry point to a prestigious corporate partner with renewal potential.

Program Snapshot

• Contact: Monica Mears, Community Investment Manager (foundation@motorolasolutions.com). Motorola hosts an informational webinar every December.
• Match requirement: None. Grants can cover 100% of the project budget up to $50K.
• Eligible projects: Structured programs supporting first responders or technology/engineering education for underserved communities. Scholarships for fallen or disabled first responder families are specifically cited.
• Ineligible costs: General operating support, fundraising events, retroactive expenses, or multi‑year requests in a single cycle.

Eligibility & Positioning

FOH meets all baseline requirements (501(c)(3), national footprint, strong financials). To strengthen alignment, center the proposal on first responder families in Motorola priority markets—Dallas–Fort Worth, Chicago, Southern California, Boston, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Baltimore/DC, and Colorado. Emphasize how scholarships close education gaps and improve family stability in those communities.

Application Requirements

• CyberGrants online inquiry (5 short answers, ~150–300 words each) followed by a full application (~5 pages of narrative across need, plan, evaluation, and outcomes).
• IRS determination letter, project budget, organizational budget, board roster, and DEI policies.
• No audited financials at LOI stage, but have FY2024 audit ready if invited.
• Letters of support are optional; weave partnerships into the narrative instead.
• Estimated prep time: ~40 hours (10 for LOI, 20 for full proposal, 10 for attachments/review).

Strategic Fit

The foundation’s mission is to “support first responders and build safer cities.” FOH scholarships deliver long-term resiliency for families who protect those cities. Our inclusion of underserved and diverse first responder families echoes Motorola’s DEI emphasis. Cite program outcomes—number of scholarships awarded to public safety families, utilization rates, graduation/retention data, and testimonials that show community impact.

Note that Motorola favors data-driven partners. Highlight FOH’s 81% program ratio (CharityWatch) and the documented demand: 7,700 eligible families unfunded in the last cycle. Pair those metrics with stories from Motorola markets to humanize the ask.

Success Factors

• Quantify first responder family demand and outcomes—e.g., scholarships awarded, credentials earned, reduced financial stress.
• Demonstrate reach in Motorola hubs and partnerships with local police, fire, and EMS associations.
• Outline data collection and evaluation (tracking scholarship utilization, academic progress, financial stability indicators).
• Explain how the grant advances equity (support for underrepresented first responder families) and can be renewed annually.

Risk & Mitigation

• Competition: Hundreds of applicants vie for ~150 awards. Mitigate by tightly aligning with the “scholarships for fallen first responders” priority and showcasing differentiated scale.
• Large-organization perception: Emphasize unmet need and how every $5K scholarship unlocks a specific student rather than padding reserves.
• Metrics expectation: Prepare a concise evaluation plan (pre/post surveys, academic tracking) so Motorola sees measurable results.

ROI & Next Moves

$50,000 ÷ ~40 staff hours ≈ $1,250/hour. With renewal potential, ROI improves in subsequent cycles. Submit the LOI by January 22, 2026, attend the December webinar, and line up data partners so the full proposal (if invited) can be submitted well before April 20.

Key Resources

• Motorola Solutions Foundation annual grant cycle
• Grant priorities & process PDF
• FundsforNGOs overview of 2026 cycle