Strategic Recommendations

Top 5 Must Pursue Grants

Motorola Solutions Foundation: Directly targets scholarships for fallen first responder families. Moderate effort, imminent LOI deadline, and a perfect mission fit make this an essential play.

Bob Woodruff Foundation: Premier veterans funder focused on closing gaps for families. FOH delivers measurable education outcomes that align with BWF’s priorities and unlock the Got Your 6 Network.

USAA Foundation Partnership: High-upside, invitation-only relationship centered on military family resiliency. A six-figure multi-year investment would diversify FOH’s revenue and signal credibility across the sector.

DAV Charitable Service Trust: Quarterly grants that map perfectly to disabled veterans’ families. Straightforward requirements and renewal potential convert mission alignment into immediate scholarships.

Fisher Service Award: A single narrative can yield $75K–$100K plus national recognition and Military Times promotion. FOH’s story and outcomes align strongly with award criteria.

Worth Exploring

PenFed Military Heroes: $50K awards honoring service; position scholarships within PenFed’s “Legacy” focus on empowering military families.

Boeing ECF Chapters: Employee-driven $5K–$25K grants in FOH markets. Aggregate multiple regions and cultivate Boeing goodwill.

Lockheed Martin & RTX: Invitation-only corporate giving. Engage local chapters, veteran ERGs, and pitch STEM/leadership-focused scholarship cohorts.

Craig Newmark Philanthropies: Personalized outreach to a leading veteran philanthropist could secure $50K+ with modest effort.

New York Life Foundation: Leverage FOH’s bereaved child population; propose a scholarship + mentorship/grief support pilot to fit their RFP.

Skip / Monitor

Northrop Grumman Foundation: Invite-only STEM programs—monitor, but do not invest time without a STEM partnership opening.

Robert R. McCormick Foundation: Chicagoland focus and closed process make this a low-ROI pursuit for 2026.

First Responders Children’s Foundation: Operates its own scholarships; no outbound grants available.

Gary Sinise Foundation: Proprietary survivor programs mean no grant pathway for FOH.

American Legion Child Welfare Foundation: Small project grants for materials; misaligned with FOH’s scholarship deployment.

Immediate Actions (Next 30 Days)

• Secure warm introductions to USAA leadership (Owner: CEO/Nick Nichols) by 30 Nov.
• Complete Motorola LOI draft by 15 Dec and route for review.
• Compile FY2025 financials and scholarship metrics by 31 Dec (Owner: CFO & Impact Officer).
• Produce Gold Star family storytelling video for Fisher Service Award by 15 Jan (Owner: Communications).
• Hold grant calendar huddle first week of December to assign leads/backups (Owner: CDO/Ben Leslie).
• Refresh grant boilerplate with updated stats and program ratio explanation by 15 Dec (Owner: Grants Manager).
• Activate Boeing/Lockheed chapter outreach within 30 days and report interest by Jan 2026.

Capacity Building Priorities

Relationships to Develop

• Corporate contacts at USAA, Boeing, and Lockheed community investment teams.
• Veteran foundation partners (BWF, DAV) via webinars, check-ins, and event invitations.
• Legislative champions for potential FY27 Congressionally Directed Spending.

Documentation to Prepare

• Impact one-pager summarizing scholarships, demographics, and testimonials (Jan 2026).
• Formal evaluation framework covering metrics, survey cadence, and ownership.
• Financial stewardship narrative detailing vetting, disbursement, and audit controls.

Partnerships to Formalize

• Universities heavily attended by FOH scholars (letters of collaboration, data sharing).
• Veteran service organizations such as TMF and TAPS for joint programming.
• Employer pipelines (Hiring Our Heroes, corporate allies) to support scholar employment outcomes.