Philanthropy

Scholarships

UFA Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is for dependent children of active, retired or deceased Firefighters, Fire Marshals, Marine Wipers, Marine Engineers & Pilots who are full-time students up to and including age 23 for UNDERGRADUATE education. Applicants must currently be enrolled in college, trade or vocational school.

Active members and their spouses are also eligible. Dependent children, spouses of LOD deceased UFA members, and dependent children of non-LOD deceased UFA members are eligible to receive scholarships for undergraduate education but must still fill out an application and provide proof of enrollment.

The application period runs from August 1 - October 1 each year.

 

Open Scholarships

BC Matthew Ryan Memorial Scholarship
Applications are now available for this year’s BC Matthew Ryan Memorial Scholarships, which are named to honor the fallen Chief who had 28 years of service with the FDNY and made the supreme sacrifice on September 11, 2001.
Two (2) one thousand-dollar scholarships are awarded annually and can be used for college/university, high school, trade school or private school. Applicants must meet both the following criteria:
• Must be the daughter or son of an active, retired or deceased (both line of duty and non-line of duty) member of the Fire Department.
• The Firefighter (not the student) must be an active, retired or deceased member who played hockey on FDNY, Firehouse, Town, Local, or League hockey team.

Application forms and additional information is available online at www.fdnyhockey.org
SILVER SHIELD COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
The Silver Shield Foundation is honoring the service of uniformed members of the FDNY to the New York Community by awarding one member’s college-bound child (chosen by lottery) a college scholarship in the amount of $7,500, renewable annually for up to four years (total of $30,000).

Eligibility:
To be eligible, a student must be the natural or adopted child of an FDNY member currently serving as a Firefighter, Fire Officer, EMT, Paramedic, EMS Officer, Wiper, Engineer, Pilot, Fire Marshal or Supervising Fire Marshal. Grandchildren and stepchildren are not eligible. The children of retirees, deceased members or civilians (including Fire Prevention) are not eligible.
The student must have graduated from an accredited high school in the current year (2025) and be accepted at an accredited four-year college to matriculate in the Summer or Fall of 2025.

Selection:
The scholarship winner will be chosen by lottery. To be considered, the student should write on a piece of paper:
• His/her first, middle and last name.
• Name of high school and graduation date.
• Name of college and start date. If undecided, please write “undecided”.
• Name of FDNY parent on a piece of paper and sign the page.
The paper should be sealed in a plain white envelope with no address or markings. This envelope should be enclosed in another envelope addressed to: Dominique Joseph Assistant Commissioner, Family Assistance Unit, Rm. 8S-10 9MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY11201.
Write the parent’s FDNY reference number across the seal of the outer envelope.
Only one entry will be accepted per child.

Deadline
Envelopes must be received by March 22, 2025.

For additional information, email familyassistance@fdny.nyc.gov or call 718-999-1473.
COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications for eligible family members of the Columbia Association are being accepted for Private or Public High School and College Awards as follows:

Candidates for College Awards (12th Grade Students):
Submit applications, along with a copy of the candidate’s SAT scores, before April 1, 2025. These tests must be taken in the candidates’ junior or senior year of high school between September 2023 and March 2025. This must be the candidates’ graduating year.

Candidates for High School Awards (8th Grade Students):
Submit applications before March 15, 2025. The STS Closed High School Placement test will be given on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 1000 hours at the Fire Academy.

Eligibility:
Candidates for these awards may compete if a parent (natural, step, or foster) is a member in good standing of the Columbia Association. Children of deceased members who were in good standing at the time of death may also compete. Grandchildren are not eligible.

Applications
Applications may be obtained online at www.fdnycolumbia.com, Borough Trustee or by contacting the Scholarship Chairperson, Deputy Assistant Chief Grace Cacciola, gmcacc@aol.com, 917-375-3702.
HOLY NAME SOCIETY HIGHER EDUCATION DRAWING
The FDNY Holy Name Society will hold the 2025 Higher Education Drawing on Sunday, April 6 at our Communion Breakfast.
HNS good standing rules apply and member must be present at The Breakfast to be entered into drawing.
For eligible students currently in the 12th grade only.
Printable applications and rules found at www.fdnyholynamesociety.com or by contacting the Scholarship Chairman at wm519@msn.com or 718-335-9685.
Mail completed applications to William Meade, PO Box 525, Maspeth, NY 11378, by March 30, 2025.
FIRE BELL CLUB SCHOLARSHIP
The Fire Bell Club is now accepting applications for their scholarship award.

The award is open to:
  • Active Firefighters or Fire Officers who have been accepted at or are attending an accredited institution of higher learning.
  • Firefighters or Fire Officers pursuing a degree in Fire Service Administration, Public Service Management, Nursing or a related fire service discipline and who have completed a minimum of twelve credits.


Applications & Awards:
  • A written statement of 500 words explaining why the applicant should be considered for the award and how will he/she plan to use this award.
  • The application deadline is April 18th, 2025.
  • Applications can be obtained from Lizzette Perez-Cruz, Unit Head of Registrar Office via e-mail at RegistrarUnit@fdny.nyc.gov
  • The amount of award is $1,000.
  • Announcement or presentation of the award is mid-June.
FDNY SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES

.FDNY Members and their Families are eligible for scholarships. See the list below for additional scholarships and the button for additional information:

  • Scholarship Resources for Line of Duty Deaths and Line of Duty Disability Dependents
  • Scholarship Resources for the Dependents of Active, Retired
    and Deceased Members
  • Scholarships offered by FDNY Fraternal Organizations
  • Scholarships and Educational Resources for Members

Information (eligibility, contacts, & award amount, etc.) related to the scholarships listed below is subject to change. Any questions should be directed to the organization offering the scholarship. Send scholarship/college information benefitting our membership to: recordingsecretary@ufanyc.org

Scholarships for Line of Duty Deaths and Line of Duty Disability Dependents
Scholarships for Dependents of Active, Retired and Deceased Members
Scholarships offered by FDNY Fraternal Organizations
Scholarships and Educational Resources for Members
Complete UFA Scholarship Manual Resource Guide

Funds

UFA Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is for dependent children of active, retired or deceased Firefighters, Fire Marshals, Marine Wipers, Marine Engineers & Pilots who are full-time students up to and including age 23 for undergraduate education.

Donate to the UFA Scholarship Fund
Thomas R. Elsasser Fund

The Thomas R. Elsasser Fund was established in 1992 to support the families of NYC Firefighters who died Non-Line of Duty as active members of the FDNY.

With your help we can support these families who don't have FDNY pensions or medical coverage. The funds are used to help with their medical costs, housing and repairs, and school tuitions to name a few.

Donate to the Elsasser Fund
Widows and Childrens Fund

The funds are deposited directly into the Widows and Childrens Fund account and distributed directly to the families of our Fallen Firefighters.

Donate to the Widows & Childrens Fund

You can donate electronically via PayPal or via Mail to:

Uniformed Firefighters Association
204 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010

*Exemption granted pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Tax ID number: 13-4194707

Foundations

The Michael R. Davidson Foundation

This non-profit organization was formed to honor the memory of FDNY Lieutenant Michael R. Davidson, who made the ultimate sacrifice on March 23, 2018. Drawing inspiration from Michael's spirit of selflessness and his love for others, we look forward to giving back to the communities to which he served and belonged. Thus, our commitment to community will focus specifically on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of first responder and military families and their children.

Learn More
The Billy Moon Foundation

The Billy Moon Foundation is a 501(c) 3 charity. Our mission is to advocate, raise awareness, and to increase organ donation across the country. The heart of the foundation is to provide support through representation of the first responder communities, fundraising, and partnership with Organ Donor Organizations. We also strive to be a lifeline for our local communities and families in need.

Learn More