A portion—or sometimes all—of your ticket, registration, or winning bid may be tax-deductible. Details are provided after purchase or on each event page.

Unless otherwise indicated, our self-administered scholarship programs (i.e., Military Spouse Scholarship) are available to non-traditional students. Scholarships done in partnership with military-affiliated organizations and families have unique eligibility and criteria.

All FCEF scholarships are merit-based.

Yes! Please see our Amazon Wishlist or contact us at edufoundation@fcef.com for our current needs.

Absolutely! You can organize your own fundraising event—such as a tournament or community event—to raise awareness and funds for FCEF and donate the proceeds to support military scholarships. Host your own event!

Not necessarily. Many virtual auctions and raffles are open to participants from anywhere and don’t require in-person attendance. Once registered, you can browse items, place bids online, and receive updates throughout the auction. Winning bidders will be notified after the auction closes.

Please contact us at scholarships@fcef.com. We will be happy to answer your questions.

No. FCEF does not endorse, recommend, or promote any financial products, services, or providers. We operate independently as a nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to advancing educational opportunities for military families through scholarships.

Unless you specify a scholarship program, gifts are used where they’re most needed to support the greatest needs and expand educational opportunities for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. One hundred percent of designated donations go directly to the selected scholarship program.

Our self-administered scholarship programs (i.e., Military Spouse Scholarship) have specific eligibility requirements, which are evaluated through a competitive process. Additionally, we offer scholarships in partnership with military-affiliated organizations, and families that have their own unique eligibility, criteria, and selection process. For these partnered or family-endowed scholarships, FCEF does not directly participate in the selection of scholarship recipients.

Unless otherwise indicated for specific memorial/endowment scholarships, awards are distributed directly to the recipient’s school to be applied to their account.

You can support military families by making a one-time or recurring donation to the First Command Educational Foundation. Donors may also sponsor events, establish named scholarships, or partner with FCEF to expand educational access for military service members and their families. Every contribution directly supports scholarship funding and long-term educational opportunity.

Proceeds from our fundraising events help fund scholarship programs that support service members, veterans, and their families in pursuing college degrees, vocational training, continuing education, and GED programs—empowering them to achieve brighter futures.

To apply for a CHP scholarship, please contact the partner organization directly for information on the application process. If you are applying for one of our self-administered scholarships, visit our scholarship page for information on application deadlines and the link to apply.

We ensure financial transparency through strong internal controls, independent annual audits, and clear reporting through our annual report and required filings. Donors can give with confidence knowing their generosity is stewarded responsibly and used exactly as intended.

The CHP is designed for us to partner with spouses’ clubs, ROTC programs, and other military organizations by matching 100% of their donations, doubling the amount they have to award for their scholarship program as internal policy and annual funding allow. For example, a $2,000 donation from a local spouse group is matched, creating $4,000 available to award in that year. The partner organization maintains the application and selection process. For more information, email us at scholarships@fcef.com.

No. FCEF is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity and is not owned, controlled, or governed by any for-profit entity. FCEF maintains full independence over its governance, mission, and funding decisions. Any support from corporate sponsors or partners does not imply endorsement, affiliation, or control.

Yes. All donations and user portal activity are processed through secure, encrypted systems.

The First Command Educational Foundation (FCEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarships for military service members, veterans, and their families. Since 1983, FCEF has invested more than $5 million in education, helping military families pursue college degrees, career certifications, and other post-secondary educational opportunities.

FCEF is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity and a registered nonprofit corporation in the State of Texas. The Foundation is governed by an independent Board of Directors that provides oversight, strategic direction, and fiduciary accountability.

FCEF is committed to transparency and responsible stewardship. The organization maintains a profile with Candid and Charity Navigator and undergoes annual third-party financial audits to ensure accountability and sound financial management.

The user portal is a secure, dedicated website that allows you to manage your relationship with our organization in one place. Through the portal, you can update your personal and contact information; manage recurring gifts by changing amounts, pausing, or ending payments; securely store payment methods for future use; view your complete lifetime giving history, including cash, check, gifts-in-kind, and pledges; and email yourself giving statements for the last calendar year or year-to-date.

FCEF is uniquely focused on expanding access to education for military service members and their families through dedicated scholarship support. Rather than providing general assistance, the Foundation concentrates its resources on helping military learners pursue academic goals and long-term opportunity. In addition, FCEF partners with donors and institutions to deliver meaningful, ongoing scholarship support for military families.

If you are applying for a CHP scholarship through one of our partners, please contact that organization for information on eligibility requirements. For information on eligibility and criteria for scholarships administered by FCEF, check the criteria for each of our scholarship programs above, or email us at scholarships@fcef.com.