The below descriptions are summaries of Answer the Call’s policies. In all cases, the underlying policies govern. Please consult our Legal page for more information and definitions.
For over forty years, Answer the Call has stood beside the families of New York City’s fallen first responders, providing lifelong financial assistance and a network of support. The Answer the Call Scholarship Program extends that commitment by helping eligible family members pursue undergraduate, graduate, vocational, technical, and trade education.
The program’s inaugural awards will be offered through the Answer the Call Scholarship: Presented by Allied World.
Education can open doors to greater opportunity, financial stability, and new career paths, but the ability to pursue and complete an education is not shaped by ambition alone. The loss of a parent, guardian or spouse can have lasting effects on a family, while financial circumstances can create additional barriers to educational attainment. Through this scholarship, Answer the Call aims to help lessen those barriers and give eligible family members greater opportunity to pursue their educational goals.
Whether they are beginning college, continuing their education, learning a trade, pursuing an advanced degree, or returning to school later in life, this scholarship program is designed to recognize that educational goals take many forms and can be pursued at any stage of life.
Eligibility
Applicants must be the child, spouse, or legal domestic partner of a New York City police officer, firefighter, EMS personnel, or Port Authority police officer killed in the line of duty, as defined in Answer the Call’s Line of Duty Death Policy.
There is no age limit to apply. Applicants must be enrolled, accepted, or planning to enroll on a full or part-time basis to an accredited:
- Two or four-year college or university
- Graduate or professional degree
- Vocational, trade, or technical school
Scholarship Awards
Award amounts are determined based on factors including, but not limited to, number of applicants, financial need, academic readiness, aptitude, and overall strength of the application.
Scholarship awards are anticipated to range from $2,000-$10,000 annually. Awards may be used towards eligible educational expenses including:
- Tuition
- Housing
- Meal plans
- Required fees
- Books
- Supplies and equipment
Scholarship payments are made directly to the educational institution on the recipient’s behalf. If an institution cannot bill a student for an item, this expense would not be covered by Answer the Call’s scholarship award.
Scholarship recipients may be eligible to receive continued support throughout their educational program. Renewal of the scholarship award is subject to annual program requirements, including remaining enrolled and in good standing with the educational institution and providing requested documentation regarding enrollment, academic standing, financial need and other applicable information.
How Applications Are Considered
We recognize that every student’s path is different. Our review process is designed so that both a traditional student and an applicant returning to school after many years can demonstrate strength in different, equally meaningful ways. The goal is to evaluate each applicant fairly and in context, taking into account their academic readiness, goals, commitments, and individual circumstances.
Applications will be reviewed blindly, with identifying information removed, so reviewers can evaluate each applicant as objectively and consistently as possible. Reviewers will assess applications against an established set of criteria, with consideration given to factors including:
- Academic readiness and commitment to education
- Financial need
- Educational and career goals
- Employment, volunteer service, extracurricular activities, military service, and other experiences
- Responsibilities at home or within the community
- The cost and duration of the applicant’s educational program
- Additional information provided by the applicant that helps us better understand their circumstances, experiences, and goals
Applicants may demonstrate readiness and achievement in different ways depending on their educational and life stage. For some, that may include recent grades and coursework; for others, it may include current academic standing, admission to a qualifying program, professional accomplishments, certifications, training, employment, caregiving, or other significant responsibilities.
Our goal is to consider each applicant in full context, rather than relying on any single measure of achievement.
Applying for a Scholarship
Applicants should be prepared to provide information and documentation related to their eligibility, education, and financial need. Application materials may include:
- A completed scholarship application
- Academic transcripts or other records, as applicable
- Proof of enrollment or acceptance, as applicable
- Financial aid information
- Documentation establishing eligibility for the program
- Information about educational goals, experiences, and circumstances
- FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) or estimated SAI (if not applying for FAFSA, you may still receive an estimated SAI through the Federal Student Aid Estimator)
Additional instructions and all required materials will be provided through the scholarship program application portal linked below.
Scholarship Timeline
The inaugural scholarship cycle will include a one-time expedited application period for eligible students already attending a qualifying educational institution during the 2026–2027 academic year. Awards from this cycle are intended to support eligible expenses for the Spring 2027 semester or term.
Following the inaugural round, the Answer the Call Scholarship is expected to follow an annual application cycle.
| Inaugural 2026-27 Scholarship Cycle | Anticipated 2027-28 Scholarship Cycle | |
| Applications Open | October 23, 2026 | Late January 2027 |
| Application Deadline | November 18, 2026 | Early March 2027 |
| Application Review | Mid November-December 2026 | March-April 2027 |
| Scholarship Recipients Notified | Mid-December 2026 | April-May 2027 |
| Scholarship Awards Disbursed to Educational Institutions | Mid-January 2027 | Mid-August 2027 |
Application dates and program timelines are subject to change. Please refer to this page and the scholarship application portal for the most current information.
Ready to Apply?
If you believe you may be eligible we encourage you to review the program requirements and begin your application through our scholarship portal.
The application portal will guide you through each step of the process, including required materials, eligibility documentation, and important deadlines.
APPLY NOWAllied World Assurance Company: A Founding Commitment to Education
Answer the Call’s scholarship program was made possible through the generous founding support of Allied World, a global insurance and reinsurance company that helps organizations protect their people, assets and operations. With hundreds of employees living and working in the New York metropolitan area, Allied World is committed to supporting organizations that strengthen the communities it serves and honoring those who have made extraordinary sacrifices on their behalf.
Allied World shares Answer the Call’s belief that supporting the families of fallen first responders requires sustained, long-term support. By investing in education, Allied World hopes to help recipients pursue rewarding careers, build financial independence and create opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom. Recognizing that there are many paths to success, the scholarship supports a broad range of educational opportunities, including two and four-year undergraduate programs, graduate studies, and vocational, trade and technical programs. Whether recipients choose to pursue college, a skilled trade, or another area of study, Allied World encourages them to follow the path that best reflects their goals, interests and aspirations.
Through this partnership, Allied World is helping to honor the legacies of fallen first responders while investing in the futures of the family members they left behind.
