Why Supporting Military Scholarship Funds Is a Meaningful Investment

As Giving Tuesday and the holiday giving season approach, many of us start to think about how we can give back to our communities. Donations can be an investment that will make a meaningful impact for years to come, or even a lifetime. 

One of the most powerful and lasting ways you can give is by investing in future generations of young Americans through a college scholarship fund. College scholarships serve students who lack financial access to the higher education that can be so important to building a successful future. Scholarships that are awarded in high school to students in need who are already high performers are certainly needed and valuable. Many of these students come from low-income or middle-class families and simply need some debt-free assistance to reach their full potential. 

Yet scholarships that can be offered earlier in life make an even bigger difference: they can provide hope, motivation, and financial peace of mind for young people who face other forms of adversity in life. One often-overlooked group is the children of military service members and law enforcement professionals, particularly those who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Nonprofit organizations like the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (MC-LEF) establish a college fund for these children when they most need support in rebuilding their lives.

Why Military Children Need and Deserve College Funding Support

Military children face unique challenges that set them apart from their civilian peers. From frequent relocations to having one or both parents deployed for extended periods, these kids experience significant disruptions throughout their lives.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Much like their service member parents, children often develop incredible resilience, maturity, and adaptability due to the demands of military life. They grow up learning how to manage change, maintain strong family bonds despite separation, and often take on responsibilities beyond their years. Yet, despite these strengths, they still need support — especially when it comes to accessing higher education, and all the more if they have lost a parent.

Educational Gaps and Challenges Due to Frequent Moves

Frequent relocations can disrupt a military child’s education. Changing grade schools often means that credits may not transfer, and academic progress can be interrupted. Military children may also miss out on extracurricular activities that strengthen college or scholarship applications, making financial assistance even more critical.

The Financial Burden of College Costs and Student Loan Debt

College is expensive for all families, but military families face unique financial challenges. Service members often don’t earn high salaries, and the added costs of frequent moves or deployments can strain their budgets. While government benefits like the GI Bill help, they often don’t cover the full cost of a child’s college education, making scholarship support crucial.

Honoring the Sacrifices of Those Who Serve Our Country

When you support military families with children, you’re also honoring the sacrifices these families have made for our country. They face many hardships related to deployments and the dangers their loved ones face. Ensuring they have the opportunity to attend college is a way to give back to them for the personal costs they’ve paid as part of a military family.

The (Mutual) Benefits of Donating to a Scholarship Fund

When you donate to a scholarship for military children, you're doing more than just offering financial aid for crucial college expenses. You’re creating opportunities for students who might otherwise struggle to make higher education possible and relieving financial stress for families.

Long-term Benefits for American Society and the Economy

An investment in education pays dividends for generations. Students who receive scholarships are more likely to graduate, enter the workforce, and contribute to the economy. Educated individuals add enormous value to their communities, fostering innovation, productivity, local spending, and stronger local economies.

A Win-Win for Donors

For companies and individuals, donating to a scholarship fund can also offer tax benefits and enhance their reputation within the community. Philanthropy is a way to show commitment to future generations in alignment with corporate social responsibility goals.

Ways to Give

There are several ways to support college scholarships for military children, making it easy to find a giving method that fits your budget and goals. 

Monetary Donations

One of the simplest ways to contribute is to make a direct financial donation in some form. For example, MC-LEF accepts gifts via credit card, PayPal, or check. You can also choose to contribute one-time or recurring gifts.

Financial Asset Donations

Donating stock or other securities is another way to contribute. By doing so, you may also benefit from significant tax advantages while helping military children pursue their educational goals.

Planned Giving

For those interested in leaving a lasting legacy, planned giving options such as bequests, charitable trusts, or endowments can ensure that future generations of military children continue to receive educational support.

IRA Funds

Donors over the age of 70 can contribute as much as $100,000 to a charitable nonprofit and avoid paying taxes on the distribution. This is called a Qualified Charitable Deduction.

Combined Federal Campaign

Some organizations will also allow you to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Use the campaign number provided on their website to do this. 

Investing in military children through college scholarship funds is a powerful way to show gratitude for their families’ sacrifices while ensuring the future strength and resilience of our nation. This Giving Tuesday, consider making a donation that will transform lives — one that supports education, empowers military families, and strengthens the fabric of America for generations to come.

Support Military and Federal Law Enforcement Scholarships With MC-LEF

Since its creation in 1995, MC-LEF has offered educational funding to the children of fallen military service members. Thanks to our generous donors, MC-LEF currently establishes a $35,000 educational account for every child who loses a parent serving on active duty as a federal law enforcement agent, in the United States Marine Corps, or as a Navy Corpsman. To date, MC-LEF has awarded over $93 million in educational accounts and other humanitarian assistance to over 5,900 recipients. Contact us to learn more!

All MC-LEF officers and board members are volunteers; we have only one paid employee. We pride ourselves on running our organization as cost-effectively as possible so that over 90% of our donor funds can be used to accomplish our mission of serving the children of those who sacrificed all.  Please consider donating today!