Children in grades 8 through 12 (High school seniors must apply by September 15th) may apply for educational programs.

Children from the families of…

• Active-duty members of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.
• Reserve or National Guard members who were activated for active duty service since 9/11/01 and were deployed to a combat zone.
• A veteran who was honorably discharged from active duty on or after 9/11/2001.
• A combat-wounded or disabled veteran with a service-connected injury.
• A service member who was killed while on active duty.
• A law enforcement officer (defined below) who was killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

A parent who or was or is currently serving as a Law Enforcement Officer. A law enforcement officer is defined as any marshal, police officer, deputy sheriff, agent, or employee of any other title employed by a municipal, city, county, state, or federal agency and has powers of arrest. Any employee of a public authority, railroad, private institution of higher education, or otherwise holds a police commission from a state is considered a law enforcement officer. Volunteer/Auxiliary officers/deputies who are granted powers of arrest while on duty are also considered law enforcement officers.

A parent who was or is currently serving as a Correctional & Detention Officer.Correctional or detention officers are defined as officers who are employed as correctional or detention officers by any city, county, regional, state, or federal jail or corrections department are considered law enforcement officers for purposes of being honored on the ODMP, even if they do not have power of arrest outside the confines of the facility to which they are employed. The officer in question must be employed in a position that gives him/her primary or limited responsibility for the custody and security of suspected or convicted criminal offenders. If custody and security of suspected or convicted criminal offenders is not a person’s primary function (e.g., correctional employee such as Maintenance Supervisor, Farm Manager, Food Service Instructor, etc.), then that person must be engaged in custody and security duties when their fatal injury is sustained.

• For military and veteran families, click here to begin the application process.
• For law enforcement families, click here to begin the application process.

• For military and veteran families, click here to continue the application process.
• For law enforcement families, click here to continue the application process.

During the online application process, you will be asked to upload the required documentation. We also allow families to mail documentation but please note, this option will delay your submission.

In addition to the short application, military and veteran families are required to submit the following:

Proof of Military Service

You must submit proof of your parent’s military service. Submit each document listed in one of the following sections that correlates to the nature of you parent’s military service.

Active Duty Service Member

• Legible photocopy of Driver’s License (Please ensure that the copy is legible.) and one of the following:
  • Active-duty Status Report – Use the Department of Defense – Manpower Data Center website to obtain this report or
  • Statement of Service – must be on official letterhead and signed by the Adjutant, Personnel Officer, Executive
  • Officer, or Commanding Officer of the unit and dated within the last 90 days or
  • Copy of most recent PCS orders within the last six months

Current Reservist or National Guard Member

• Legible photocopy of Driver’s License and
• Proof of deployment to a combat zone since September 11, 2001. (DD214)

Veteran

• Legible photocopy of Driver’s License and
• DD214 (Member-4 version)

Disabled Veteran

• Legible photocopy of Driver’s License and
• DD214 (Member-4 version) and
• Letter outlining VA disability rating

Killed While on Active Duty

• DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) or Certificate of death (Service Connected)

Proof of Dependency

Only one of the following documents is required.

• Birth Certificate showing parents’ names or
• Casualty Report (DD1300) listing dependent’s name if applicable or
• Copy of the first two pages of your latest filed tax return showing your child as a dependent.

Student Grade Report

• A copy of the student’s most recent full-year grade report.

In addition to the short application, each law enforcement family is required to submit the following:

Proof of Qualifying Event

•  Line of Duty Death: Written notification from the chief executive officer of the involved agency where the deceased officer was employed at the time of death confirming that a line-of-duty death has occurred and that the deceased officer has dependents. (Ex. Incident Report (with narrative), Agency Report, etc.)
• Seriously Injured in Line-of-Duty: Written notification from the chief executive officer of the involved agency where the injured officer was employed at the time of injury confirming that the officer’s injury occurred during the line-of-duty.

Proof of Dependency

Only one of the following documents is required.

• Birth Certificate showing parents’ names
• Adoption decree
• Copy of the first two pages of a tax return from the year immediately prior to the officer’s death or serious injury showing your child as a dependent.

Student Grade Report

• A copy of the student’s most recent full-year grade report.

Yes, more than one student from a household can apply. Submit the application for the older child first, then complete this form, Additional Student Application (Military) or Additional Student Application (Law Enforcement) and email it to us at apply@gratitudeinitiative.org.

Yes. Please see application for appropriate documentation.

Yes. Parents have access to their children’s programs and The College Success Academy has program components designed just for parents.

For the College Success Academy, students can apply as early as the 8th grade year and as late as September 15th of their senior year in high school.

No! There is no cost to apply or to use GI’s programs for qualified families. The cost for these programs is covered by the generous donations of GI’s supporters and patriotic citizens.

Students and their parents can access GI’s College Success Academy’s programs and tools via the Internet. College advisors are available via toll-free telephone, email, and chat.

No. You just need access to a computer, the Internet, and a valid email address.

No. Programs are self-paced and designed not to interfere with a student’s normal scholastic activities.

No. Acceptance is based on the application, supporting documentation, and available funding. Every application is reviewed in its entirety by our review committee for the student’s potential to benefit from the program.

After we have received your completed application and required documentation, please allow up to 30 days for our review committee to evaluate your submission. We will contact you via email once their review is complete.

After you’ve been accepted into the program, we will send the contact parent an email asking them to confirm your family’s participation by acknowledging our Service Agreement. Once we receive that confirmation, we will send an email to both the parents and the student with login information. Students must use their own username and password to access their first steps in the program.

Our scholarship program is available only to students who have completed the GI College Success Academy. The number of scholarships awarded each year is determined by available funds.

Currently, ninety-six cents of every dollar donated goes toward providing the GI College Success Academy to deserving military, veteran, and law enforcement children. The Gratitude Initiative works extremely hard to keep the fundraising and administrative costs associated with the operation of GI as low as possible. Learn more

Click here to establish a recurring gift today. It’s fast, easy, and secure.

Yes! Your charitable gift helps sustain our mission regardless of the amount. We appreciate your generosity and standing with us in supporting military children and honoring their parent’s service.

If you are more comfortable mailing a donation please complete the Donation Form by clicking here and mail it to our office:

The Gratitude Initiative
101 Vintage Dr.
Suite 100
Red Oak, TX 75154

If you have any questions, please contact us at donor@gratitudeinitiative.org.

You can make changes to your monthly giving amount or billing information at any time. Please call 817-200-7465 or email us at donor@gratitudeinitiative.org.

You will receive an emailed receipt immediately after the donation transaction is processed.

Tax receipts are sent in January and February of the following year. For example, a 2022 tax receipt will be sent to the donor in January or February of 2023. However, if you need a copy sooner, please email us at donor@gratitudeinitiative.org.

The Gratitude Initiative welcomes inquiries from companies who support our mission of honoring our military, veteran, and law enforcement families. For more information on how your company can support GI, please contact us at donor@gratitudeinitiative.org.

Many companies have programs that permit employees to donate to the charities of their choice, and match gifts made by current or retired employees, which will often double your gift to the Gratitude Initiative. Please help us by contacting your company’s human resources office to facilitate this contribution. Most companies will ask for the federal tax identification for the charity. The Federal Taxpayer ID for The Gratitude Initiative is #46-3306022 For further details please contact us at donor@gratitudeinitiative.org.

Absolutely! While planning for your future, you can create a personal legacy of gratitude by helping to fund the education needs of military, veteran, and law enforcement children. Bequests are donations that are made through a will or a living trust. You can donate to the Gratitude Initiative through your estate planning by naming the GI in your will for a specific amount or a percentage share in your estate. You can also name our organization as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account. An additional opportunity is to establish a charitable annuity on behalf of the Gratitude Initiative. Please contact us at donor@gratitudeinitiative.org for more information.