NYPD Sergeant Polanco has served New York City for 17 years. After a devastating house fire destroyed his family's home and took the life of his mother-in-law, the community rallied around them. Together, 171 donors raised $14,310 to help the Polanco family begin rebuilding. It's a reminder of what happens when people show up for one another. FundTheFirst.com gives first responders, military members, medical workers and teachers a place to share their stories and bring their communities together when they need to fundraise. Start your fundraiser today at FundTheFirst.com.

Melissa Xenakis helped children find their voices as a speech-language pathologist in the Jericho School District. When she passed, her community came together: 243 donors raised $25,397 for the education and long-term needs of her sons, Hank and Nate. Her legacy lives on through everyone who showed up for her family. FundTheFirst verifies beneficiaries before payout and charges zero platform fees. Standard payment processing fees apply; donor tips are optional. Start your fundraiser today: FundTheFirst.com.

Verification on FundtheFirst.com is a trust step, and it’s tied to one person: the beneficiary, the one who actually receives the funds. If you’re fundraising for yourself, that’s you. If you’re raising money for someone else, that’s the person you’re raising for. Here’s how it breaks down: Verification helps build trust in every campaign. The beneficiary is the person who receives payouts. Beneficiary identity verification and payout setup are separate steps, both completed before funds are received. We keep it straightforward because transparency matters to the families and communities we serve. Have questions about the process, or your own experience with fundraising for a first responder or military family? Drop them in the comments. We read every one and are glad to help. Start or learn more at FundtheFirst.com.

Behind every fundraiser is a story. Around it is a community that cares. A milestone. A next step. A simple thank-you. Thoughtful updates keep that community connected without sharing the private details that deserve protection. Keep people informed. Keep trust at the center. Start a fundraiser people can trust at FundTheFirst.com.

Trust should come before the first dollar moves. That's why we built FundtheFirst.com with no platform fees, so every dollar raised goes straight to the family or cause it's meant for. We also verify every beneficiary before any payout is released, because the people who serve and the families who stand behind them deserve a process they can rely on. When our community gives, we want to know it's reaching the right hands. That's the standard we hold ourselves to on every campaign, from medical needs and line-of-duty tragedies to personal emergencies. If you're a supporter, we invite you to browse verified fundraisers and give with confidence. If you or someone in your family needs help, we're here to help you start a campaign the community can trust.

Standing behind those who serve. Thank you to Team South Florida, the U.S. First Responders Association and Tacfucius for endorsing FundTheFirst. Start a fundraiser people can trust. FundTheFirst.com

They are the people others turn to on the hardest days. But the people who serve can need a helping hand, too. FundTheFirst brings communities together around police officers, firefighters, EMS professionals, military members, medical workers and teachers, along with their families and friends. When someone in your circle needs support, knowing where to begin can make that first step feel less overwhelming. Explore FundTheFirst.com, learn how fundraising works, and keep it in mind for someone who may need it tomorrow. Start a fundraiser people can trust.

The instinct to help doesn’t stop at a border. In 2022, Project Joint Guardian brought firefighters together around a shared mission: getting rescue equipment and medical supplies to fellow firefighters in Ukraine. Organizer Eric Hille later shared that the first team had delivered the donated supplies after raising over $27,000. Behind that mission were people willing to show up, and a community willing to stand with them. Explore their story on FundTheFirst. And when someone in your community needs support, remember where a helping hand can begin. Start a fundraiser people can trust. fundthefirst.com/campaign/ta…

A fundraiser photo can reveal more than intended. Before sharing, check the whole frame: people in the background, paperwork, screens, badges and details that reveal a private location. Check the file’s location information, too. Cropping alone doesn’t remove it. Choose a photo the people pictured are comfortable sharing, then review the final image and caption before posting. Start a fundraiser people can trust at FundTheFirst.com.

Someone opening a fundraiser on a phone may be hearing the story for the first time. A clear opening explains who the fundraiser supports, what the help is intended to cover, and the organizer's connection. Confirmed details and short, focused paragraphs help readers follow the story. Before sharing, a second reader can check three things: Who is this for? What will the support help with? What still feels unclear? Start a fundraiser people can trust at FundTheFirst.com.

After a fire destroyed their home, retired Sergeant Joe Riedy and his wife, Julianne, needed support. Samuel Elias started a FundTheFirst fundraiser for essentials and temporary living costs. The community responded with 163 donations, raising $21,786 and surpassing the $20,000 goal. This fundraiser is now complete. Start a fundraiser people can trust at FundTheFirst.com.

When one of your own gets hurt, everybody wants to help at once. Someone makes a link. Someone else passes around a payment app. A flyer goes up at work. A week later, nobody is sure which one is real. Start one page. Make it verified. On FundTheFirst, identity is checked before the page goes live, and a real person from our team reaches out to both the organizer and the beneficiary. Only the verified beneficiary receives the money. The organizer never holds it. Then every text, group chat and post points to the same place. If your crew is going through it right now, start a fundraiser people can trust.

When people ask where the money goes, FundTheFirst has a plain answer. Only the verified beneficiary receives the funds. The organizer helps start and share the page — they are not issued the money. That rule protects families, departments, and honest organizers. It is one reason people trust a FundTheFirst page. Learn more at FundTheFirst.com.

Yorktown Police Lieutenant Kenneth Sgroi took ill very suddenly and succumbed to his illness on January 2, 2023. His wife, Anne Sgroi, organized this fundraiser for their family. The community has raised $161,825 of a $175,000 goal. fundthefirst.com/campaign/th…

When someone you work with needs help, you should know where to send people. Go to FundTheFirst.com and choose Start a Fundraiser. The fundraiser is reviewed before it goes live, and help is there if you need it. fundthefirst.com/

NYPD Police Officer Angel Acevedo served the people of New York, a husband, a father, a son, and a brother in blue. He left behind two young children, Damien and Amy. Beyond The Badge NY organized this FundTheFirst campaign for beneficiary Janet Acevedo to assist Angel's children during an unimaginable time. The community showed up. The completed campaign raised $32,554 of a $15,000 goal, goal exceeded, with 376 donors. When your department, family, or community needs a place people can trust, start a fundraiser at FundTheFirst.com.

Officer Chris Wagner served the Wintergreen Police Department in Virginia. He died in the line of duty on June 16, 2023. The campaign page says that because Wintergreen Police Department is a private department, his family was not eligible for line-of-duty death benefits from the state. The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police organized the fundraiser. The beneficiary listed on the page is Mark C. Wagner. The page shows $122,312 raised of a $100,000 goal, from 837 donors. The fundraiser has been completed. On March 1, 2024, the organizers wrote that they had closed it and the final payout was being distributed to the Wagner family. FundTheFirst.com is the place to start a fundraiser.

MTA PBA is a transit police union that stands with members and their families when help is needed. They are a FundTheFirst endorsing partner, and they organize verified fundraisers on the platform their members can trust. One public example is support for Officer Eduardo Mejia of the MTA Police Department after a house fire displaced his family. Proud to partner with organizations that put families first. Learn more, or start a verified fundraiser, at FundTheFirst.com.

When New York City lost two officers, their precinct started one fundraiser people could trust. Keith Hall and the NYPD Bowling Team started it for the families of Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora. 6,379 donations. $540,292 raised, past a $300,000 goal. When a community needs somewhere to turn, start at FundTheFirst.com.

Daly City Police Sergeant Shane Hart #65, a Marine Corps combat veteran, SWAT team leader, and devoted husband and father, was taken from his family too soon. Matthew Ciucci organized the only approved FundTheFirst campaign for Shane's wife Christina Josie Hart and their son Christian. The community showed up. The campaign has raised $139,795 toward a $150,000 goal, with 761 donors. Numbers verified as of 2026-09-29 ~10:59 AM ET. See how this fundraiser did at FundTheFirst.com. Browse FundTheFirst.com and search Shane Hart. When your department, family, or community needs a place people can trust, start a fundraiser at FundTheFirst.com.