Children of Fallen Heroes

Honoring the Fallen. Engineering the Future.

aka Children of Fallen Heroes 501(c)(3) | Pinehurst, NC | http://www.childrenoffallenheroes.org

Mission

Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH) has served more than 15,000 youth and families, providing a vital bridge between sacrifice and opportunity. We focus exclusively on high-impact STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) to equip the children of fallen military, special operators, first responders, and foster youth with the skills to lead in a 21st-century economy. Our work transforms grief into resilience by providing a community of peers and mentors who understand the unique challenges of hero families.

Notes from the nonprofit

At Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH), we are dedicated to honoring the legacy of fallen military personnel, first responders, and caregivers by empowering the children they leave behind. Through innovative programs, scholarships, and partnerships, we provide opportunities for healing, growth, and success. We believe in creating brighter futures by fostering resilience, encouraging innovation, and building a community that supports every child’s potential. Our work is inspired by the sacrifices of heroes and fueled by the generosity of donors, volunteers, and supporters who share our mission. Together, we are making a lasting impact and ensuring that no hero’s child is left behind. Thank you for joining us on this journey!

Ruling year info

2016

President and Founder

Kenneth Wasley

Main address

1428 Fazio Dr

Pinehurst, NC 28374-1804 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

81-0800340

Subject area info

Human services

Agriculture, fishing and forestry

Public safety

Information and communications

Health

Show more subject areas

Population served info

Victims and oppressed people

Economically disadvantaged people

Transitioning children

Adults

Families

Show more populations served

NTEE code info

Youth Development Programs (O50)

IRS subsection

501(c)(3) Public Charity

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Tax forms

Show Forms 990

Communication

Programs and results

Reports and documents

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH) addresses the critical need to support and empower children who have lost a parent in the line of duty, including fallen military personnel, first responders, foster youth, and children in underserved communities. These children often face emotional trauma, financial hardships, and limited access to resources, creating barriers to education, personal growth, and future opportunities. CFH aims to bridge this gap by providing scholarships, innovative STEM and arts programs, emotional support initiatives, and leadership development opportunities, ensuring these children can thrive despite their challenges and honor the legacy of their loved ones.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

CFH Legacy Scholarship Program

The CFH Legacy Scholarship Program provides financial assistance and educational opportunities for children of fallen military personnel, special operators, first responders, as well as foster youth and students from Title One schools. Scholarships support academic advancement, leadership development, and participation in programs that prepare the next generation for careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Through this program, Children of Fallen Heroes helps students pursue education, innovation, and purpose while honoring the legacy of those who served and sacrificed.

Population(s) Served

Emergency responders

Military personnel

Veterans

Children and youth

Adults

STEAM Community Outreach

The STEAM Community Outreach program expands Children of Fallen Heroes’ mission by bringing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics experiences directly into communities. Through hands-on activities, robotics, drones, aviation, creative arts, and leadership development, the program introduces youth to real-world skills while building confidence, teamwork, and curiosity. The program serves children of fallen military members, special operators, first responders, foster youth, caregivers, and students from Title One schools. By partnering with schools, community organizations, and public safety agencies, STEAM Community Outreach creates accessible learning opportunities that inspire the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders.

Where we work

North Carolina (United States)
United States

Photos

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of people accessing aids or adaptations as a percentage of the number of people receiving a service from the Occupational Therapy service

Totals By Year

Population(s) Served

Related Program

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Number of media partnerships developed

Totals By Year

Population(s) Served

Related Program

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided

Totals By Year

Population(s) Served

Related Program

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

What is the organization aiming to accomplish?

Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH) aims to empower and uplift children of fallen military personnel, first responders, foster youth, and underserved communities by providing resources and opportunities to help them thrive. Our goals include:

Expanding access to scholarships and financial aid for education.
Developing innovative STEM and arts programs through the CFH STEM + Arts Center.
Creating opportunities for emotional healing and personal growth through mentorship, equine therapy, and resilience-building activities.
Advancing drone research, manufacturing, and certification for first responders and military applications, inspiring youth in cutting-edge technologies.
Building a sustainable 82-acre community hub with housing, recreational spaces, and innovative learning environments to ensure long-term impact.
Our ultimate goal is to honor the legacy of fallen heroes while equipping their children with the tools and opportunities to build brighter futures.

What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?

Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH) employs the following key strategies to achieve its mission and goals:

Innovative Program Development

Deliver impactful programs, including scholarships, STEM and arts education, and leadership development opportunities, to empower children of fallen heroes and underserved communities.
Advance drone research, manufacturing, and certification programs tailored for first responders and military applications, inspiring youth and fostering innovation.
Development of the CFH 82-Acre Community Hub

Build the CFH STEM + Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility for hands-on learning in STEM and creative disciplines.
Incorporate equine therapy, agricultural initiatives, and outdoor recreational spaces to provide holistic emotional and personal development opportunities.
Create transitional housing through a tiny homes village for youth and families in need.
Strategic Partnerships

Collaborate with corporate sponsors, government agencies (e.g., DoD), and universities to fund programs, provide mentorship, and offer cutting-edge resources.
Partner with Title I schools, first responder organizations, and military bases to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities.
Financial Sustainability

Launch the "Building Brighter Futures" Capital Campaign to raise $10 million for property development and programs.
Diversify funding streams through Text-to-Give campaigns, recurring donor engagement, corporate sponsorships, government grants, and drone certifications.
Community Engagement and Awareness

Host signature events like drone light shows, Heroes Day, and innovation expos to raise awareness and build community connections.
Share impactful stories through digital campaigns and social media to inspire support and advocacy.
Operational Excellence

Implement a robust CRM system to manage donors, volunteers, and program participants effectively.
Recruit and train staff and volunteers to deliver programs and services with the highest standards of excellence.
These strategies position CFH to create transformative opportunities for children while honoring the legacy of their fallen heroes.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

We shared information about our current feedback practices.

How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people

Financials

Children of Fallen Heroes

Fiscal year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

Financial documents

Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

NET GAIN/LOSS: in

Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Liquidity in 2024

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

0.04

Average of 0.00 over 9 years

Months of cash in 2024

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

0.4

Average of 0 over 9 years

Fringe rate in 2024

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

0%

Average of 0% over 9 years

Funding sources

Source: IRS Form 990

Assets & liabilities

Source: IRS Form 990

Financial data

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Digitizing IRS form 990 data

Children of Fallen Heroes

Revenue & expenses

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

Fiscal year ending: Download Data

Revenue
Contributions	$2,117
Program Services	$0
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$2,117

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$0
Occupancy	$0
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$0
Other Expenses	$3,063
Total Expenses	$3,063
Net Gain/Loss	($946)

Revenue
Contributions	$33,661
Program Services	$0
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$33,661

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$5,437
Occupancy	$0
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$0
Other Expenses	$24,867
Total Expenses	$30,304
Net Gain/Loss	$3,357

Revenue
Contributions	$18,224
Program Services	$26,843
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$1
Total Revenue	$45,068

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$1,636
Occupancy	$0
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$0
Other Expenses	$42,520
Total Expenses	$44,156
Net Gain/Loss	$912

Revenue
Contributions	$5,444
Program Services	$0
Investments	$0
Special Events	$17,402
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$22,846

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$1,211
Occupancy	$0
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$0
Other Expenses	$23,835
Total Expenses	$25,046
Net Gain/Loss	($2,200)

Revenue
Contributions	$90,052
Program Services	$0
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$90,052

Expenses
Grants	$2,503
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$1,955
Occupancy	$0
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$0
Other Expenses	$67,952
Total Expenses	$72,410
Net Gain/Loss	$17,642

Revenue
Contributions	$82,561
Program Services	$7,500
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$90,061

Expenses
Grants	$181
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$13,941
Occupancy	$0
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$0
Other Expenses	$117,968
Total Expenses	$132,090
Net Gain/Loss	($42,029)

Revenue
Contributions	$549,398
Government Grants	$0
Program Services	$19,970
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$569,368

Expenses
Program Services	$469,085
Administration	$45,814
Fundraising	$0
Total Expenses	$514,899
Net Gain/Loss	$54,469

Functional expenses
Accounting Fees	$3,555
Advertising & Promotion	$8,448
Information Technology Expenses	$8,338
Insurance Expenses	$431
Interest Expenses	$38,209
Investment Management Fees	$0
Legal Fees	$0
Pension Plan Contributions	$0
Professional Fundraising Expenses	$0

Children of Fallen Heroes

Balance sheet

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Fiscal year ending: Download Data

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2016	Dec 31, 2016	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$1,116	$1,116

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2016	Dec 31, 2016	Change
Net Assets	$0	($946)	($946)

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2017	Dec 31, 2017	Change
Total Liabilities	$1,116	$4,098	$2,982

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2017	Dec 31, 2017	Change
Net Assets	($926)	$2,431	$3,357

Assets	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Contributions	$18,224
Cash & Equivalents	$6,529	$4,032	($2,497)
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$4,756	$4,756
Other	$0	$850	$850
Total Assets	$6,529	$9,638	$3,109

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Total Liabilities	$4,098	$4,599	$501

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Net Assets	$2,431	$5,039	$2,608

Assets	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Contributions	$5,444
Cash & Equivalents	$4,032	$2,691	($1,341)
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$4,756	$3,397	($1,359)
Other	$850	$1,350	$500
Total Assets	$9,638	$7,438	($2,200)

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Total Liabilities	$4,599	$4,599	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Net Assets	$5,039	$2,839	($2,200)

Assets	Jan 01, 2022	Dec 31, 2022	Change
Contributions	$90,052
Cash & Equivalents	$9,734	$18,751	$9,017
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$3,840	$9,480	$5,640
Total Assets	$13,574	$28,231	$14,657

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2022	Dec 31, 2022	Change
Total Liabilities	$2,985	$0	($2,985)

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2022	Dec 31, 2022	Change
Net Assets	$10,589	$28,231	$17,642

Assets	Jan 01, 2023	Dec 31, 2023	Change
Contributions	$82,561
Cash & Equivalents	$18,751	$7,014	($11,737)
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$477,912	$477,912
Other	$9,480	$1,839	($7,641)
Total Assets	$28,231	$486,765	$458,534

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2023	Dec 31, 2023	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$500,563	$500,563

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2023	Dec 31, 2023	Change
Net Assets	$28,231	($13,798)	($42,029)

Assets	Jan 01, 2024	Dec 31, 2024	Change
Contributions	$549,398
Cash & Equivalents	$7,014	$16,554	$9,540
Accounts Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Pledges & Grants Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Receivable, Other	$0	$0	$0
Inventories for Sale or Use	$0	$0	$0
Investment, Securities	$0	$0	$0
Investment, Other	$0	$0	$0
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$479,751	$478,817	($934)
Other	$0	$0	$0
Total Assets	$486,765	$495,371	$8,606

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2024	Dec 31, 2024	Change
Accounts Payable	$0	$0	$0
Grants Payable	$0	$0	$0
Deferred Revenue	$0	$0	$0
Loans and Notes	$398,650	$384,864	($13,786)
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities	$0	$0	$0
Other	$101,913	$69,836	($32,077)
Total Liabilities	$500,563	$454,700	($45,863)

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2024	Dec 31, 2024	Change
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Permanently Restricted Net Assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total Restricted Net Assets	$0	$0	$0
Unrestricted Net Assets	($13,798)	$40,671	$54,469
Net Assets	($13,798)	$40,671	$54,469

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

Documents

Letter of Determination

Form 1023/1024

President and Founder

Kenneth Wasley

LinkedIn profile

Ken Wasley is the President and Founder of Children of Fallen Heroes, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering the children of fallen military personnel, special operators, and first responders, while also supporting foster youth, caregivers, and Title One schools. Inspired by his family’s military legacy and the loss of his father, a member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Ken has spent more than a decade building programs that create opportunity, mentorship, and healing for families impacted by service and sacrifice. Through his leadership, Children of Fallen Heroes has served more than 15,000 youth nationwide through programs that blend leadership development, aviation, and STEAM education. The organization is developing an 82-acre Retreat and STEAM Campus outside of Fort Bragg and Pinehurst, North Carolina, designed as a national hub for training, innovation, and community engagement supporting military families, special operators, first responders, nonprofits,

Number of employees

Source: IRS Form 990

Children of Fallen Heroes

Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation

Other

Show data for fiscal year

Compensation data

Download up to 5 most recent years of officer and director compensation data for this organization

Children of Fallen Heroes

Highest paid employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation

Other

Show data for fiscal year

Compensation data

Download up to 5 most recent years of highest paid employee data for this organization

Children of Fallen Heroes

Board of directors
as of 04/25/2026

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Board of directors data

Download the most recent year of board of directors data for this organization

Jane Therrien

Children of Fallen Heroes

Kenneth Wasley President and Founder

Children of Fallen Heroes

Linda Plummer

Children of Fallen Heroes

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? yes
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? yes
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? yes
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? yes
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? yes

Organizational demographics

Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity

Asian/Asian American

Gender identity

Male, Not transgender

Sexual orientation

Heterosexual or Straight

Disability status

Person without a disability

Children of Fallen Heroes

Honoring the Fallen. Engineering the Future.

Mission

Programs and results

Reports and documents

What we aim to solve

Our programs

CFH Legacy Scholarship Program

STEAM Community Outreach

Where we work

Our results

Evaluation documents

Number of people accessing aids or adaptations as a percentage of the number of people receiving a service from the Occupational Therapy service

Totals By Year

Population(s) Served

Related Program

Type of Metric

Direction of Success

Context Notes

Number of media partnerships developed

Totals By Year

Population(s) Served

Related Program

Type of Metric

Direction of Success

Context Notes

Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided

Totals By Year

Population(s) Served

Related Program

Type of Metric

Direction of Success

Context Notes

Our Sustainable Development Goals

Goals & Strategy

Charting impact

What is the organization aiming to accomplish?

What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?

How we listen

Financials

Financial documents

Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown

Liquidity in 2024 info

0.04

Months of cash in 2024 info

0.4

Fringe rate in 2024 info

0%

Funding sources info

Assets & liabilities info

Financial data

Digitizing IRS form 990 data

Children of Fallen Heroes

Children of Fallen Heroes

Operations

Documents

President and Founder

Kenneth Wasley

Number of employees

Children of Fallen Heroes

Compensation data

Children of Fallen Heroes

Compensation data

Children of Fallen Heroes

Board of directors data

Board leadership practices

Board orientation and education

CEO oversight

Ethics and transparency

Board composition

Board performance

Organizational demographics

Leadership

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

Liquidity in 2024

Months of cash in 2024

Fringe rate in 2024

Funding sources

Assets & liabilities