What We Do

What is the MSLF?

The Fund is a non-profit organization that seeks to honor Massachusetts fallen Servicemen and Women by helping their children defray the costs of their college education. By providing tuition grants to each child each year of their college careers, the Fund seeks to address a major future financial concern for these families and to assure them that their tragic losses will not be forgotten as time passes.

The MSL Fund has been recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization.
All donations are tax-deductible. MSL Fund IRS Tax #: 20-1909556

When was the MSLF established?

The MSLF was formed on December 1, 2004 as a senior thesis project by Peter Trovato at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Who is eligible?

Children of Massachusetts (home of record at the Department of Defense) Servicemembers who died while fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan are eligible to participate in the Fund. There is no selection process. If the student is a child of a Serviceman or Woman whose service is credited to Massachusetts and gave his/her life in Operation Enduring or Iraqi Freedom, that student qualifies for funds. Prior to each school year, the trustees will distribute equal grant shares to those students who qualify. The only requirement for recipients will be that they have filed applications establishing that they are qualified, and that they remain enrolled in the undergraduate or postgraduate program at the college or university.

How many children are currently eligible?

To date, over 100 Servicemembers from Massachusetts have been killed. Of these casualties, 38 were parents who left behind a total of 62 children ranging from newborns to twenty years of age. All of these children are now eligible to receive funding through the MSLF program.

How can I contribute?

Checks payable to the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund can be sent to:
PO Box 2718, Amherst, MA 01004-2718.
Credit card donations can be accepted at our donation page.

How can I learn more about the Fund?

You can visit www.mslfund.org or call 1-866-856-5533.

Who manages the Fund?

All contributions to the MSLF are collected and pooled together in an investment account that is managed on a pro-bono basis by GW & Wade Asset Management in Wellesley, MA. In an effort to preserve donor contributions, the MSLF Board of Trustees has adopted an investment strategy with low market risk.

Must a student attend a Massachusetts college in order to be eligible?

No. A student can use the funds to attend an in-state or out-of-state public or private college or university.

What safeguards are in place to ensure the funds are used properly by students?

Students will need to submit annual applications affirming that they remain enrolled in their university programs. Additionally, payments will go to the students college or university directly and not to the individual student.

Aren't there tuition assistance programs already for the families of soldiers killed in action?

Although there are some programs that seek to help college-bound children of Servicemen and Women who are killed in combat, the assistance can be very limited and often is restricted to a particular branch of service or a particular state's university system. There are no other non-profit organizations that provide tuition assistance specifically for the children of fallen soldiers from Massachusetts.

What is the Fund's position on the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan?

The Fund is a non-political organization and takes no position on the conflicts. We believe that honoring the dead is an undertaking that should not be politicized. Our only goal is to honor our fallen soldiers by providing their children with an opportunity they might not have otherwise.

Does the fund benefit the families of wounded soldiers?

The fund was established to benefit the children of Massachusetts Servicemen and Women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It does not benefit the families of soldiers wounded in those conflicts at this time.

How can I volunteer?

Individuals wishing to help the Fund through volunteer effords can contact the Fund's administrator, Ryan Durkin, at ryan@mslfund.org.


The MSL Fund has been recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization.
All donations are tax-deductible. MSL Fund IRS Tax #: 20-1909556