What is the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund?

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.

Is the Fund a charity?

Yes, the Fund is a Massachusetts-registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit. Its Internal Revenue Service tax number is 20-1909556. To view the MSLF Form 990, which includes all financial information please click here (2005, PDF), click here (2006,PDF)

Back to top

Who is eligible?

Children of Massachusetts (home of record at the Department of Defense) soldiers who died while fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan are eligible to participate in the Fund. Eligible Kids Click here for a list of eligible children who need your help!

Back to top

How does the Fund determine if a soldier is from Massachusetts?

A soldier is determined to be a resident of Massachusetts if he has listed the Commonwealth as his home of record with the Department of Defense.

Back to top

How many children are currently eligible?

To date, over 79 soldiers whose home of record at the Department of Defense was Massachusetts have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of those, 31 were parents. Their 51 children are eligible.

Back to top

Where does the Fund get its money?

The Fund raises money from individual contributors, foundations, corporations and other donors.

Back to top

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 are accepted at www.mslfund.org.

Back to top

How can I learn more about the Fund?

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

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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