W. H. "Howie" McClennan Scholarship

W. H. “Howie” McClennan Scholarship

The W. H. “Howie” McClennan scholarship provides financial assistance for sons, daughters or legally adopted children of fire fighters killed in the line of duty planning to attend a university, accredited college or other institution of higher learning.

Application Deadline: February 1

Amount of Scholarship: $2,500/year

Award Dates:
Scholarships are awarded annually, on or before October 1 for the proceeding academic year. They may be renewed (if approved) up to four consecutive years.

Selection Criteria:
Awards are based on financial need, aptitude promise and demonstrated academic achievement. For a complete description of selection criteria, download the Scholarship Application Form.

How to Apply:
All applicants, both new and renewal applicants, must submit all application materials. Applications materials include:

    • A completed Scholarship Application Form.
    • An official copy of a school transcript and grade report from the school currently attending or most recently attended. The official school transcript should list all grade points earned and academic course work completed to date.
    • A brief statement (about 200 words) prepared by the applicant that indicates their reasons for wanting to continue their education.
    • Two letters of recommendation from a teacher, school administrator, counselor, clergy, work supervisor or military supervisor (active, reserve or National Guard) who can address the qualifications and academic aptitude of the scholarship applicant. The required letters of recommendation may not be from immediate family members, close family friends, blood relatives, or relationships by marriage.

Send To:
W. H. “Howie” McClennan Scholarship
Office of the General President
The International Association of Fire Fighters
1750 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006

Harvard University Trade Union Program Scholarship

The IAFF is accepting applications for the 2023 Harvard Trade Union Program. The deadline for applications is Monday, September 19, 2022.

Application PDF

Three scholarships will be awarded to IAFF members to attend the five-week training program designed for trade union leaders. It is comparable to the advanced education that Harvard University offers to executive-level individuals in business and government; teaches the essential skills for union management and leadership; and provides a unique opportunity to explore key issues for the labor movement.

Participants will:

    • Gain insight into the complex political, social and economic forces that shape their operating environment.
    • Explore how strategic planning, organizational theory and problem solving can be applied in a union to assist leaders in understanding and managing change in their organizations.
    • Exchange perspectives with faculty who are internationally recognized for their expertise on labor issues.
    • Develop relationships with people doing similar work in the national and international labor communities.
    • Interact with future leaders in the corporate and public sectors by attending classes at the country’s most prestigious graduate schools of law, business, education, and government.

The scholarship covers the cost of tuition, plus $1,000. Any IAFF member living in the United States and in good standing in their local affiliate is eligible to apply. Applicants must be an active member of their IAFF local and have demonstrated active participation within their local as an officer, committee member, etc.

Applicants must prepare a short essay of 500 words or more on one of the following questions:

    1. What is your personal interest in attending the Harvard University Trade Union Program and how will it benefit you professionally?
    2. What do you consider to be the major problem(s) facing the professional fire fighter within the labor movement in the United States today?

Applicants must also include a brief statement of 250 words or more on how they have demonstrated active participation within their local.

Email your Harvard Trade Union Scholarship Program application, essay, and statement to [email protected] or mail them to:

Harvard University Trade Union Program Scholarship
International Association of Fire Fighters
1750 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006

For more information, contact the IAFF Department of Education at (202) 824-1551 or email [email protected].

The Telfer School of Management/
University of Ottawa Executive Leadership Program

The Telfer School of Management/University of Ottawa Executive Leadership Program Scholarship

Two scholarships will be awarded for International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Canadian affiliate members to attend the Telfer School of Management/University of Ottawa Executive Leadership Program. This program takes eighteen months to complete and the scholarships are awarded for the entire program cycle.

Amount of Scholarship:
The Telfer School of Management/University of Ottawa Executive Leadership Program Scholarship will be allocated to offset: tuition, accommodation, travel, and allowable expenses to a maximum of $15,000 per year.

Eligibility: 
Any IAFF member living in Canada and in good standing with their IAFF local affiliate.

Criteria: 
Applicants must be an active member of their IAFF local affiliate and have demonstrated active participation within their local as an officer, committee member, etc. (Signature of District Vice President is suggested but not required)

Applicants must include:

  • A completed application form
  • A short essay of 500 words or more on one of the following questions:
    • What factors drive your personal interest in attending the Telfer School of Management/University of Ottawa Executive Leadership Program?
    • What do you consider to be major problems facing the labour movement in Canada today?
    • What do you consider to be major problems facing fire fighters in the labour union movement today?
  • Applicants must also include a brief statement of 250 words or more on how they have demonstrated active participation within their local affiliate.

Application Deadline: Postponed until further notice

Applications should be mailed to: 
Telfer School of Management/University of Ottawa Scholarship
International Association of Fire Fighters
Attention: Education Department
1750 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006-5395

For the current information on the Telfer School of Management/University of Ottawa Executive Leadership Program, email to [email protected].

The Labour College of Canada

The Labour College of Canada Scholarship

The Labour College of Canada (LCC) has announced details for a  2023-2024 Certificate Program (Cohort 10). The IAFF has one scholarship available for a member in good standing to receive this valuable training. The LCC is a great program of post-secondary learning for active union members who want to enhance their leadership capacities and who will be assuming increasing leadership roles within their local.

To apply for the IAFF Labour College of Canada scholarship, complete the following by Monday, September 19, 2022:

The LCC program is held over a 14-month period in three separate course sessions. Each session provides a combination of online and in-person learning. See a course description and scheduled dates here.

The IAFF has one scholarship available for a Canadian member in good standing to receive this valuable training. The IAFF scholarship covers the cost of tuition (LCC program fees) and accommodations. Additional funds will be available to assist in travel and incidental expenses to a maximum of $11,000 (this includes tuition and accommodations). Arrangements for time off to attend the in-class sessions are the responsibility of the applicant.

For more information about the Labour College of Canada Certificate Program, email [email protected].

Other Scholarship Resources

In addition to the scholarships offered by the IAFF, listed below are scholarship opportunities from different organizations that may be of interest to IAFF members and their families:

Explore the Scholarship Finder at CareerOneStop (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor) to find more scholarships/awards in the fields of fire services and EMS in the United States.

Canadian Scholarships