The application period is open for the inaugural State Farm® Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program. State Farm has teamed up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to award $500,000 in grants to local volunteer fire departments.
A total of 50 departments will each receive a $10,000 grant to obtain critical equipment to enhance the safety and effectiveness of their responders. The application period is open through August 18 or until 500 applications are received, whichever comes first.
local volunteers
Volunteers make up 65% of the U.S. fire service, and most small-town and rural communities rely almost entirely on volunteers to be there for their neighbors whatever the emergency.
Departments are often forced to make do with outdated or insufficient equipment
Yet many volunteer departments operate on small budgets that make obtaining critically needed equipment a challenge. Departments are often forced to make do with outdated or insufficient equipment.
grant eligibility criteria
The State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program grants, provided in collaboration with the NVFC, will help local fire departments obtain the equipment they need to increase responder safety and improve service to the community.
To be eligible to apply, departments must meet the following criteria:
- This grant must be used for eligible fire department equipment.
- The person applying or department chief must be a member of the NVFC. To help departments meet this requirement and gain access to all NVFC member benefits, State Farm is providing complimentary memberships to the first 500 eligible applicants.
- The department must be at least 50% volunteer; paid on-call is considered volunteer.
- The department must be located in the U.S. and legally organized under state law.
- The department must serve a population of 25,000 or less.
- Revenue for the department’s most recently completed fiscal year must not have exceeded $250,000.
- The department must demonstrate a need for the grant by indicating what the funds will be used for and articulating the impact this grant will have on the department and community.
- The department must be willing to share a department photo or video and publicize the grant award (NVFC will provide sample promotional tools and templates to help).
- The department must report back within 4 months on how the grant funds were used.
Up to 500 applications will be accepted for the 2024 grant cycle. Only one application will be accepted from each fire department.
tools and equipment
"The NVFC is extremely grateful to State Farm for addressing a critical need for our local fire departments," said NVFC Chair - Steve Hirsch, adding "These grants will increase the safety and readiness of responders and enable them to better protect their communities."
He continues, "Volunteer responders are truly neighbors helping neighbors in their hour of need. We are pleased to join with State Farm to provide this opportunity to make sure these departments have the tools and equipment to succeed."
managing risks
"At State Farm part of our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life. We are committed to helping build safer, stronger, better-educated communities," said Apsara Sorensen, State Farm's Corporate Responsibility Assistant Vice President.
Apsara Sorensen adds, "We are proud to support the safety of volunteer firefighters – the ultimate good neighbors who risk their lives every day."