State Farm and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are collaborating to award $500,000 in grants to local volunteer fire departments.
As reported by NVFC, through the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program, 50 fire departments will each receive a $10,000 grant.
These grants aim to enhance responder safety and improve community service.
The application period for the grants will open from August 1 to August 18, 2024, or until 500 applications are received, whichever occurs first.
To be eligible, departments must use the grant for eligible equipment and meet specific criteria.
The person applying or the department chief must be a member of the NVFC, and State Farm is providing complimentary memberships to the first 500 applicants.
To qualify for the grant, fire departments must be at least 50% volunteer, with paid on-call considered as volunteer.
The department must be located in the United States and legally organized under state law, serving a population of 25,000 or less.
Additionally, the department’s revenue for the most recently completed fiscal year must not have exceeded $250,000.
Applicants need to demonstrate the necessity of the grant by explaining the intended use of the funds and the impact on the department and the community.
Departments must also agree to share a department photo or video and publicize the grant award, with promotional tools and templates provided by the NVFC.
Departments awarded the grant must report back within four months on how the funds were utilized.
This accountability ensures that the grants achieve their intended purpose of enhancing firefighter safety and service capabilities.
The NVFC offers a range of member benefits, which State Farm aims to make more accessible through complimentary memberships for the initial applicants.
Applicants are encouraged to prepare by reviewing the list of required information for the application, available on the NVFC website.
The application process begins on August 1, and departments can visit www.nvfc.org/statefarm to apply.