Firefighters Support Foundation Inc

Filing Period

Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2012

Signed

Apr 5, 2012

Return Version

2012v2.1

Gross Receipts

$4,148,093

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

Program Sevice Area #2: Firefighters and emergency response equipment grant program - see schedule O for additional information on these programs.FSF sets aside a percentage of its net income to the Equipment Grant Program. During 2012, FSF drew on this fund to make 16 cash grants to fire and EMS agencies around the nation for a total program donation of $73,800. The purpose of these grants is to help increase department safety by helping to acquire needed but otherwise unfunded equipment, training, and supplies. The grants were made on the basis of standard-format applications submitted by requesting departments. Grant applications are made readily available to all departments by downloading a Microsoft WORD or PDF document from the FSF web site. Grants are reviewed by FSF staff and recipients chosen on the basis of need, poverty level in the applicant's region, and other general and specific factors.In 2012 FSF initiated a special program, primarily to fund state and regional agencies in the purchase of firefighting and/or training equipment. This new initiative is supported by a special fund raising campaign. In 2012 we made two grants of a BullEx fire simulator. We began with a pilot program that funded the purchase of a fire simulator by the Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighters Association. This propane-powered, computer-controlled simulator allowed firefighters the chance to fight a real fire with minimal risk using non-toxic substances, and thus gain valuable experience off the job so that their on the job performance would be safe and more fully effective. Selected personnel from the association were qualified on the simulator as trainers, and the equipment is now in rotation throughout the state during the year as fire departments take their turn training with it. The feedback has been extraordinarily positive, and we used this pilot program as the model for programs in other states. Playing off the success of this program, we funded the purchase of a similar simulator for the El Mirage, AZ fire department, which has a plan to make the simulator available on a regional basis. The goal of this special project is to replicate the success of this initial program in more states every year. Other 2012 equipment grants included:(1) Olive Volunteer Fire Department, Drumright, Oklahoma - $5,000 to Replace Vital Firefighting Supplies. (2) Etowah Fire Department, Etowah, Tennessee - $3,700 for Wildfire Equipment (3) Shenandoah Volunteer Fire Company, Shenandoah, Virginia - $3,000 for Water Rescue Equipment. (4) Aleknagik Fire/EMS Department, Aleknagik, Alaska - $3,500 for Underwater Rescue Equipment. (5) Chelsea Fire and Rescue, Chelsea, Alabama - $5,000 for Airbag Lift (6) Fire District #18, Lewis County, Washington - $3,000 for Water Rescue Vests and Helmets (7) Melrose Fire District, Melrose, New York - $4,500 for Water Rescue Swimmer Kits (8) Shelbyville Fire and Rescue, Shelbyville, KY -- $600 for High Voltage Detectors (9) Union Road Volunteer Fire Department, Gastonia, North Carolina - $2,700 for A Training Fire Simulator (10) New Lenox Fire Protection District, New Lenox, Illinois - $4,200 for Residential Knox Boxes (11) Lancaster Fire Department, Lancaster, New Hampshire - $4,995 toward Thermal Imager (12) Ridgeland Fire Department, Ridgeland, South Carolina - $4,600 for Voice Amplifiers (13) Masonville Township Fire Department, Rapid River, Michigan - $2,800 for Rapid Intervention (RIT) Pak and Bottle (14)Vernon County Ambulance District (VCAD), Nevada, Missouri - $5,000 for FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera (15) Streetsboro, OH Fire Department - $100

Activity 3

FSF assists the families of fallen firefighters by providing them with unrestricted cash grants. We especially look to make donations to funds established for the firefighters children; however we may also give grants to spouses and other firefighters loved ones who bear the burden of caring for the family of the fallen firefighter. In 2012, we made cash grants totaling $29,500 to the survivors of 10 fallen firefighters. We select grant recipients by reviewing the official list of recently deceased firefighters. We conduct further research to identify candidates, assessing the situation of the family left behind, insuring that a suitable fund is available to contribute to (thus insuring that the funds actually go to the family), and talking with the local fire chief as necessary to determine need and evaluate the situation. We have a preference for assisting families of fire fighters that die as the result of directly fighting a fire, since this is what our donors generally think of when they envision a line of duty death. As a matter of policy, and on the advice of our lawyers, we do not print the names of the recipients in order to respectfully maintain their privacy. We do sometimes post excerpts from grant thank you letters on our web site so our donors can read messages of gratitude to them.Fortunately, in 2012, we saw fewer LODDs!

Filer

EIN

26-1903852