The NVFC unites and supports volunteer and combination fire and EMS organizations through education, advocacy, leadership development, and collaboration. Guided by professionalism and innovation, we provide the tools and resources needed to protect communities, advance responder health and safety, and prepare leaders for the future.
A $1,000,000 grant to State Farm in Bloomington, IL stands out in the National Volunteer Fire Council Inc’s recent record and points to a partnership-based funding model tied to volunteer fire service support. The council’s work centers on volunteer and combination fire and EMS organizations, with emphasis on education, advocacy, leadership development, and collaboration. Its listed programs also show how it supports departments and responders through equipment, technology, training, and recognition. Recent activity includes the State Farm Volunteer Fire Department Technology & Equipment Opportunities partnership, which has included large-scale technology donations such as 500 laptops to volunteer fire departments. Other programs reach individual responders and departments through awards, training opportunities, and equipment support. The organization’s grantmaking is local in scope and directed to public safety needs rather than individual recipients, with a focus on firefighters, local fire departments, volunteer fire companies, and municipal public safety services. The pattern suggests an infrastructure-minded funder that uses partnerships and program administration to strengthen operational capacity and responder readiness.
The National Volunteer Fire Council Inc gives across several closely related public safety areas. In firefighter safety equipment, it provided $10,000 grants through the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program to eligible volunteer fire departments for needed equipment. In technology and operational capacity, the State Farm Volunteer Fire Department Technology & Equipment Opportunities partnership has included distribution of 500 laptops to volunteer fire departments. Training is another clear theme: the Partners In Training (PIT) Crew Hazmat Train-the-Trainer program offers free in-person hazmat instruction through a PHMSA partnership. Recruitment and retention also appear in the Make Me A Firefighter initiative, which is built to bring people into volunteer firefighting.
Grant size is highly concentrated: the p25, median, and p75 are all $1,000,000, showing that the recorded recent grant falls at the same level throughout the distribution. The latest grant record is a one-off corporate recipient payment to State Farm, while the broader program list shows repeated partnership-based awards and recurring annual initiatives. Several named programs are administered through partners such as State Farm, Georgia-Pacific, PHMSA, and sponsors for awards and giveaways. The organization is not a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
$1.5M
$4.8M
$7.4M
$5.2M
Most grants fall between $1M and $1M, with a median of $1M.
25th Percentile
$1M
Median
$1M
75th Percentile
$1M
About 0% of grants go to recipients in IL.
Sarah Lee
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Giving is local and entirely U.S.-based in the grant data provided. The recent grant recipient is in Bloomington, IL, and Illinois is the top state by grant count. Washington, DC is the headquarters, but no grants in the data go to DC. The recipient country distribution shows 100% of grants to U.S. recipients, with no non-U.S. grant locations appearing in the record.
Its focus is on volunteer and combination fire and EMS organizations, especially local fire departments, volunteer fire companies, and municipal public safety services. The program list also points to support for firefighters themselves through safety equipment, training, recruitment, and recognition programs.
No. The foundation is marked as not funding individuals, and the listed grant and partnership programs are directed to departments, organizations, or member-based initiatives rather than personal awards outside of the structured recognition programs.
The recorded grant-size distribution is flat: p25, median, and p75 are all $1,000,000. That indicates the recent grant record sits at a single large-dollar level rather than a spread of smaller awards.
Its giving is local in scope and entirely U.S.-based in the available data. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and the only recipient country shown is the United States.
The named programs and focus tags point to firefighter safety equipment, PPE, operational readiness, equipment modernization, training and education, disaster response support, recruitment and retention, and safety-enhancing technology for first responders.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from National Volunteer Fire Council that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Departments must provide emergency medical and/or rescue services, have at least one NVFC member, be over 50 percent volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, be located in the U.S. and legally organized under state law, and demonstrate a need for the gear.
Deadline: Applications open August 3 and close at noon ET on August 31.
Who can apply: Must be an NVFC member (NVFC may provide membership to applicants in some giveaways); see entry rules on opportunities page.
Deadline: Multiple entry periods per year (check opportunities page for current entry period dates).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | Bloomington, IL | $1,500,000 | 2026 | Purchase essential equipment enhancing firefighter safety and improving department operations. |
| State Farm | Bloomington, IL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Purchase essential equipment enhancing firefighter safety and improving department operations. |
State Farm
$1,500,000Purchase essential equipment enhancing firefighter safety and improving department operations.
State Farm
$1,000,000Purchase essential equipment enhancing firefighter safety and improving department operations.
