San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
ActivePublic Safety & Disaster Relief
About San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
The San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency foundation focuses almost exclusively on strengthening local wildfire and emergency response capacity by funding fire equipment purchases, community Fire Safe Councils, and training/paramedic scholarships. Grants are targeted to municipal and district fire departments, volunteer/community fire prevention groups, and regional community colleges that run fire/medic training programs. The foundation’s grants emphasize operational readiness and prevention across San Diego County with repeated, pragmatic investments rather than large policy or advocacy grants.
Focus Areas
Municipal and district fire departments — capital funding for firefighting equipmentLocal Fire Safe Councils and neighborhood fire prevention programs in San Diego County (community-level fuels reduction and outreach)Paramedic and firemedic training scholarships at regional community colleges (workforce pipeline support)Volunteer and small community fire districts (equipment and readiness grants for rural/reservation departments)Neighborhood emergency preparedness corps and water infrastructure supporting wildfire response
Who They Fund
volunteer fire departments
About San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency shows a clear pattern of practical support for fire-response readiness: its largest recent grants go to equipment purchases for local departments and fire districts, alongside recurring help for fire prevention groups and firemedic training. The foundation’s grantmaking centers on the day-to-day needs of San Diego County fire protection, with awards that support apparatus, protective gear, and local preparedness work. The recent grant list includes $117,758 to Alpine Fire District for fire equipment and $109,663 to Chula Vista Fire Dept for fire equipment. Those larger awards sit within a broader set of grants to municipal and district agencies, volunteer fire districts, and Fire Safe Councils. The foundation also backs workforce development, including scholarships at regional community colleges that train future firemedics. Its recipients include both established city departments and smaller community-based fire prevention organizations. That mix points to a funder focused on operational capacity and neighborhood-level wildfire readiness rather than broad, multi-issue philanthropy. The result is a grantmaking profile built around equipment, training, and local emergency response infrastructure.
What San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency Funds
Equipment funding is the dominant theme. In 2024, San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency gave $65,000 to Bonitasunnyside Fire District for fire equipment, and it supported Imperial Beach Fire Dept with $40,000 for the same purpose. The foundation also supports fire prevention groups that work at the community level. Potrero Tecate Fsc received $29,802 in 2025 for fire prevention, while Campo Fire Safe Council received $20,987 in 2025 for fire prevention. Workforce development is another clear line of support. Southwest Comm College in Chula Vista received $25,000 in 2024 for firemedic scholarships, matching a $25,000 grant in 2023 for the same purpose. Palomar Comm College also received $16,500 in 2024 for firemedic scholarships. Water and preparedness infrastructure appear as well. Wynola Water District in Santa Ysabel received $17,181 in 2024 for fire prevention and $15,000 in 2025 for the same category.
How San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency Gives
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized: p25 $7,182, median $11,821, and p75 $20,768. The recent list shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including Encinitas Fire Dept, Poway Fire Dept, Oceanside Fire Dept, Campo Fire Safe Council, and Southwest Comm College. That pattern suggests ongoing operational relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a grantmaker, not a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Its giving is local in scope.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.4M
Total Assets
$1.7M
Total Revenue
$2.7M
Total Expenses
$2.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $7K and $21K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$21K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
FRANK AULT
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