Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation Grants for Fire Departments
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation works to fulfill our mission of keeping firefighters safe by providing the equipment and training they need to survive. Although our 2020 fundraising efforts have been affected by this global pandemic, we will soon begin to review applications for our 2020 grant program. While our funds are limited because of this global crisis, we are still committed to helping provide life-saving equipment to fire departments in need. You can help too, by making a donation to the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation. Every donation, large or small, helps us care for those who protect us.
DONATE NOWGrants for Fire Departments
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation provides grants to fire departments in need of personal safety rope systems. If your department is in the U.S. or Canada and does not have means to this important safety equipment, please download and submit the 2022 grant application starting on January 1, 2022.
Grant Application Requirements
1. Please fill out the department information and Grant Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement.
2. Submit a brief essay describing your need for personal safety rope systems (PSS). This should include why your department needs financial support to complete this purchase, number of alarms answered annually, average number of personnel responding on apparatus, and total number of members in your department. Please explain, how will your Department maintain proficiency in the use of your PSS.
Required Support Documentation
The below information must be submitted with your grant request:
1. Provide a copy of where you obtained your demographic information documentation for your response area, including the date of the information.
2. Please include an estimate from a vendor for equipment and training (the Foundation does not support a particular system and encourages you to seek competitive bids). The award check will be made out to the vendor and not the department. Note: Grants will not exceed $12,000 per year. Grant requests exceeding $12,000, if approved, will be awarded at approximately $12,000 per year, and departments will be required to reapply each year.
3. Please explain what type of fundraising you have done/will do in the current year and what funds you have raised and what funds you expect to raise.
4. Please provide a copy of two most recent years detailed budget.
5. Include a copy of two most recent years detailed balance sheets and actuals (Actuals reflect how much revenue an account has actually generated or how much money an account has paid out in expenditures at a given point in time during a fiscal year).
6. Please provide a signed copy of your 2021 or most recent Form 990, if applicable. (If you are a municipal department, please state N/A) 501(c)3 need to file with the IRS.
7. A copy of your organization’s “Exempt Form Income Tax” as filed with the IRS if applicable. (If you are a municipal department, please state N/A).
8. For the current year to date, please provide a listing of cash on hand, bonds, CDs, bank accounts, investments, and all monetary assets. If this is listed in your budget, please state so.
9. Volunteer and/or combination departments, please provide a copy of your minutes from your two most recent meetings including the Financial/Treasurer’s report.
10. Provide a listing of any federal, state, or private grants that you have received or will receive or have applied for this year with grant amount.
11. Include a signed notarized statement acknowledging all the items and attachments are truthful by the representative of the Grantee.
Since 2013, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation has awarded over $694,353 to departments to equip and train their members with personal life safety ropes.
In 2014, the Foundation proudly established a grant partnership with The Leary Firefighters Foundation to provide this life-saving equipment and training to firefighters in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts area.
Previous applicants who were not awarded a grant are invited to resubmit a new application. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.
Grant Applications will be accepted between January 1 – June 30, 2022.
Grantee(s) will be notified after the 2021 Seminar.
DOWNLOAD THE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONTo submit your application, please E-mail a .pdf copy by June 30, 2022, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Grants Awarded
The following departments have received financial assistance to purchase this life-saving safety equipment and related training.
