Best Search and Rescue Grants in Florida

Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions in Florida serving military members or community first responders can apply for CSX Foundation’s in-kind donations. This program offers intermodal transportation services and occasional railroad equipment or materials, which may benefit search and rescue and other first responder operations within CSX’s Eastern U.S. network.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3)s, government agencies, and educational institutions in Florida serving veterans, active military, or first responders can apply for CSX Foundation’s Pride in Service grants, awarding US $2,500 - US $25,000 for safety, mental health, community bridging, workforce development, and basic needs. Search and rescue organizations may be eligible if their programs support these hero populations.

Florida 501(c)(3) public charities and local government entities providing community or public safety and first responder services can apply for Norfolk Southern Foundation’s Safety First Grant, with awards of US $1,000 - US $15,000. Funding can support specific projects, safety programs, or related operating needs that fit the foundation’s safety-focused priorities.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grants aim to enhance the life-saving capabilities of public safety organizations. Established in 2005, the foundation supports funding for life-saving equipment, prevention education, scholarships, and disaster relief initiatives. Eligible applicants include public safety entities located within 60 miles of a Firehouse Subs restaurant. This program emphasizes early application submission, as only a limited number of applications are accepted quarterly.

Florida individuals pursuing Emergency Medical Responder or EMT certification can access funding through the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, with awards up to US $1,000 paid directly to their EMS school or program. These scholarships support future first responders who maintain passing grades, complete their program, and seek EMS certification.

First responder agencies and 501(c)(3) partners in Florida can seek funding for programs that build relationships between first responders and children, including mental health, youth education, family support, emergency aid, and community engagement. Grants from First Responders Childrens Foundation provide up to US $5,000 for these first responder and community-focused initiatives.

High school seniors who are children of full-time first responders can receive US $2,500 - US $15,000 in scholarship support from the Electronic Security Association. Focused on academic scholarships, this national program invites eligible Florida students to apply through their participating state association or directly to ESA when applicable.

High school seniors, college, or non-traditional students pursuing criminal justice or first responder programs can receive $2,000 scholarships to attend U.S.-based two- or four-year colleges. CommunityGiving provides Florida first responder students with this support if they meet county-of-origin and GPA requirements and enroll in eligible programs at approved institutions.

Graduating high school seniors in northwest Missouri pursuing degrees in occupational safety, health, industrial hygiene, environmental safety, industrial fire prevention, risk management, or occupational medicine can apply for scholarships of more than US $500. Awards from the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri are one-time, paid at the start of the fall semester, and may benefit future first responder support roles.

Florida children of full-time first responders, nurses, law enforcement, corrections officers, or military personnel can access funding through the NRA Foundation’s Frontline Heroes Scholarship for higher education costs. Eligible high school seniors or college undergraduates nationwide may receive up to US $10,000 paid directly to an accredited nonprofit college or university for tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

Florida first responder students pursuing EMT, paramedic, or related training can access funding through Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, which administers the Gilbert “Gibby” Buerk Memorial Scholarship. Elk County and surrounding area high school seniors and non-traditional students who are active in their communities and demonstrate financial need may be eligible.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing higher education and careers in the military or as first responders can access funding through the 2499 Line of Duty Scholarship, honoring a fallen Montgomery police officer. Students from Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon, or Montgomery Counties may benefit, including those planning future search and rescue or related first responder roles.

Florida first responders and their families seeking academic scholarships can access funding through the Deputy Patrick Mayfield Scholarship, which offers US $500 toward post-secondary education. Administered by North Georgia Community Foundation, this opportunity is for first responders, or their children or spouses, who meet the minimum 2.5 GPA requirement and may work in search and rescue roles.

North Georgia first responders and their spouses or children pursuing post-secondary education can receive US $500 through the Flight Medic Phil Hart Scholarship, open nationwide including Florida. This North Georgia Community Foundation award supports police, fire, EMS workers, and communication officers with at least a 2.5 GPA who seek higher education assistance.

Florida first responders and their spouses or children pursuing post-secondary education may be eligible for the Fire-Medic Tim Peebles Scholarship, a US $500 award. North Georgia Community Foundation offers this support to first responders, including police, fire, EMS, and communications officers, with a minimum 2.5 GPA required.

First responders and their spouses or children pursuing post-secondary education can receive the Deputy Nicolas Dixon Scholarship, a US $750 award, from the North Georgia Community Foundation. Grants from North Georgia Community Foundation help Florida first responder families who meet the minimum 2.5 GPA requirement and are seeking higher education support, including those in search and rescue roles.

Florida first responders and their families can access funding through the North Georgia Community Foundation for higher education or vocational training. The Coleman, Chambers & Rogers First Responders College Scholarship awards US $1,200 to current police, fire, or EMS workers, or their children or grandchildren, planning to attend an accredited college, university, or vocational school.

Graduating high school seniors in Botetourt County pursuing higher education in first responder, fire service, emergency management, EMS, criminal justice, or related fields can receive approximately US $1,000 in non-renewable scholarship support. Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia’s Troutville Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship Fund may benefit those interested in careers connected to search and rescue and emergency services.

Hero Fund America Fund Seeks Applications for its First Responders Grant Round

Hero Fund America (HFA) Fund, a field-of-interest fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, is seeking applications for its First Responders Grant Round for programs, projects, and other needs that will support education, training, lifesaving equipment, and mental health of fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement agencies.

Hero Fund America Fund was founded in partnership with Hero Fund America by Garth Roberts of Sharon Springs, NY. Inspired by the selfless and heroic efforts of first responders during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Roberts initiated the Provincetown First Responders Appreciation Month, honoring 45 Boston EMS paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers, and their families. The success of that project inspired the 2016 creation of Hero Fund America.

Since 2016, the fund has awarded more than 100 grants totaling over $123,000 to meet the needs of first responders across the nation.

“Grants awarded through the Hero Fund America Fund have helped departments improve their abilities to better serve and protect the civilian population,” said Roberts. “Hero Fund America remains firmly committed to raising both funding and awareness in support of the First Responder community.”

James B. Murphy Firefighter of the Year

The Firefighter of the Year award is an annual award bestowed upon an individual who exemplifies the characteristics of a firefighter with an outstanding record of fire service achievements. Firefighter characteristics are not restricted to heroic action but encompass all aspects of a productive, dedicated and professional service at all levels. 

If heroic action is one of the reasons that the individual is being nominated, the Subcommittee on Awards for the Executive Committee must find no hard evidence that the individual was in violation of generally accepted safety standards at the time of the action. Such standards include, but are not limited to, abstinence from the influence of alcohol or drugs, the use of applicable protective equipment such as protective clothing and breathing apparatus, and adherence to accepted operating procedures, where these criteria were applicable at the time of the action.

The Meritorious Award, presented by the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, honors firefighters or fire departments that exceed normal duties to save lives. Nominations must come from Association members, approved by a fire chief or designee. Candidates are recognized for their vigilance and professionalism, while any safety standards violations disqualify nominations. This award reflects our commitment to recognizing extraordinary bravery within the fire service community.

Brad Keselowskis Checkered Flag Foundation (BKCFF)

Brad Keselowski is a co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, where he drives the #6 Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. Off-track, Brad is the sole owner and founder of Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing as well as Brad Keselowskis Checkered Flag Foundation's president and founder. 

In 2009, Brad visited Walter Reed Medical Center, where he became inspired to give back to the men and women that answered the call to serve our country and were injured in the line of duty. Consequently, he founded BKCFF in 2010 with the mission to honor and assist those who serve. Since its founding, BKCFF has raised upright of $3.8 million to serve this mission.  

Brad Keselowskis Checkered Flag Foundation Grant Program

BKCFF was established to support those who are suffering financial, medical, or other hardship resulting from service to the United States or communities within. Funding decisions are made through an equitable and comprehensive application process, with financial support directed to 501(c)(3) public charities that provide services to our target constituents.

The purpose of the grant program is to empower and give hope to our nation’s heroes: military professionals, veterans, first responders, and others who provide courageous service and sacrifice. BKCFF requires all organizations seeking a grant to complete a comprehensive application, which is available on the Foundation’s website or can be requested by contacting the Foundation directly.  

About QuikTripQuikTrip believes in investing in the communities in which our employees live and work. Every year, QuikTrip donates 5% of our annual net profit to qualified 501c3 non-profit agencies, which includes our United Way campaign match, support for National Safe Place agencies, Folds of Honor scholarships and many other agencies that support at-risk youth and early childhood education.Mission: To wisely invest dollars in community efforts that will help impact (in measurable terms) individuals in our society who are dependent on the charitable support of others. We believe the most effective way to do that is to invest our contribution dollars and volunteers in strategic efforts that help those at risk reach their functional capacity as successful, independent citizens.About QuikTrip Charitable GrantsQuikTrip funds 501c3 agencies located in the cities in which we have stores and our employees live and work. Funding can include: “in-kind” products (coupons, gift cards or product donation), formal grants, fundraiser/event sponsorships and employee volunteer time.Focus Areas:

• Creating Safe Communities
  • First Responders: QuikTrip is proud to partner with law enforcement and first responders in every market we serve, making sure that they have the tools, training and support they need to keep our communities safe and to return home safely to their families after each shift.
  • Homeless Outreach & Alternatives to Police Response: To significantly reduce non-emergency calls and help people in crisis get back on their feet, QuikTrip funds dedicated homeless outreach teams across our communities. These teams engage individuals experiencing homelessness and living in encampments – connecting people to services, shelter, detox and long-term care.

• Creating Strong Communities
  • Ending Homelessness: We support emergency, transitional and permanent supportive housing, diversion and prevention programs, and more.
  • Mental Health & Substance Abuse : We know that healthy communities are safe communities, which is why we invest in detox and substance abuse treatment centers, and behavioral health centers and services to end the perpetuation of cycles of trauma and addiction.
  • At-Risk Youth: We especially prioritize services for at-risk youth – those aging out of foster care, justice-involved or without stable support systems.
• Additional Community Commitments
  • United Way: Employee donation matching in all markets.
  • Folds of Honor: Scholarships for families of fallen or wounded service members and first responders.
  • National Safe Place: QT stores serve as Safe Place locations for youth in crisis, with trained staff ready to assist.

The State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program, administered by the US Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Coast Guard, aims to enhance safety and enjoyment on America's waterways. This federal program provides grants to designated state agencies to reduce boating accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Although not open to the public, it plays a critical role in ensuring safe recreational boating experiences by implementing effective safety measures, thereby promoting public welfare and environmental protection.

The Public Health Laboratory Fellowship Program, supported by the Association of Public Health Laboratories, develops future public health scientists through experiential learning in laboratory science. Participants receive training aligned with core competencies and work on impactful projects in various focus areas such as bioinformatics, food safety, and infectious disease. With flexible terms and potential for extension, this fellowship ensures a robust foundation for a career in public health laboratory science.

The Speer Dream Foundation Grant is dedicated to fostering positive change in communities through education, military assistance, medical support, and outreach. With a mission grounded in faith, the foundation aims to uplift individuals and provide resources for transformative initiatives. Grants are awarded twice a year, encouraging proposals that align with their values of impactful giving and community support. This initiative seeks to ignite hope and foster lasting partnerships, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Roy and Gloria Dinsdale Foundation, established in 2022, is dedicated to enhancing lives in rural Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado through grants exceeding $10,000. It supports nonprofits and government entities focused on food, shelter, healthcare, education, and the arts. The foundation prioritizes local initiatives that enrich communities and improve access to essential services, while maintaining a commitment to assisting veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities.