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Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Inc

EIN 20-3588745 · Jacksonville, FL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIFE-SAVING CAPABILITIES AND THE LIVES OF LOCAL HEROES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES

Income
$15.8 million
Spending
$11.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
28.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
10
Volunteers
135
Highest pay
$319,313, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $8.8 million spent. EQUIPMENT DONATIONS IMPACT MILLIONS OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION'S REACH CONTINUES TO GROW. IN 2025, 390 PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS WERE AWARDED GRANTS, AND SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE FOUNDATION HAS SUPPORTED 7,014 ORGANIZATIONS IN ALL 50 STATES AND PUERTO RICO. MANY PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS NOW HAVE THE CRITICAL LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THESE TOOLS HAVE HELPED ORGANIZATIONS RESPOND MORE EFFECTIVELY AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES DURING EMERGENCIES. SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF APPROVED GRANTS IN 2025; 424 SETS OF BUNKER GEAR, 187 THERMAL IMAGINING CAMERAS, 476 AEDS, 21 RESCUE BOATS AND 90 SETS OF EXTRICATION TOOLS. (EXPENSES $ 100,914 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 74,318) IN 2014, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED ITS MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, VETERANS FROM ALL BRANCHES OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES WHO WERE INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY MAY REQUEST ADAPTIVE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, TO ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, K9S FOR WARRIORS, THE INDEPENDENCE FUND, TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION, CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE AND MORE, ALLOWING THE FOUNDATION TO EXPAND THE REACH AND IMPACT OF ITS SERVICES. (EXPENSES $ 96,136 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 74,293) THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS PURSUING CAREERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING TO ADVANCE THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE TRAINING AND CONTINUED EDUCATION OF THOSE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED 15 SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2025 TO STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
  2. $482,996 spent. THE ABILITY TO RESPOND SWIFTLY TO NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AREA OF SUPPORT FOR THE FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION. THROUGH ITS NETWORK OF FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES IMMEDIATE DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING FOOD PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS VICTIMS, VOLUNTEERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING STRENGTHEN LIFESAVING CAPABILITIES AND FOSTERING COLLABORATION AMONG ORGANIZATIONS RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES.
  3. $158,695 spent. PREVENTION EDUCATION ALLOWS FIRST RESPONDERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND OFFER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND HOW TO PREVENT TRAGEDIES. FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION ON THE DANGERS AND CAUSES OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AND RESIDENTIAL FIRES HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECOME BETTER PREPARED BY RECOGNIZING POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND TAKING STEPS TO REDUCE RISKS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) TO DISTRIBUTE FIRE SAFETY EDUCATIONAL COLORING SHEETS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE FIRE PREVENTION AWARENESS AMONG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. (EXPENSES $ 100,914 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 74,318) IN 2014, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED ITS MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, VETERANS FROM ALL BRANCHES OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES WHO WERE INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY MAY REQUEST ADAPTIVE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, TO ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, K9S FOR WARRIORS, THE INDEPENDENCE FUND, TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION, CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE AND MORE, ALLOWING THE FOUNDATION TO EXPAND THE REACH AND IMPACT OF ITS SERVICES. (EXPENSES $ 96,136 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 74,293) THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS PURSUING CAREERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING TO ADVANCE THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE TRAINING AND CONTINUED EDUCATION OF THOSE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED 15 SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2025 TO STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
  4. $100,914 spent. IN 2014, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED ITS MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, VETERANS FROM ALL BRANCHES OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES WHO WERE INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY MAY REQUEST ADAPTIVE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, TO ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, K9S FOR WARRIORS, THE INDEPENDENCE FUND, TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION, CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE AND MORE, ALLOWING THE FOUNDATION TO EXPAND THE REACH AND IMPACT OF ITS SERVICES.
  5. $96,136 spent. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS PURSUING CAREERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING TO ADVANCE THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE TRAINING AND CONTINUED EDUCATION OF THOSE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED 15 SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2025 TO STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.