National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO HONOR AMERICA'S FALLEN FIRE HEROES; SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES, AND ORGANIZATIONS; AND WORK TO REDUCE PREVENTABLE FIREFIGHTER DEATH AND INJURY.
- Income
- $9.3 million
- Spending
- $10.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 9.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 46%
- Employees
- 33
- Volunteers
- 3,328
- Highest pay
- $205,609, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 77 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $1.9 million spent. FAMILY PROGRAMS PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING SPOUSES AND LIFE PARTNERS, CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND SIBLINGS, WHO NEED IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM SUPPORT AFTER THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE. THE SUDDEN DEATH OF A PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER CAN OFTEN BE MORE IMPACTFUL TO THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE OF THE LINE OF WORK AND THE VERY PUBLIC AND OFTEN TRAUMATIC NATURE OF THE DEATH. EVIDENCE TELLS US THAT PEER SUPPORT IS OF TREMENDOUS BENEFIT IN HELPING PEOPLE WORK THROUGH THEIR GRIEF, AND SOMETIMES COUNSELING AND CLINICAL SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDING THE TOOLS BEREAVED FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO ADJUST AND RECOVER AFTER THE DEATH OF A FIREFIGHTER. PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT FIRE HERO FAMILY NETWORKTHE FIRE HERO FAMILY NETWORK BEGAN IN 1997 TO PROVIDE NEWLY BEREAVED FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE BENEFIT OF CONNECTING WITH OTHERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE LOSS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH OF A FIREFIGHTER. IN 2012, THE NFFF CREATED AND PILOTED A ONE-DAY, IN-PERSON PEER SUPPORT TRAINING WHICH ADDRESSES TOPICS INCLUDING: GOALS, ROLES, & RESPONSIBILITIES OF PEER SUPPORT; READINESS FOR PEER SUPPORT; RESOURCES FOR FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT; VERBAL & NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS; AND EMPATHY. MORE THAN 100 TRAINED MEMBERS ARE AVAILABLE TO REACH OUT TO NEWLY BEREAVED FAMILIES AND PROVIDE THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR LOSS CAN PROVIDE. AN OVERVIEW OF THIS TRAINING IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A 30-MINUTE ONLINE PROGRAM THAT ENABLES POTENTIAL PEERS TO REVIEW THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF NFFF PEER SUPPORT.ONLINE RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS FOR FAMILIES AND AGENCIESTHE NFFF OFFERS MANY ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES OF FALLEN RESPONDERS INCLUDING: THE JOURNEY, A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION EDITED BY THE NFFF'S GRIEF SPECIALIST THAT FEATURES ARTICLES WRITTEN BY FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS. THERE WERE SIX ISSUES OF THE JOURNEY PUBLISHED AND 8,080 COPIES DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS OF THE FIRE HERO FAMILIES. VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS INCLUDING PEER SUPPORT GROUP, FACILITATED SUPPORT GROUP, PEER SUPPORT FOR TEENS, MEN'S SUPPORT GROUP, REMEMBRANCE GROUP DURING THE ANNIVERSARY MONTH OF THE FIREFIGHTERS' LINE-OF-DUTY DEATHS. SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED FOR 1,245 ATTENDEES. REMEMBRANCE CARDS ARE SENT OUT IN HONOR OF OUR FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS ANNUALLY DURING THE MONTH OF THEIR LOSS; 5,114 WERE SENT OUT BY 355 VOLUNTEER MEMBERS IN-PERSON PROGRAMS FOR FIRE HERO FAMILIESEVERY YEAR THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION PROVIDES A FULL CALENDAR OF RETREATS, EVENTS, AND CAMPS, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT OUR FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THEIR GRIEF JOURNEY. MANY EVENTS ARE TARGETED TOWARD DEFINED COHORTS, SUCH AS CHILDREN, SPOUSES, OR PARENTS OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS, TO PROVIDE EACH GROUP WITH THE MOST APPROPRIATE TYPES OF EVIDENCE-INFORMED SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS FOR RECOVERY AFTER TRAUMATIC LOSS. GROUP ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON GRIEF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, MOVEMENT, CREATIVITY, AND PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS, ALL DIRECTED TOWARD HELPING FAMILY MEMBERS MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR GRIEF JOURNEY, REBUILD THEIR LIVES, AND EXPAND THEIR NETWORK OF EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS. HAL BRUNO CAMP FOR CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERSTHIS WEEKEND BEREAVEMENT CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-17 PROVIDES TWO SEPARATE TRACKS TO SERVE CHILDREN AT THE APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL. IT ALSO INCLUDES A PARENT COMPONENT FACILITATED BY A CHILDREN'S GRIEF SPECIALIST. THE CAMP PROGRAM HAS THREE COMPONENTS:COMFORT ZONE CAMP - COMFORT ZONE CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGES 7-17 PROVIDES TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ARTS AND CRAFTS, GAMES, AND A BONFIRE, ALONGSIDE INTENSIVE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY LED BY LICENSED GRIEF THERAPISTS. THE SCHEDULE IS BASED AROUND THE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MODEL. CAMPERS ARE PAIRED WITH "BIG BUDDY" ADULT VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE SCREENED AND TRAINED TO SERVE AS MENTORS THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF CAMP. THE MIX OF ACTIVITIES PROVIDES CAMPERS WITH AN ENVIRONMENT TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR PEERS, DEFINE THEIR OWN GRIEF, LEARN POSITIVE COPING SKILLS, AND RECEIVE VALIDATION AND POSITIVE SUPPORT FROM OTHERS. IN 2024 WE HOSTED 56 ATTENDEES. CAMP HAL (HEALING AFTER LOSS) THIS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-6 IS LED BY A LICENSED THERAPIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE GRIEVING. WITH SUPPORT FROM NFFF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, THE CAMP PROGRAM USES PLAY THERAPY AND EXPRESSIVE THERAPY TO HELP CHILDREN EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN THEIR NATURAL LANGUAGE. CAMP HAL INCLUDES A MIX OF ACTIVITIES APPROPRIATE FOR THIS AGE GROUP, AS WELL AS SOME ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS TOGETHER. CHILDREN STAY WITH THEIR PARENT OVERNIGHT AND WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN CAMP SESSIONS. IN 2024 WE HOSTED 96 ATTENDEES. PARENT SESSIONS WHILE THE CHILDREN ATTEND CAMP, THERE IS A TWO-PART SESSION FOR ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. THE FIRST SESSION, FACILITATED BY A CHILDREN'S GRIEF SPECIALIST, FOCUSES ON STRATEGIES FOR PARENTING AND SELF-CARE. THE SECOND SESSION IS A FACILITATED ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WHERE PARENTS CAN SHARE PARENTING CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES AND BUILD COMMUNITY. ON SATURDAY EVENING, THE NFFF STAFF PROVIDES DINNER AND ACTIVITIES FOR CAMP HAL CAMPERS SO PARENTS CAN HAVE A BREAK AND SPEND TIME CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER. WINTER RETREAT THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON CAN BE AN ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING TIME OF YEAR FOR A FAMILY THAT HAS LOST A LOVED ONE. OPEN TO ALL AGES AND FAMILY MEMBERS, THIS EVENT FOCUSES ON SERVICE, GIVING BACK TO OTHERS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, SELF-CARE, REFLECTION, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE WALKED A SIMILAR PATH. ATTENDEES HELP TO DECORATE THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL SITE AND THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL CHAPEL FOR THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING AND ATTEND THE SERVICE. FIRE HERO FAMILY RETREATSSEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR, THE NFFF HOSTS SMALL RETREATS FOR SELECT GROUPS WITHIN THE FIRE HERO FAMILY COMMUNITY. BASED AROUND A SIMILAR STRUCTURE, THESE INTENSIVE EVENTS PROVIDE SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GRIEF, COPING STRATEGIES, STRESS MANAGEMEN
- $1.7 million spent. FIRE SERVICE PROGRAMS - THE 240 FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY INITIATIVES ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE NFFF'S PROGRAMMING AIMED AT REDUCING PREVENTABLE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATHS AND INJURIES IN THE FIRE SERVICE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS GENERATED FROM THE INITIATIVES PROMOTE THE INTEGRATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY INTO THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND CULTURE OF THE NATION'S CAREER, VOLUNTEER, COMBINATION AND WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS. THE EFFORTS ARE AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES AND INJURIES. THROUGH THE INITIATIVES, THE NFFF DEVELOPS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, LIFE SAFETY TRAINING AND OFFICER DEVELOPMENT TO FURTHER PROMOTE A MORE SAFETY CONSCIOUS FIRE OFFICER. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED AT NO- OR LOW-COST VIA THE NFFF'S ONLINE FIRE HERO TRAINING NETWORK AND/OR THE NFFF ADVOCATES PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES THAT ADVANCE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS TO INCREASE SAFETY FOR FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH REDUCING THE NUMBER AND INTENSITY OF FIRES; SUPPORTS ASSOCIATED RESEARCH AND PILOT PROJECTS; AND ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVED STANDARDS FOR TRAINING, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ADDRESSING OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES AND THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF STRESS. THE NFFF ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAMMING THAT ASSISTS FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO BOTH PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. "TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN" TRAINS OFFICERS IN PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING, SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION, FAMILY, FIRE CHIEF, INCIDENT COMMANDER, COMPANY OFFICER AND CO-WORKER SUPPORT, AND BENEFITS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES AND CO-WORKERS. LOCAL ASSISTANCE STATE TEAMS ARE MOBILIZED UPON REQUEST TO OFFER BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM LOGISTICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. THESE TRAINED TEAMS, LOCATED IN ALMOST EVERY STATE, ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFITS.
- $1.3 million spent. IN MAY, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S HEROES HONORING 226 FIREFIGHTERS, 89 WHO DIED IN 2023 AND 137 FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. THE NFFF PROVIDED LODGING, MEALS, AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES. 1,117 FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND. GRIEF AND OTHER COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED FOR 130 FAMILY SURVIVORS. 398 HONOR GUARD PIPES AND DRUMS AND 222 FIRE SERVICE FAMILY ESCORTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATED IN HONORING THEIR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 145 FAMILY SURVIVORS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS RETURNED TO ASSIST WITH NEW FAMILY REGISTRATIONS AND NEW FAMILY DAY ACTIVITIES. MORE THAN 5,000 ATTENDED THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.