Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation Grants for Fire Departments 

Grants for Fire Departments 

The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation provides grants to fire departments in need of personal safety PSS 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 2024 grant application starting on January 1, 2024.

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 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, Address each item and if N/A state so.

1. Demographic information documentation for your response area, including the date of the information stating your median family Income, median home value and poverty rate.

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 $25,000 per year. Grant requests exceeding $25,000, if approved, 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 total funds you have raised and what funds you expect to raise.

4. Please provide a copy of two most recent years detailed budget, and Actuals.

5. Include any Department Benevolent, Auxiliary, etc., organizations Financials

6. Please provide a signed copy of your 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. Include any Benevolent, Auxiliary, Fraternal, etc. Organizations and their complete financials.

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.

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 the New England 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 2024
Grantee(s) will be announced at the current Seminar

DOWNLOAD THE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION

To submit your application, please E-mail a .pdf copy by June 30, 2024 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Grants Awarded 

The following departments have received financial assistance to purchase this life-saving safety equipment and related training.




Ashland Fire Department

Ashland, Ohio

Date Awarded: 2023

Clinton Fire Department

Clinton, South Carolina

Date Awarded: 2023

Duncan Fire Department

Duncan, South Carolina

Date Awarded: 2023

Huber Heights Fire Department

Huber Heights, Ohio

Date Awarded: 2023

Keene Fire Department

Keene, New Hampshire

Date Awarded: 2023

Lake Montecello Volunteer Fire Department

Lake Montecello, Virginia

Date Awarded: 2023

Long Branch Fire Department

Long Branch, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2023

Matamoras Volunteer Fire Department

Matamoras, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2023

Melrose Fire Department

Melrose, Massachusetts

Date Awarded: 2023

Mernands Volunteer Fire Department

Mernands, New York

Date Awarded: 2023

Meridith Hose Company

Meridith, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2023

Pratt City Fire Department

Pratt City, Kansas

Date Awarded: 2023

Southbridge Fire Department

Southbridge, Massachusetts

Date Awarded: 2023

Union Beach Volunteer Fire Department

Union Beach, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2023

Russell City Fire Department

Russell, Kansas

Date Awarded: 2023

Plains Township Fire Department

Plains, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2023

Orono Fire Department

Orono, Maine

Date Awarded: 2023

Sussex Fire Department

Sussex, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2023

Union Beach Fire Company

Union Beach New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2023

Seneca Fire Department

Seneca, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2023

Lanesborough Volunteer Fire Department

Lanesborough Massachussetts

Date Awarded: 2023

Clinton Fire Department

Cliton, South Carolina

Date Awarded: 2023

Moon Township Volunteer Fire Company

Coraopolis, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2023

City of Keene Fire Department

Keene, New Hampshire

Date Awarded: 2022

Fort Lee Fire Department

Fort Lee, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2022

Kaibab Estates West Fire District

Ashfork, Arizona

Date Awarded: 2022

Seneca Fire Department

Seneca, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2022

Sussex Fire Department

Sussex, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2022

Union Branch Fire Department

Union Branch, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2022

Clinton Fire Department

Clinton, South Carolina

Date Awarded: 2022

Lanesborough Fire Department

Lanesborough, Massachusetts

Date Awarded: 2022

Melrose Fire Department

Melrose, Massachusetts

Date Awarded: 2022

Moon Township Fire Department

Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2022

Plains Township Fire Department

Plains Township, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2022

City of Russell Fire Deparment

Russell, Kansas

Date Awarded: 2022

Benton Harbor Dept. of Public Safety

Benton Harbor, Michigan

Date Awarded: 2022

Ashland Fire Department

Ashland, Massachusetts

Date Awarded: 2022

Orono Fire Department

Orono, Maine

Date Awarded: 2022

Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Co.

Lamar, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2021

Satellite Beach Fire Department 

Satellite Beach, Florida

Date Awarded: 2021

Midway Fire/Rescue 

Midway, Kentucky

Date Awarded: 2021

Gales Ferry Vol. Fire Department 

Gales Ferry, Connecticut

Date Awarded: 2021

Washington County Fire & EMS 

Abingdon , Virginia

Date Awarded: 2021

Quincy Fire Department 

Quincy, Massachusetts

Date Awarded: 2021

Center Harbor Fire Rescue 

Center Harbor, New Hampshire

Date Awarded: 2021

Northwood Fire & Rescue Dept.

Northwood, New Hampshire 

Date Awarded: 2021

Richland Township Vol. Fire Dept. 

Johnstown, Pennsylvania 

Date Awarded: 2020

Westfall Township Fire Department 

Matamoras, Pennsylvania 

Date Awarded: 2020

Town of Dover Fire Department 

Dover, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2020

Central Stickney Fire Protection Dist. 

Chicago, Illinois

Date Awarded: 2020

Sabattus Fire Department 

Sabattus, Maine

Date Awarded: 2020

Borough of Prospect Park Fire Dept. 

Prospect Park, New Jersey 

Date Awarded: 2020

Mansfield Fire Department 

Mansfield, Ohio 

Date Awarded: 2020

East 52 Celina Volunteer Fire Dept. 

Celina, Tennessee

Date Awarded: 2020

Shady Valley Volunteer Fire Dept. 

Shady Valley, Tennessee

Date Awarded: 2020

South Hutchinson Fire Department 

South Hutchinson, Kansas

Date Awarded: 2020

Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Dept. 

Spring Valley, New York

Date Awarded: 2020

Port Jervis Fire Department 

Port Jervis, New York

Date Awarded: 2019 & 2020

Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS 

Manchester, Connecticut 

Date Awarded: 2019 & 2020

City of Erie Fire Department

Erie, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2019 & 2020

Ventnor City Fire Department

Ventnor City, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2019 & 2020

Wales Fire Department

Wales, Massachusetts

Date Awarded: 2019

Leominster Fire Department

Leominster, Massachusetts

Date Awarded: 2018 & 2019

Norwich Fire Department

Norwich, Connecticut

Date Awarded: 2019

Pleasantdale Fire Department

Troy, New York

Date Awarded: 2019

Eynon/Sturges Hose Company #3

Eynon, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2019

Jackson County Fire District #5

Phoenix, Oregon

Date Awarded: 2018

Wildwood Fire Department

Wildwood, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2018

New London Fire Department

New London, Connecticut

Date Awarded: 2019

Riverside Fire Department

Riverside, Missouri

Date Awarded: 2018

Otter Creek Fire Department

Terre Haute, Indiana

Date Awarded: 2018

Morgantown Fire Department

Morgantown, West Virginia

Date Awarded: 2018

Kansas City Community College

Kansas City, Kansas

Date Awarded: 2018

Bucyrus Fire Department

Bucyrus, Ohio

Date Awarded: 2018

City of Barling Fire Department

Barling, Arkansas

Date Awarded: 2018

Citizens Volunteer Fire Company

Arnold, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2018

Pleasantville Fire Department 

Pleasantville, New Jersey 

Date Awarded: 2017

Castle Valley Fire District

Moab, Utah

Date Awarded: 2017

Campville Fire Department

Endicott, New York 

Date Awarded: 2017

Lynnfield Fire Department

Lynnfield, Massachusetts 

Date Awarded: 2017

Moosup Valley Fire Department

Foster, Rhode Island

Date Awarded: 2017

Bellerose Fire Department

Bellerose Village, New York

Date Awarded: 2017

Lawrence Cedarhurst Fire Dept. 

Lawrence, New York

Date Awarded: 2017

Pittsburg Texas Fire Rescue

Pittsburg, Texas

Date Awarded: 2017

Wright City Fire Protection Dist. 

Wright City, Missouri 

Date Awarded: 2017

Scalp Level Paint Borough Fire Dept.

Windber, Pennsylvania 

Date Awarded: 2017

Berne Fire District

Berne, New York

Date Awarded: 2016

Oradell Fire Department

Oradell, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2016

Palmyra Township Fire Department 

Diamond, Ohio

Date Awarded: 2016

Livermore Fire and Rescue Dept. 

Livermore, Maine

Date Awarded: 2016

Northeast Fire and Rescue Company 

Oradell, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2016

Pennsburg Fire Department

Pennsburg, Pennsylvania

Date Awarded: 2016

King William Fire & Rescue Squad 

Aylett, Virginia

Date Awarded: 2015

Allendale Fire Department

Allendale, New Jersey

Date Awarded: 2015

Burdett Fire Department

Burdett, New York

Date Awarded: 2015

Montour Falls Fire Department

Montour Falls, New York

Date Awarded: 2014

Mount Hope Fire Department

Otisville, New York

Date Awarded: 2014 & 2015