First Responder Center for Excellence
First Responder Center for Excellence is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation that delivers free evidence-based health, safety, and wellness training, resources, and toolkits to firefighters, EMS personnel, and other first responders nationwide, funded primarily by FEMA grants and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersEmmitsburg, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What First Responder Center for Excellence does
The First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Emmitsburg, Maryland, operating as an affiliate of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. FRCE's mission is to reduce line-of-duty injuries, deaths, and occupational illnesses among U.S. first responders — primarily firefighters, EMS personnel, and adjacent emergency response personnel — through evidence-based education, research, and prevention programming. The organization does not sell software and has no API, SDK, or AI capabilities; its core "technology" is a curriculum and content platform built around occupational health and wellness subject matter.
FRCE's product portfolio is built on a content-and-training stack: an Integrated Health & Wellness Toolkit covering behavioral health, cancer risk reduction, cardiac health, functional fitness, hydration, nutrition, sleep/recovery, rehabilitation, and model policies; a Resource Hub with articles, prevention tips, training modules, and research reports; self-paced Online Training Programs (topics including Finding Hope, Introduction to Well-Being and Self-Care, Stress First Aid, and Optimizing Sleep); In-Person Training Programs (Health & Wellness Seminars, Stress First Aid workshops, Train-the-Trainer) delivered at fire departments and conferences; the Fit to Thrive (F2T) fitness program supporting the IAFF/IAFC Wellness-Fitness Initiative; and Firefighter Physicals resources aligned to NFPA 1582 compliance. Distribution is multi-channel: in-person events, online portal, social media (Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram), and strategic partnerships with NFFF, O2X, FCSN, and IAFF/IAFC.
FRCE provides all resources and training at no cost to first responders. Its revenue model is donation- and grant-driven: DHS/FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Fire Prevention and Safety Grants, individual and corporate donations, and event sponsorships. The organization employs roughly 12 staff, is privately funded (no venture or private equity capital), and publishes financial statements through its website. Strategic positioning is anchored to federal grant alignment, NFPA standards, and the fire-service labor-management infrastructure rather than a commercial monetization model.
First Responder Center for Excellence firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Responder Center for Excellence
- Legal name
- First Responder Center for Excellence for Reducing Occupational Illness, Injuries and Deaths, Inc.
- Website
- https://firstrespondercenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- First Responder Center for Excellence is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation that delivers free evidence-based health, safety, and wellness training, resources, and toolkits to firefighters, EMS personnel, and other first responders nationwide, funded primarily by FEMA grants and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Responder Center for Excellence industry classification
Industry- Product category
- First Responder Health and Safety Training
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training (BPAKAOAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Education (CPR/First Aid/Disaster Readiness) (EDAAAFAJ), Community Resilience, Preparedness Training & Exercises (HLAJAGAL)
Keywords
Where First Responder Center for Excellence is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Emmitsburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
First Responder Center for Excellence business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, FRCE relies on donations from individuals, organizations, and corporations to fund mental health programs, peer support initiatives, training, education, and research prevention efforts
- Federal Grant Funding: Funding provided through DHS/FEMA's Grant Program Directorate for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - Fire Prevention and Safety Grants
- Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for conferences, symposiums, and training events that advance education, research and awareness across the fire service
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
First Responder Center for Excellence product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FRCE provides evidence-based education, training, and resource programs that address the health, safety, and well-being of firefighters, EMS personnel, and other first responders. Offerings include self-paced online training courses, in-person training workshops such as Stress First Aid and Health & Wellness Seminars, an Integrated Health & Wellness Toolkit, NFPA 1582 compliance resources, the Fit to Thrive (F2T) fitness program, and a centralized Resource Hub. Programs target line-of-duty injury and illness prevention across behavioral health, cancer risk reduction, cardiac health, fitness, nutrition, sleep, and rehabilitation topics.
Product overview
The First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) operates as a non-profit education and research organization offering a portfolio of training programs and resource materials rather than a software product. The core offerings include Online Training Programs (self-paced courses on Behavioral Health, Cancer, Cardiac, Fitness, and Wellness), In Person Training Programs (including Health & Wellness Seminars and Stress First Aid), and an Integrated Health & Wellness Toolkit. These are supplemented by the Fit to Thrive (F2T) fitness program, Firefighter Physicals Resources (including NFPA 1582 compliance materials), and a centralized Resource Hub. The organization functions as a content and training provider, not a technology platform, with no software products, APIs, or AI capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Online Training Programs Self-paced, web-based training courses covering Behavioral Health, Cancer awareness, Cardiac health, Fitness, and Wellness topics for first responders. Programs include Finding Hope, Introduction to Well-Being and Self-Care for First Responders, Stress First Aid, and Optimizing Sleep for First Responders.
- In Person Training Programs
- Stress First Aid (SFA)
- Integrated Health & Wellness Toolkit
- Fit to Thrive (F2T)
- Firefighter Physicals Resources
- Resource Hub
Companies that use First Responder Center for Excellence
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
First Responder Center for Excellence technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
First Responder Center for Excellence partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF)coreFRCE is an affiliate organization of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The partnership focuses on ensuring the NFFF does not prematurely meet the families of firefighters through education and prevention programs.
- O2XminorO2X provides health and wellness resources including tactical performance training, sleep strategies, and mindfulness activities for first responders.
- IAFF/IAFC - Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness InitiativecoreFRCE supports the IAFF/IAFC Wellness-Fitness Initiative through the Fit to Thrive (F2T) program, an extension of the Peer Fitness Trainer program.
- Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN)minorPartnership for cancer awareness and prevention resources for the fire service, including the DOING IT RIGHT training program.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Responder Center for Excellence competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF): Labor union representing professional firefighters that jointly runs the IAFF/IAFC Wellness-Fitness Initiative with FRCE support. Comparable as a fire service wellness stakeholder.
- National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: FRCE's parent affiliate and the umbrella U.S. fire service nonprofit focused on line-of-duty deaths, survivor support, and firefighter safety initiatives. Directly comparable in mission and constituency.
- National Volunteer Fire Council: National organization representing volunteer firefighters and providing health, safety, and wellness resources comparable to FRCE's mission.
- International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC): Fire service leadership association that co-leads the IAFF/IAFC Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative, of which FRCE's Fit to Thrive program is an extension.
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Standards-setting body whose NFPA 1582 standard anchors FRCE's compliance toolkit. Adjacent peer in driving firefighter health and safety standards.
- American Red Cross: Larger nonprofit delivering CPR, first aid, AED, and emergency response training to first responders and the public—an adjacent incumbent in emergency preparedness education.
- American Heart Association: National nonprofit providing CPR/AED certification and cardiac health resources, with overlapping cardiac-health content relevant to firefighter wellness.
Direct peers
- O2X: Private-sector provider of tactical performance, sleep, nutrition, and mindfulness training for first responders and military. Competes with FRCE in the same wellness training market with a paid model.
- Firefighter Cancer Support Network: Active FRCE partner focused on firefighter cancer awareness, prevention, and support—directly comparable in serving the same audience with overlapping cancer-prevention educational content (e.g., DOING IT RIGHT).
Emerging players
- Emergency Responder Safety Institute: Smaller specialty organization focused on emergency responder roadway safety training, comparable as a niche training provider serving similar personnel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
First Responder Center for Excellence social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Responder Center for Excellence financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Responder Center for Excellence leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
First Responder Center for Excellence funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Responder Center for Excellence M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Responder Center for Excellence
What does First Responder Center for Excellence do?
FRCE provides evidence-based education, training, and resource programs that address the health, safety, and well-being of firefighters, EMS personnel, and other first responders. Offerings include self-paced online training courses, in-person training workshops such as Stress First Aid and Health & Wellness Seminars, an Integrated Health & Wellness Toolkit, NFPA 1582 compliance resources, the Fit to Thrive (F2T) fitness program, and a centralized Resource Hub. Programs target line-of-duty injury and illness prevention across behavioral health, cancer risk reduction, cardiac health, fitness, nutrition, sleep, and rehabilitation topics.
Is First Responder Center for Excellence a public or private company?
First Responder Center for Excellence is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was First Responder Center for Excellence founded?
First Responder Center for Excellence was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is First Responder Center for Excellence based?
First Responder Center for Excellence is headquartered in Emmitsburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Responder Center for Excellence make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are federal Grant Funding and event Sponsorships.
Who are First Responder Center for Excellence's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American Red Cross and American Heart Association. Direct peers are O2X and Firefighter Cancer Support Network. Emergency Responder Safety Institute is listed as an emerging player.
Does First Responder Center for Excellence have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Responder Center for Excellence.
What industry is First Responder Center for Excellence in?
First Responder Center for Excellence's product category is First Responder Health and Safety Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAOAJ, Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training, with a secondary code of EDAAAFAJ, Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Education (CPR/First Aid/Disaster Readiness). Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.