WEMSA Foundation

What WEMSA Foundation does

WEMSA Foundation is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit founded in 2017 and headquartered in Wind Lake, WI. It operates as the charitable arm of the Wisconsin EMS Association, focused on advancing emergency medical services through four pillars: education, research, equipment provision, and prevention programs. The foundation serves EMS professionals, students, and departments across Wisconsin, with a 9-person staff and a donation-funded operating model.

The foundation's core programs include the Foundation Scholarship (scaling to six annual $1,000 awards for 2026-2027 from a single prior award), the Pediatric Equipment Program delivered in partnership with Cars Curing Kids, the Rescue to Recovery initiative in partnership with Donate Life Wisconsin, the We Back The Dedicated bystander support program, and stewardship of the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial and EMS Monument Project. The organization employs 9 staff and operates with no proprietary technology, no AI/ML capabilities, and no revenue-generating products.

The foundation's business model is grant-making and program delivery financed by donations, fundraising events, and partner contributions. There is no direct pricing model, no transactional revenue, and no commercial GTM. Strategic direction is set by a board in coordination with the Wisconsin EMS Association, and the foundation's competitive position rests on its affiliation with the statewide EMS professional network and its relationships with mission-aligned partner organizations.

Name

WEMSA Foundation

Legal name

Wisconsin EMS Association Foundation

Website

https://wemsafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WEMSA Foundation is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing scholarships, pediatric equipment grants, organ donation education, and memorial programs to EMS providers, students, and departments across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Training Grants (Public Health) (HLAJALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF), Emergency Preparedness & Response Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAL)

Keywords

• EMS education scholarships
• Emergency medical services foundation
• Pediatric EMS equipment grants
• Organ donation awareness
• EMS memorial fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Wind Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and corporate sponsors. Funding supports EMS education scholarships, equipment purchases, prevention programs, and memorial construction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

WEMSA Foundation is a Wisconsin-based charitable nonprofit that funds and delivers educational scholarships, pediatric EMS equipment grants, organ donation awareness training, and an EMS monument/memorial program for EMS students, departments, and providers throughout Wisconsin. Its programs are funded by charitable donations and delivered directly to Wisconsin EMS stakeholders in partnership with Donate Life Wisconsin, Cars Curing Kids, and the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial.

Product overview

The WEMSA Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to education, research, equipment purchases, and prevention programs for Emergency Medical Services in Wisconsin communities. Its offerings include the Foundation Scholarship program ($1,000 annual awards, now providing six scholarships for 2026-2027), the Donate Life Grant/Rescue to Recovery organ donation awareness initiative, the Pediatric Equipment Program distributing free equipment bags to EMS departments, and the EMS Monument Project. The Foundation also supports the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial park and runs the We Back The Dedicated community support initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foundation Scholarship Annual $1,000 scholarship program available to Wisconsin residents attending or intending to attend an EMS Program through an approved Wisconsin training center. The Foundation provides six scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year to assist students working toward initial EMS licensure or advancing to a higher certification level. Applicants must submit a resume, technical college enrollment information, letter of recommendation, explanation of need, and personal statement.
• Pediatric Equipment Program Program providing free pediatric equipment bags to active WEMSA Service Member departments across Wisconsin, funded by donations from Cars Curing Kids. Over the past two years, the program has provided hundreds of EMS providers with specialized pediatric equipment to ensure emergency responders have the equipment needed for pediatric care, including child transport restraint systems.
• Donate Life Grant (Rescue to Recovery) Initiative launched in partnership with Donate Life Wisconsin to boost organ donation awareness among EMS professionals and the wider Wisconsin community. The program provides comprehensive educational resources, establishes statewide standardized protocols, and engages in community outreach to bridge the knowledge gap in organ, tissue, and ligament donation.
• EMS Monument Project Proposed EMS Monument standing over 11.5 feet tall, representing the Star of Life from an initial glance as well as from an aerial view. The monument will serve as a lasting symbol of appreciation and respect for EMS providers and will be located at the 7.5-acre Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial park along the West bank of the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin Rapids. WEMSA Foundation serves as the primary funding source, including construction and upkeep of the park.
• We Back The Dedicated Community support initiative inspired by the original 'We Back the Blue' movement, providing a way for communities to show support for local EMS providers. Decals are available for purchase through the WEMSA product page.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of EMS providers equipped with pediatric equipment over 2 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial (WFEM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023, the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial was officially reorganized to become the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial (WFEM). WEMSA Foundation serves as a primary funding source for the new EMS Monument within the 7.5-acre park along the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin Rapids, including construction and upkeep.
• Donate Life WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch 'Rescue to Recovery' initiative aimed at boosting organ donation awareness among EMS professionals and the wider Wisconsin community. The program provides comprehensive educational resources, establishes statewide standardized protocols, and engages in community outreach efforts to enhance the organ donation process.
• Cars Curing KidscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWisconsin-based organization devoted to supporting improved health outcomes in children. Their generous donations have enabled the foundation to provide hundreds of EMS providers with free pediatric equipment bags over the past 2 years, ensuring emergency responders have specialized equipment for pediatric care.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wisconsin EMS Association: The WEMSA Foundation's closest relationship; WEMSA is the membership association for Wisconsin EMS providers, and the Foundation operates as its charitable arm. Highly comparable as a Wisconsin-only EMS-focused nonprofit.
• Cars Curing Kids: Wisconsin-based nonprofit providing pediatric medical equipment and funding, including the pediatric equipment bags sourced through WEMSA Foundation. Comparable pediatric health-equipment focus within Wisconsin.
• National EMS Memorial Service: National nonprofit honoring fallen EMS providers through memorial events and recognition. Highly comparable to the EMS Monument project and Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial focus.
• National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) Foundation: National charitable arm of the largest U.S. EMS professional association, providing scholarships, education, and EMS workforce support. Directly comparable mission: EMS education funding and workforce development.
• Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial: The memorial organization that reorganized in 2023 into Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial. WEMSA Foundation is its primary funding source, making them operationally linked peers.
• Donate Life Wisconsin: Wisconsin-based organ donation advocacy nonprofit partnered with WEMSA Foundation on the Rescue to Recovery initiative. Operates in adjacent community-health space within Wisconsin.

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation: National foundation supporting fire and EMS leadership, training, and education. Comparable mission around first responder education funding and workforce development.
• Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation: Large-scale nonprofit funded by Firehouse Subs restaurant chain providing equipment grants and scholarships to first responders. Comparable mission around equipment provision and EMS training support, but at much larger national scale.
• SafeKids Worldwide: National nonprofit focused on preventing childhood injury. The pediatric equipment program aligns with their mission of ensuring pediatric emergency preparedness for first responders.

Emerging players

• Volunteer Firemens Insurance Services (VFIS) Charitable Foundation: Foundation providing training, equipment, and education grants to volunteer fire and EMS organizations. Comparable grants-based support model for first responder agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wemsa-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WEMSA Foundation