San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation

What San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation does

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2005, headquartered at 9325 Sky Park Court, San Diego, with 1–10 employees. It serves as the designated philanthropic partner of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD), funding equipment, training, wellness, and youth-pipeline programs that fall outside the city budget. SDFD allocates approximately 85% of its budget to salaries and benefits, creating the funding gap the Foundation exists to close; the Foundation's deliverables include Genesis hydraulic rescue tools, Multi-Gas Air Detectors, ladder belts, drysuits, PFDs for the Lifeguard Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Team, the Health & Safety Wellness Center (opened 2025), the Girls Empowerment Camp (9th year in 2024), the Women's Fire Prep Academy, the Cal-JAC EMT Academy, and the Fire Cadet program.

Revenue comes entirely from donations, grants, and event fundraising — no commercial products or services are sold. The Foundation operates four distinct revenue streams: individual tax-deductible donations via Network for Good and mail; corporate partnerships and sponsorships (presenting sponsors SDG&E, Pierce Manufacturing, South Coast Fire Equipment; tier sponsors Falck, Cozen O'Connor, AMR); grants from conservancies and agencies (notably a $367,000 San Diego River Conservancy award for wildfire prevention in 2024 and a San Diego Workforce Partnership grant for the EMT Academy); and event fundraising through the annual Ready to Respond Gala, Service Awards Honoree Luncheon, Wildfire Preparedness Safety Fair, and Bike with the Chief. Distribution channels are regional (San Diego and San Diego County), reaching the 1.4 million residents and 343-square-mile service area covered by SDFD.

The Foundation's supporting ecosystem — a volunteer board of directors including former City of San Diego civic leaders (Marcela Escobar), legal partners (Cozen O'Connor), utilities (SDG&E), and hospitality (Evans Hotels) — provides in-kind fundraising leverage disproportionate to its payroll. Governance is provided by Executive Director Wendy Moore, President/Chair David Hanses, and Vice-Chairs Colleen Windsor and Marcela Escobar, and the organization holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2026) and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Operating as a private nonprofit with no parent entity, no subsidiaries, no disclosed institutional investors, and no proprietary technology product, the Foundation is a relationship-driven fundraising conduit rather than a technology or product company.

Name

San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation

Legal name

San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation

Website

https://sdfirerescue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that funds equipment, training, wellness programs, and youth pipelines for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, operating through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)

Keywords

• Firefighter support programs
• Public safety fundraising
• First responder wellness
• Emergency equipment grants
• Community safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting fire-rescue personnel. Donors can give through the Network for Good platform or by mailing checks to the Foundation's office.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund events (Gala, Girls Empowerment Camp, Service Awards Luncheon) and initiatives. Sponsors receive recognition and brand visibility at Foundation events.
3. Grants from Conservancies and Agencies: The Foundation receives grants from organizations like the San Diego River Conservancy ($367,000 for wildfire prevention) and San Diego Workforce Partnership (for EMT Academy). These grants fund specific programs and equipment.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual events including the Ready to Respond Gala, Service Awards Honoree Luncheon, and Wildfire Preparedness Safety Fair generate donations and sponsorships while building community awareness.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises and distributes philanthropic funds to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD). It funds enhanced rescue/safety equipment (Genesis Rescue Tools, Multi-Gas Air Detectors, drysuits, PFDs, ladder belts), training and youth development programs (Girls Empowerment Camp, Women's Fire Prep Academy, Cal-JAC EMT Academy, Fire Cadets), and operates the Health & Safety Wellness Center providing physical, behavioral, cancer/cardiac, and nutrition services to firefighters and lifeguards.

Product overview

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a philanthropic partner to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Rather than offering a unified technology product, the foundation provides a portfolio of programs, equipment funding, and community initiatives including the Health & Safety Wellness Center (a comprehensive first responder health facility), Girls Empowerment Camp, Cal-JAC EMT Academy, Women's Fire Prep Academy, and various equipment programs (Genesis Rescue Tools, Multi-Gas Air Detectors). The foundation also organizes community events including the Ready to Respond Gala, Wildfire Preparedness Safety Fair, and Bike with the Chief. These programs work together to enhance public safety by funding critical equipment, training, and wellness resources that fall outside the city budget.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health & Safety Wellness Center A comprehensive first responder health facility offering physical wellness exams, cancer screenings, cardiac screenings, injury rehabilitation, nutrition counseling, and behavioral health services for firefighters, lifeguards, and emergency medical responders. The Foundation fully furnished the facility through grants and donations.
• Girls Empowerment Camp (GEC) A free two-day camp for teens ages 14-18 that introduces participants to the fire service through hands-on firefighting drills, CPR/AED training, and exposure to public safety career opportunities. Provided free of charge to participants thanks to sponsors.
• Cal-JAC EMT Academy A pre-apprenticeship EMT Academy funded through a grant from the San Diego Workforce Partnership, hosted in partnership with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department at the SDFD Training Center.
• Women's Fire Prep Academy A six-Saturday program for candidates who have met Fire Academy eligibility requirements, providing physical conditioning and familiarization with fire equipment to prepare for entry into fire academies.
• Community Education Resources Supplemental educational materials and programs supporting Fire Prevention Week, SDFD Recruiting, Girls Empowerment Camp, Women's Fire Prep Academy, SDFD Fire Cadets, wildland fire preparedness, and school/station visit programs.
• SDFD Honor Guard & Chaplain Program Foundation-supported program providing ceremonial honors and spiritual care services for SDFD personnel through the Honor Guard and Chaplain Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Health & Safety Wellness Center opened in 2025, providing comprehensive first responder healthcare reducing city costs through early detection
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• San Diego Fire-Rescue DepartmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2025The Foundation and SDFD formed a public-private partnership to establish the Health & Safety Wellness Center in Kearny Mesa. The Foundation provided full funding for the facility, which offers comprehensive first responder healthcare including physical wellness exams, cancer screenings, cardiac screenings, behavioral health, nutrition counseling, and physical therapy.
• San Diego County Bike CoalitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Bike Coalition partners with the Foundation for the annual Bike with the Chief event, providing certified instructors to lead the guided bike ride along the downtown waterfront.
• SDG&EcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSDG&E is a presenting sponsor of the Wildfire Preparedness Safety Fair and a sponsor of the Ready to Respond Gala and Girls Empowerment Camp. SDG&E also partners on wildfire preparedness education and the Foundation received funding for fire prevention projects.
• South Coast Fire EquipmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSouth Coast Fire Equipment is a presenting sponsor of the Ready to Respond Gala and provides equipment sponsorships for Foundation events and programs.
• Pierce ManufacturingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPierce Manufacturing is a presenting sponsor of the Ready to Respond Gala and a sponsor of the Service Awards Honoree Luncheon and Girls Empowerment Camp.
• Falck AmbulancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFalck Ambulance is recognized at the Service Awards Honoree Luncheon alongside SDFD personnel. Falck is also a Chief Level Sponsor of the Girls Empowerment Camp.
• Cozen O'ConnorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCozen O'Connor is an Engineer Level Sponsor of the Girls Empowerment Camp and a sponsor of various Foundation events.
• American Medical Response (AMR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAMR is an Engineer Level Sponsor of the Girls Empowerment Camp and has worked with SDFD (with Firefighter Roberto Castillo previously employed by AMR before joining SDFD).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FDNY Foundation: The official nonprofit partner of the Fire Department of the City of New York — a closely analogous foundation supporting equipment, training, and wellness programs for a major U.S. fire department.
• California Fire Foundation: A California-focused nonprofit supporting wildland firefighters and wildfire victims through grants and community programs — highly comparable given San Diego's wildfire exposure and the Foundation's brush management grant work.
• San Diego Police Foundation: A regional public safety foundation supporting the San Diego Police Department through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships — same geography, similar philanthropic model, sister beneficiary agency.
• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: The philanthropic partner of the Los Angeles City Fire Department — directly comparable as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit raising funds for a large municipal fire-rescue department via events, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Others

• San Diego River Park Foundation: A local environmental nonprofit in San Diego that partners with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation on the San Diego River Conservancy grant — relevant as a co-funder and ecosystem collaborator on wildfire mitigation in the watershed.

Broad incumbents

• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: A national nonprofit supporting fallen firefighter families and survivor benefits — operates at a broader scale in the same fire-service philanthropic category and frequently partners with local fire-rescue foundations.
• IAFF Foundation: The charitable arm of the International Association of Fire Fighters, supporting firefighter wellness, behavioral health, and member assistance — overlaps with SDFRF's wellness and behavioral health programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-diego-fire-rescue-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation