Ultimate guide to fire department fundraising ideas
Fire departments are the backbone of community safety, yet many operate with limited funding—especially volunteer fire departments. From purchasing life-saving equipment to community outreach programs, departments often rely on the public’s generosity to provide their vital services.
In this article, we’ll ask “why do firefighters ask for donations?”, exploring what fire departments need to fundraise for. We’ll also suggest top fire fundraising ideas to show how you can support your local heroes through effective, creative, and online-friendly fundraisers.
If you want to raise money for a local fire department, look no further than GoFundMe. The safe and trusted crowdfunding platform has supported numerous emergency medical services (EMS) fundraising initiatives and boasts a global giving community of more than 150 million donors.
Why do fire departments fundraise?
Firefighters rely on generous donations and fire department fundraisers to maintain vital services to their community. Declining government budgets and increasing emergency calls mean they’re increasingly stretched and under enormous financial pressure.
It’s not just fire emergencies that they get called out for. Car accidents, natural disasters, and medical emergencies are just some of the emergency calls they’re asked to respond to–all requiring specialist training and equipment.
As a result, fire department fundraisers help pay for the following:
Equipment and safety gear: Not only is it costly, but it must be regularly updated to meet safety standards. Fire fundraisers ensure that departments can purchase and maintain vital equipment without compromising on safety or response time.
Training, education, and certifications for firefighters and EMS staff: All members of the fire department must be properly trained to deal with a range of emergencies.
Community education and fire prevention events: Fire departments foot the bill for community education events, which raise awareness and help prevent incidents. This includes outreach and safety demonstrations.
Volunteer fire departments: Typically operating in rural areas, these services often receive limited or no direct funding. Instead, they rely on local donations to provide vital services.
What do fire departments need to fundraise for?
Fire departments have lots to fundraise for, including equipment, training, community education programs, and station maintenance. This is especially true for volunteer fire departments. As well as purchasing new items, they will need to replace damaged or outdated tools and equipment.
Essential equipment: When you think of firefighters, red fire trucks spring to mind. But there is so much more to their life-saving kit. Hoses, specialized rescue tools, and turnout gear (including protective helmets, coats, pants, and boots) are just some of the items that need to be regularly replaced and maintained.
Firefighter training: Firefighters need to be up-to-date with the latest training and technology. This can be costly, but it is essential in saving lives. Many firefighters are also Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), which includes hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training, as well as an exam.
Upgraded technology: The modern firefighter needs the latest technology to help save lives quickly and effectively. This includes radios, alarm systems, and software. Not only will this technology need to be purchased, but firefighters will need adequate training to utilize it.
Community outreach: Public safety education programs are a key part of any fire department’s set of responsibilities. These can include fire safety workshops, CPR training, and safety demonstrations. From school visits to open houses, hosting these events can be costly to put on. Travel, demonstrations, and equipment can add up, but it’s essential work to prevent incidents and save lives.
Station maintenance: From firehouse furniture to kitchenware, the station needs to be a safe and functional place for firefighters to work. Like any busy workplace, repairs and general maintenance are essential. But firehouses are also an important space for firefighters to feel grounded and connected to their colleagues and community. Firehouse tables are a perfect example of bringing the heart of the community into the station. Here are some fire station project ideas to upgrade the space.
Support for fire victims: Fire departments may also raise funds to support victims and their families, including firefighters themselves. This may also include memorial or tribute tables to honor those affected.
Volunteer recruitment: Volunteers may offer their time for free, but recruiting, training, and retaining them is costly.
Who organizes fire department fundraisers?
Fire department fundraisers are often organized by fire chiefs, firefighters, and department staff who understand the department’s needs firsthand. But they can’t do it alone.
They’re often supported by firefighter families and local community members, who volunteer their time and skills to make the firehouse fundraisers a success. Whether it’s a pancake breakfast or a field day, these dedicated volunteers will help plan and run the event while collecting donations.
There are also auxiliary groups, known as “Friends of the Fire Department”, that act as a fundraising department, coordinating donation drives and events. Local businesses will also partner with the fundraiser to provide sponsorship or in-kind donations.
Together, these groups help spread the word about the event in their networks to help raise awareness and hit the fire department’s fundraising goals.
How to donate to a local fire department
Wondering how to donate to your local fire department? There are plenty of ways to show your support.
Fire department donations can often be made directly at your local fire station or through their website. Alternatively, you can also support a fire fundraiser through online fundraising platforms like GoFundMe or social media fundraisers, which make it easy to reach a wider audience and have a greater impact.
Fire department-hosted events, such as pancake breakfasts, charity runs, or auctions are always a fun way to raise funds to protect vital services. These events may be sponsored by local businesses as a way to show their support.
Property owners can even donate a house to the fire department for training purposes.
Where can you fundraise for fire departments?
Online fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe allow fire departments to create fundraising pages that can be shared widely on their social networks and beyond. GoFundMe is a safe and reliable platform trusted with thousands of such fundraisers to support emergency services. Use the “Team” function to collaborate with fellow firefighters or community members to raise money faster and more effectively.
You can also fundraise in person at the fire station during an open house or community safety day. Due to operating hours, it may be more reliable to fundraise elsewhere, such as a school, community center, or local park. You could collaborate with companies that donate to the fire department by hosting events at their venue or placing physical donation boxes on site.
How to start a fire department fundraiser
To plan a successful fire department fundraiser, there are a few golden rules to follow. This will ensure your fundraiser cuts through and reaches its fundraising goals.
Choose the right platform
It’s important to choose a fundraising platform that suits your needs and helps maximize your fundraising efforts. GoFundMe is free to set up and manage, with plenty of fundraising tools to help you share your fundraising page far and wide. It also has innovative features, including the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee, which protects donations, and the “Team” function, which allows you to share fundraising responsibility with others.
Set a clear fundraising goal
It’s important to set a clear fundraising goal. Sit down with some fellow firefighters and work out how much is needed to meet your needs. Be realistic and truthful. Include an overview of these costs as part of your fundraiser story so that supporters understand how much their donation means. Don’t worry, on GoFundMe, you can always change the fundraising goal later if you need to.
Create engaging promotional materials
Use funny fire department sign ideas to grab attention and make your message stand out—humor is a great way to engage the local community and drive donations. Fundraising is an excellent opportunity to showcase your department’s personality to raise vital funds.
Create memorable promotional materials, including signs, flyers, and social media posts, to get your fundraiser noticed. Always include your fire department logo and station branding to keep it professional and recognizable, especially when sharing online to reach a wider audience.
Recruit community volunteers and local sponsors
To make a fundraiser successful, you need a reliable team behind you. Volunteers and local sponsors help bring energy, resources, and credibility to your cause. Their input not only lightens the load but also expands your reach, builds relationships in the community, and maximizes your fundraising efforts.
Creative and effective fundraising ideas for fire departments
Fire department fundraising efforts, like all EMS fundraising ideas, should tap into the strong public support for first responders. By highlighting your department’s dedication to public safety, you can create fundraising ideas that touch the community and inspire people to give generously.
Community events, physical challenges, and witty merchandise are all excellent ways to rally local support. Leveraging the power of the internet through online fundraising and social media helps to spread the word widely and attract supporters from further afield.
Community events
Fundraising events are a fantastic way to rally the local community to raise awareness about the fire department’s services and raise funds. Here are some fire department fundraiser ideas.
Pancake breakfasts
A pancake breakfast hosted at the firehouse will certainly draw crowds of all ages. Charge a small fee for entry and make sure there are plenty of staff and volunteers, with contingency plans in case of emergency.
Firefighter chili cook-offs
A hot and spicy cook-off is the perfect firefighter fundraiser idea. Host in the firehouse grounds or local park, charge a small admission fee, and sell refreshments.
Car washes
If you’re looking for a way to level up your car wash fundraiser, look no further than the local fire station. We wouldn’t recommend using the hose at full blast.
Fire station open house
An open house is the ultimate firehouse fundraiser and supporters of all ages will queue up to explore the fire station. There are so many options for fun and educational family-friendly activities with a fire station open house.
Allow attendees to explore firetrucks and other specialized equipment. Set up opportunities for kids to spray a fire hose (under supervision, of course), try on firefighter gear, slide down the fireman’s pole, and take part in a fire safety obstacle course.
For entertainment, you could have face painting, a DJ, and other activities. Consider hosting a bake sale or BBQ to raise more money through refreshments.
Online firefighter fundraiser ideas
Online fundraisers can be created alongside other fundraising tactics, and are a smart way to reach a broader audience.
Launch a GoFundMe
Set up a GoFundMe firefighter fundraiser campaign to reach beyond your existing network. By sharing your fire department’s story online, you can reach potential supporters across the globe. When it comes to setting up an effective fundraising page, our blog is packed with helpful tips on writing a compelling fundraiser story, using images and video, and asking for donations.
Social media
Remember to share your GoFundMe fundraiser on social media, but remember there’s so much more you can do to engage your audience.
Get creative with social media donation challenges (think #icebucketchallenge), encouraging followers to donate to your fundraiser and tag friends to do the same. Pair this viral content with educational livestream events, virtual station tours, or “Ask a Firefighter” Q&A sessions to engage your audience and raise awareness.
Merchandise and Memorabilia
Sell fire department merchandise and memorabilia to raise money. You can get super creative here with branded t-shirts, water bottles, and tote bags featuring the fire department logo. Show off your sense of humor with funny fire department signs for people to put in their garden or as a bumper sticker.
Physical challenges
Being a firefighter requires and incredible level of fitness. So put your firefighters to the test with a series of physical challenges, such as 5k runs in firefighter gear, obstacle courses, or fitness challenges such as a push-up challenge.
You could even set challenges where members of the public can see if they can beat a firefighter, this would be a great family-friendly activity.
Charge admission to the event or get supporters to sponsor those taking part.
Partnering with companies that support fire departments
When it comes to partnerships, there are lots of potential options to explore. The key thing is having a mutually beneficial arrangement. Most companies are looking for a return on investment so anything you can show to benefit them will help your cause, whether it’s access to a target audience, social media shout-outs, or the ‘halo effect’, where companies benefit from being associated with a positive cause.
When searching for companies that donate to fire departments, consider businesses already involved in the industry, such as equipment manufacturers and service providers. You could also reach out to local businesses for their support and research companies that donate to volunteer fire departments.
There are lots of ways businesses can support, from sponsorships to gift matching. You can also have in-kind donations, offering goods, services, or spaces for events.
Check out our sponsorship template letters for expert guidance on how to approach potential sponsors.
Conclusion
Supporting your local fire department means directly investing in your community’s safety. Whether you’re donating, hosting a fundraiser, or spreading the word online, every effort helps.
Platforms like GoFundMe make it easy to raise funds for equipment, training, and vital services. Let’s come together to show appreciation for those who risk their lives to keep us safe.