Garrett W. Loomis Firefighters Fund Grant Program

The Garrett W. Loomis Firefighters Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation provides an annual grant opportunity to support fire safety education and training across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties in Northern New York. Established in memory of Garrett W. Loomis, a Sackets Harbor firefighter who tragically died in the line of duty in 2010, the fund is administered by the Northern New York Community Foundation in collaboration with the Garrett W. Loomis Foundation. The grant aims to continue Garrett Loomis's legacy by enhancing fire service preparedness and promoting community safety through targeted support for local fire departments. This program offers funding of up to $10,000 per cycle for eligible applicants, which are fire departments operating within the three aforementioned counties. Funding can be used for a broad range of purposes aimed at improving fire safety education and training. These include workshops, seminars, advanced training equipment and technology, training center enhancements, educational props and materials, and engaging subject matter experts as guest speakers. The fund encourages applications that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, and regional benefit. Cooperative applications involving multiple departments are welcomed and viewed favorably in the evaluation process. Applications are submitted online through a dedicated portal, which can be accessed via the shortened link bit.ly/grant-portal. The application deadline for the current cycle is November 14, 2025. There is no indication of a pre-application or letter of intent requirement. Applicants are expected to submit a complete proposal by the deadline. The grant does not specify detailed application questions or components, but emphasizes the program’s purpose and types of eligible spending, which should guide applicants in structuring their requests. Funding for this opportunity is made possible through donations to the Garrett W. Loomis Firefighters Fund, which is held at the Northern New York Community Foundation, and from contributions by individuals and supporters of the Garrett W. Loomis Foundation. Corporate and community sponsors include Watertown Savings Bank, Reed & Benoit and Carpenter Stoodley Inc. Funeral Homes, North Harbor Dairy, Knowlton Technologies, Fuccillo Automotive Group, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services CNY Realty, BridgeView Real Estate, the Lawman Group, R. Martins Contracting, and Thomas Trash Service. Founded in 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation serves as a regional philanthropic hub, supporting projects that improve the quality of life in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. The Foundation manages multiple charitable funds and grant programs and is based in Watertown, New York. It provides resources to individuals, organizations, and nonprofits aiming to build stronger communities. For inquiries regarding the Garrett W. Loomis Firefighters Fund grant opportunity, applicants are advised to contact Max DelSignore, Vice President of the Community Foundation, via email at max@nnycf.org. The Foundation can also be reached by phone at 315-782-7110. The grant timeline includes a fall 2025 deadline of November 14, with the application period considered active as of October 1, 2025. The opportunity recurs annually.