National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Family programs provides support for family members, including spouses and life partners, children, parents, and siblings, who need immediate and long-term support after the loss of their loved one. The sudden death of a public safety officer can often be more impactful to their families because of the line of work and the very public and often traumatic nature of the death. Evidence tells us that peer support is of tremendous benefit in helping people work through their grief, and sometimes counseling and clinical services are essential to providing the tools bereaved family members need to adjust and recover after the death of a firefighter. Peer-to-peer support fire hero family networkthe fire hero family network began in 1997 to provide newly bereaved family members with the benefit of connecting with others who understand the loss and have experienced the death of a firefighter. In 2012, the nfff created and piloted a one-day, in-person peer support training which addresses topics including: goals, roles, & responsibilities of peer support; readiness for peer support; resources for fire hero family members who need additional support; verbal & non-verbal communications; and empathy. More than 100 trained members are available to reach out to newly bereaved families and provide the emotional support only those who have experienced a similar loss can provide. An overview of this training is also available as a 30-minute online program that enables potential peers to review the basic elements of nfff peer support.online resources and publications for families and agenciesthe nfff offers many additional online resources for families of fallen responders including: the journey, a bimonthly publication edited by the nfff's grief specialist that features articles written by fire hero family members. There were six issues of the journey published and 8,080 copies distributed to members of the fire hero families. Virtual support groups including peer support group, facilitated support group, peer support for teens, men's support group, remembrance group during the anniversary month of the firefighters' line-of-duty deaths. Support was provided for 1,245 attendees. Remembrance cards are sent out in honor of our fallen firefighters annually during the month of their loss; 5,114 were sent out by 355 volunteer members in-person programs for fire hero familiesevery year the national fallen firefighters foundation provides a full calendar of retreats, events, and camps, designed to support our fire hero family members with their grief journey. Many events are targeted toward defined cohorts, such as children, spouses, or parents of fallen firefighters, to provide each group with the most appropriate types of evidence-informed support interventions for recovery after traumatic loss. Group activities focus on grief education, health and wellness, movement, creativity, and practical life skills, all directed toward helping family members move forward in their grief journey, rebuild their lives, and expand their network of emotional supports. Hal bruno camp for children and siblings of fallen firefightersthis weekend bereavement camp for children ages 3-17 provides two separate tracks to serve children at the appropriate developmental level. It also includes a parent component facilitated by a children's grief specialist. The camp program has three components: comfort zone camp - comfort zone camp for children ages 7-17 provides traditional camp activities including arts and crafts, games, and a bonfire, alongside intensive cognitive behavioral therapy led by licensed grief therapists. The schedule is based around the positive youth development model. Campers are paired with "big buddy" adult volunteers who are screened and trained to serve as mentors throughout the duration of camp. The mix of activities provides campers with an environment to build confidence and connections with their peers, define their own grief, learn positive coping

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 96%; rating input score 96
• Program expense ratio: 82.4%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.31 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.4%; rating input score 99; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -13.5%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.3; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.1; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.6%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.5% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.9% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings