FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW CAN I PROVIDE A DONATION?

Donations are accepted by check, cash or on by going to the "Donate" tab at the top right corner of this website, selecting the option of "One-Time Donation" or "Annual Donation" and choosing the option that you prefer. Our online donations are made via PayPal.

Cash and/or check donations can be delivered or mailed to:

Great Falls Fire Rescue Foundation

109 9th Street South

Great Falls, MT 59401

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT GREAT FALLS FIRE RESCUE NEEDS?

Go to the "Donate" tab at the top, right corner of this website, select "One-Time Donation" and scroll down to locate the list of Great Falls Fire Rescue's Equipment Needs.

IF I MAKE A DONATION, CAN I DECIDE WHAT MY MONEY IS USED FOR?

Absolutely! You can specify in writing with your cash or check donation. If you submit your donation through PayPal you can email us at gffirefoundation@gmail.com with your PayPal Confirmation Code and inform us how you would like your donation allocated.

DOES THE GREAT FALLS FIRE RESCUE FOUNDATION OFFER ANY FUNDRAISING EVENTS?

Yes! Please go to our "Events" tab at the top right corner of this page and find a listing of upcoming events

What is the difference between the Great Falls Fire Rescue Foundation and the iaff local 8 union?

The Great Falls Fire Rescue Foundation and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 8 are separate organizations with different purposes.

The Foundation is a nonprofit made up of community members that raises funds and secures donations and grants to support equipment, programs, and services for Great Falls Fire Rescue.

Local 8 is the firefighters’ union. In addition to representing firefighters in employment matters, it operates a benevolent fund that provides support to firefighters and their families and contributes to select community charitable efforts such as assisting families in need.

In short, the Foundation supports the department’s resources and capabilities, while the union and its benevolent fund focus on supporting firefighters and community goodwill efforts.

How does the Foundation work with GFFR to identify and prioritize funding needs?

The Foundation works closely with Great Falls Fire Rescue to ensure funding efforts are aligned with the department’s mission, priorities, and operational needs. This process includes several key steps:

Donor Designations:

The Foundation honors donor intent by allocating funds to specific purposes when designated by contributors.

Department-Driven Requests:

Great Falls Fire Rescue personnel submit funding requests through their Battalion Chiefs (Operations) or Assistant Chief (Fire Prevention). These requests are reviewed and prioritized by

GFFR's Senior Staff to ensure they align with organizational priorities and represent needs that cannot be funded through the City’s General Fund.

Foundation Review & Funding Decisions:

Once requests are compiled and prioritized, they are submitted to the Foundation for consideration. The Foundation evaluates each request based on available funding, donor designations, grant opportunities, and fundraising capacity and timelines.

Communication & Implementation:

Funding decisions are shared back with Fire Rescue leadership, who then communicate outcomes to department personnel.

This structured approach ensures transparency, accountability, and that all funds are directed where they have the greatest impact on service delivery and community safety.