Operation Lifesaver Inc
Operation Lifesaver Inc is a Washington, DC-based public charity that provides free rail-safety education and public-awareness programs across the United States. It supports efforts to prevent collisions, injuries, and fatalities at highway-rail grade crossings and on or around railroad tracks.
Key facts about Operation Lifesaver Inc
In short: Operation Lifesaver Inc gave $741K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), top state New York. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 74-2459189
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $741,003
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- Average grant
- $23,903
- Median grant
- $21,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (7 of 31, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,793,495
- Primary geography
- New York (10% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The published 2026 cycle required online submission through the Common Grant Application process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- August 1, 2026, for the announced 2026 Rail Transit Safety Education Grants cycle; this deadline has passed.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8M
+1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$741K
+49.7% YoY
Grant Count
31
+72.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-13.1% YoY
Is Operation Lifesaver Inc open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 31 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $22K repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+19%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
OLI’s stated mission is to educate the public on rail safety around highway-rail grade crossings and pedestrian safety around tracks and trains. Its website describes the organization as dedicated to saving lives through rail-safety education and public awareness.
Its program activities include public education through state programs, volunteers, workshops, e-learning, online materials, and in-person presentations; competitive grants for innovative crossing-safety or trespass-prevention projects; development of educational materials and campaigns; targeted marketing; and a national rail safety week. Its giving includes state Operation Lifesaver programs and transit agencies. For example, North Dakota Safety Council, a 2024 grantee, describes its own mission as preventing injuries and saving lives. Kansas City Streetcar Authority, another 2024 grantee, describes its purpose as managing, operating, and maintaining the streetcar and planning future extensions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, OLI reported 31 grants totaling $741,003. Grant amounts ranged from $7,750 to $53,327, with a median of $21,500. The largest awards included Ohio Operation Lifesaver ($53,327), Missouri Operation Lifesaver ($50,630), Indiana Operation Lifesaver ($43,773), Tennessee Operation Lifesaver ($42,959), and California Operation Lifesaver ($42,762). Other reported grants included North Dakota Safety Council ($22,000) and Kansas City Streetcar Authority ($15,000).
OLI has offered competitive grants for rail transit safety education and public awareness to transit agencies and governmental entities that provide transit service. Published cycles required projects to focus on communities with operating or planned rail transit systems; the 2024 cycle capped awards at $20,000 and required non-federal matching funds of at least 25% of project costs. OLI required approval of grant-created materials and coordination with the relevant state Operation Lifesaver program. The 2024 application deadline was September 4, 2024, so that cycle has passed. OLI also announced a separate $10,000 Online Transit Safety Pledge Grant in 2024 for a transit agency or transit-providing government entity; it required no match, and its October 1, 2024 deadline has passed.
The 2026 Rail Transit Safety Education Grants announcement described a $140,000 funding pool, awards capped at $20,000, and a required non-federal match of at least 25% of project costs. It specified eligible applicants as transit agencies and governmental entities that provide transit service, and required projects to focus on safety education or public awareness in communities with operating or planned rail transit systems. OLI must approve grant-created materials, and projects must be developed in consultation with the state Operation Lifesaver program.
Review Cycle
August 1, 2026, for the announced 2026 Rail Transit Safety Education Grants cycle; this deadline has passed.
How to Apply
The published 2026 cycle required online submission through the Common Grant Application process. Grant recipients must submit a final report detailing project outcomes and use of funds; in most cases, the final payment is withheld until that report is submitted.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Operation Lifesaver Inc
Ready to take the next step with Operation Lifesaver Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
OLI’s website says its network supports 47 state programs and the District of Columbia. Its 2024 filing shows grants to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were New York (10%), Missouri (9%), California (9%), Ohio (7%), and Indiana (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $495K (2023) to $741K (2024). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $741K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ohio Operation Lifesaver ($53K). Together the top 10 received $398K.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 117 grants of 122 (96%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Operation Lifesaver Pioneer, OH | To support the education and public awareness programs | $53,327 |
| Missouri Operation Lifesaver Jefferson City, MO | To support the education and public awareness programs | $50,630 |
| Indiana Operation Lifesaver Scottsburg, IN | To support the education and public awareness programs | $43,773 |
| Tennessee Operation Lifesaver Franklin, TN | To support the education and public awareness programs | $42,959 |
| California Operation Lifesaver Portola, CA | To support the education and public awareness programs | $42,762 |
| South Carolina Operation Lifesaver Greenville, SC | To support the education and public awareness programs | $42,100 |
| Washington Operation Lifesaver Olympia, WA | To support the education and public awareness programs | $31,601 |
| Illinois Operation Lifesaver Schererville, IL | To support the education and public awareness programs | $31,500 |
| New York Operation Lifesaver Rensselaerville, NY | To support the education and public awareness programs | $30,768 |
| Hampton Roads Transit Hampton, VA | To support the education and public awareness programs | $28,963 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,793,495 | $3,064,844 | $3,009,987 | $741,003 |
| 2023 | $1,776,572 | $2,750,651 | $2,597,457 | $494,936 |
| 2022 | $1,579,272 | $2,746,438 | $2,543,398 | $630,776 |
In its 2024 filing, OLI stated that it acted as an agent to distribute funding from BNSF Railroad, CSX, Union Pacific, and Norfolk Southern to state Operation Lifesaver organizations as directed by those funders. The filing also says the balance of those funds not yet paid was recorded as an escrow account liability.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,793,495 | $1,776,572 | $1,579,272 |
| Revenue | $3,064,844 | $2,750,651 | $2,746,438 |
| Expenses | $3,009,987 | $2,597,457 | $2,543,398 |
| Net Investment Income | $43,837 | $40,557 | $6,732 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jo Strang as Chair, John Walsh as Treasurer, and Margaret Cannell as State Coordinator. It also lists Andy Elkins, Brandon Myers, Emma Moser, Jessica Feder, John Fleps, Kelly Clough, and Lawrence K. Wenko as members.
Operation Lifesaver Inc is led by Rachel Maleh, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 18 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rachel Maleh
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$157K (2020) → $202K (2024)
Jo Strang
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wende Corcoran
Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$126K (2020) → $151K (2024)
Andy Elkins
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Feder
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Clough
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence K Wenko
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark A Schulze
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin Conway
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Polly Hanson
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shayne Gill
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne M Rohde
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emma Moser
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Walsh
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Myers
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Fleps
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Cannell
State Coordinator
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Rohauer
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Sean Douris (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Barry E Morton (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Mary Katie Chimelewski (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Nancy Hudson (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Nicole Brewin (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Stephen Covey (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Helen Hart (2021) — Member
- Former: Jason M Morris (2020) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $202K, to Rachel Maleh (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 425 Third Street Sw 915, Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (703) 739-0283
Website: https://oli.org
Frequently asked questions about Operation Lifesaver Inc
How much does Operation Lifesaver Inc give each year?
Operation Lifesaver Inc gave $741K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $495K across 18 grants.
What is Operation Lifesaver Inc's typical grant size?
Operation Lifesaver Inc's median grant in 2024 was $21,500, and its average grant was $23,903, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Operation Lifesaver Inc that year got $19K on average.
Where does Operation Lifesaver Inc give grants?
Operation Lifesaver Inc's top state is New York, with 10% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Missouri (9%) and California (9%).
Does Operation Lifesaver Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Operation Lifesaver Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To support the education and public awareness programs" (31 grants).
Who are Operation Lifesaver Inc's largest grantees?
Operation Lifesaver Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Ohio Operation Lifesaver ($53,327), Missouri Operation Lifesaver ($50,630) and Indiana Operation Lifesaver ($43,773), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Operation Lifesaver Inc?
Operation Lifesaver Inc reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.1M.
What does Operation Lifesaver Inc fund?
OLI’s stated mission is to educate the public on rail safety around highway-rail grade crossings and pedestrian safety around tracks and trains. Its website describes the organization as dedicated to saving lives through rail-safety education and public awareness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Operation Lifesaver Inc?
The published 2026 cycle required online submission through the Common Grant Application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Operation Lifesaver Inc's EIN?
Operation Lifesaver Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2459189. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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