San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency is a public charity based in San Diego, California. The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation says its mission is to make San Diego the safest county in the nation. It supports fire and emergency services across San Diego County through equipment and training funding, wildfire prevention work with Fire Safe Councils, and programs that prepare young people and other individuals for careers in emergency services.
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency at a glance
In short: San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency gave $2.4M across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $63K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,380,595
- +364.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- +52.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $62,647
- +205.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $1,749,961
- +0.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
- How to Apply
-
Eligible fire agencies and Fire Safe Councils may submit requests through the Foundation’s annual grant programs. The Foundation requires grant recipients to document expenditures with receipts or other supporting evidence.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2508 Historic Decatur Road Ste 160, San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 814-1346
Website: https://sdfirefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
Fire Department Equipment & Infrastructure Grant Program
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
Amount
Varies by project
Deadline
Deadline not published
Fire Safe Council Grant Program
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
Amount
$300,000 total (distributed to 31 councils in 2025); varies by council
Deadline
Deadline not published
Paramedic/Fire Academy Cadet Training Program
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
Amount
Program support varies; examples: $250 for training gear, $500 for mannequins, $1,000 for EMT training classes
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Patriot Group ($469K). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 118 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated grant and program scope is San Diego County, California. Its website describes support for fire agencies and Fire Safe Councils throughout the county, including an emphasis on underserved communities and underfunded departments. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $279K (2021) to $2.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Patriot Group Roseville, CA | Fire Prevention | $469,169 |
| San Miguel Fire District Spring Valley, CA | Fire Prevention | $401,940 |
| San Diego Central Fire Zone Alpine, CA | Fire Equipment | $393,207 |
| Santee Fire Dept Santee, CA | Fire Prevention | $386,119 |
| San Diego County Fire Distric San Diego, CA | Fire Prevention | $191,882 |
| Imperial Beach Fire Dept Imperial Beach, CA | Fire Prevention | $65,342 |
| Palomar Comm College San Marcos, CA | Firemedic Scholarships | $46,234 |
| Kensington FSC San Diego, CA | Fire Prevention | $30,177 |
| Poway Fire Dept Poway, CA | Fire Prevention | $23,146 |
| Bonitasunnyside Fire District Bonita, CA | Fire Equipment | $22,396 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,749,961 | $2,695,941 | $2,685,335 | $2,380,595 | 38 | $52,401 |
| 2024 | $1,736,185 | $1,680,246 | $716,361 | $512,128 | 25 | $46,835 |
| 2023 | $772,830 | $789,333 | $616,378 | $549,278 | 26 | $9,235 |
| 2022 | $601,399 | $598,276 | $538,486 | $381,511 | 20 | $2,005 |
| 2021 | $540,551 | $352,848 | $415,932 | $278,975 | 9 | $306 |
| 2020 | $602,639 | $748,536 | $671,646 | $565,571 | 14 | $577 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to make San Diego the safest county in the nation. Its 2024 filing describes goals that include providing fire, medical, and communications equipment and training; educating residents about fire safety and preparedness; and facilitating coordination among jurisdictions.
Its grantmaking supports fire departments, fire protection districts, other emergency services agencies, and Fire Safe Councils. The filing says eligible fire agencies and councils can request funding for equipment, training, or prevention activities. It emphasizes underserved communities and departments whose tax bases are inadequate to acquire needed equipment.
The filing describes Fire Safe Councils as community-based organizations that work on wildfire prevention, including brush management, chipping services, resident education, and evacuation preparedness. The Foundation also offers scholarship and youth-development programs related to paramedic, fire academy, and emergency medical careers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 38 grants totaling $2,380,595. Grant amounts ranged from $5,828 to $469,169, with a median of $15,000. The largest reported grants included $469,169 to The Patriot Group for fire prevention, $401,940 to San Miguel Fire District for fire prevention, $393,207 to San Diego Central Fire Zone for fire equipment, and $386,119 to Santee Fire Department for fire prevention.
The 2024 filing says eligible fire agencies and Fire Safe Councils in San Diego County may submit requests through two annual grant programs. Donors may direct contributions to specific requests; the Board prioritizes other applications and funds as many as possible. Recipients must provide receipts or other supporting evidence showing that funds were spent as approved; agencies that do not provide documentation are ineligible for future grants.
The Foundation’s website describes Project SAFE as an annual grant program for Fire Safe Councils. Its July 2026 announcement reported $276,000 awarded to 30 Fire Safe Councils and East County Magazine for wildfire prevention and preparedness. The Foundation’s scholarship program provides financial assistance to individuals pursuing paramedic or fire academy pathways; this is participant support rather than a grant program for outside applicants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Frank Ault as chairman, Susan Raimond as treasurer, Gwen Rosenberg as director, Bob Spurgin as secretary, and Joan Jones as vice chair and executive director. The Foundation’s website identifies Joan Jones as executive director.
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency is led by Joan Jones, Vice Chair & Executive Director on every filing since 2024; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joan Jones
Vice Chair & Executive Director
On filings since 2024
25 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Ault
Chairman
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gwen Rosenberg
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Raimond
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob Spurgin
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dana Quittner (2020–2022) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency
How much does San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency give each year?
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency gave $2.4M across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $512K across 25 grants.
What is San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency's typical grant size?
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $62,647, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency give grants?
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (7 grants), San Marcos, CA (3 grants), Alpine, CA (2 grants) and La Mesa, CA (2 grants).
Does San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fire Prevention" (25 grants) and "Fire Equipment" (11 grants).
Who are San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency's largest grantees?
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency's largest 2025 grantees include The Patriot Group ($469,169), San Miguel Fire District ($401,940) and San Diego Central Fire Zone ($393,207), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency?
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.7M.
What does San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to make San Diego the safest county in the nation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency?
Eligible fire agencies and Fire Safe Councils may submit requests through the Foundation’s annual grant programs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency's EIN?
San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0386687. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 31, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency's focus areas in our free grants database
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