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MSA's Globe Gear Giveaway Program

National Volunteer Fire Council Inc

Foundation Annual Grants for Fire Departments
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Funding Amount

52 sets of Globe® turnout gear and MSA Cairns® helmets (valued at over $2 million historically)

Deadline

June 1, 2026

54 days left

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

MSA's Globe Gear Giveaway Program

Program Status: Active - 2026 application period open

Geographic Scope: United States and Canada

Focus Areas: Firefighter safety and protective equipment replacement for resource-constrained volunteer fire departments

Program Description:
MSA Safety, Nomex® and Kevlar® for Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partner annually to help address critical safety needs facing volunteer fire departments. In 2026, the program will award 52 sets of Globe® turnout gear and MSA Cairns® helmets to 13 volunteer fire departments in the U.S. and Canada, with each department receiving four complete sets.

Background:
Launched in 2012, the Globe Gear Giveaway has grown into a long-standing initiative dedicated to improving firefighter safety and readiness. Over the life of the program, more than $2 million worth of gear has been donated, benefiting 186 volunteer fire departments with 819 sets of turnout gear and 364 helmets.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Department must be over 50% volunteer (paid on-call counts as volunteer)

  • Serve a population of 25,000 or less

  • Located in the United States or Canada and legally organized under state/province law

  • Indian/tribal entities not organized under state/province law are eligible

  • Department must have at least one active NVFC member

  • Demonstrate a need for the gear

  • Only one application per department allowed

  • Previous winners from the past two years are not eligible

  • Junior firefighter programs may apply (standard sizing only)

    • What They Fund:

  • Four complete sets of Globe CLASSIX® turnout gear (gold Pioneer outer shell, Titanium SL2 thermal liner, Stedair 3000 moisture barrier with lime/yellow 3M Scotchlite Triple Trim)

  • Four MSA Cairns® 1836 Traditional Composite Fire Helmets in select configurations

  • Sizing services and ordering assistance

    • What They Don't Fund:

  • Custom garment sizing (standard sizing only)

  • Changes to style, specification, or configuration of gear

  • Resale of donated items

  • Use for purposes other than department benefit

    • Recipient Obligations:

  • Recipients must use donated items for benefit of their department and cannot resell

  • Recipients agree that department name, application essay details, and photos may be used in media by MSA, Nomex, Kevlar, and NVFC for promotional purposes

  • Department must report back within four months on how the gear has made an impact

    • Gear Specifications:
    Turnout Gear Sizing:

  • Jacket Chest: Men 34-60 inches; Women 28-50 inches

  • Sleeves: Men 32-38 inches; Women 28-34 inches

  • Length: Men 29, 32 (Standard), or 35 inches; Women 29 inches

  • Pants Waist: Men 30-60 inches; Women 28-50 inches

  • Pants Length: Men 26-36 inches; Women 24-34 inches

    • Contact Information:
    Lori Shirley
    Email: lori@nvfc.org
    Phone: 202-887-5700 ext. 125

    Program Partners:

  • MSA Safety Incorporated

  • Globe Manufacturing Company

  • DuPont Personal Protection (Nomex®, Kevlar®)

    • Special Notes:

  • MSA provides one-year individual NVFC memberships to the first 500 applicants to help meet membership requirement

  • Standard lead times apply after order placement (typically at least a couple of months)

  • Orders must be processed by December 24 (may be extended for December winners)

    • How to Apply

    Application Process

    Application Period: Open until Monday, June 1, 2026 at 12:00pm (noon) Eastern

    Steps to Apply:
    1. Verify your department meets all eligibility criteria
    2. Confirm you have or can obtain at least one active NVFC member
    3. Complete the online application form ("APPLY NOW" button on website)
    4. Submit application before deadline

    Required Materials:

  • Department information and contact details

  • Demonstration of need for the gear (application essay)

  • Confirmation of NVFC membership status

  • Fire department size and service population information

  • Volunteer percentage documentation

    • Application Essay/Narrative:

  • Applicants must demonstrate a need for the gear in their application essay

  • Essay details may be used in media promotion

    • Selection Process:

  • Expert panel selected by NVFC reviews all applications

  • 13 winning departments selected to receive four sets of turnouts and four helmets each

  • Two to three winners announced each month between July and December

  • Winners contacted directly before public announcement

    • NVFC Membership Requirement:

  • Department must have at least one active NVFC member

  • Check membership status on NVFC website

  • First 500 applicants receive complimentary one-year individual NVFC memberships (issued after application period closes to primary point of contact)

    • Post-Award Requirements:

  • Department must report back within four months on how gear has made an impact

  • Sizing appointment with MSA representative (conducted by MSA or authorized distributor)

  • Helmet selection (departments select color(s) and size(s))

  • Processing of orders by December 24

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    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    fire-departments

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