Fire Department lays out grant strategy and donation protocols as revenue streams shift

Mark Corso, division director for finance and planning, and grant specialist Shilo Kehoe briefed the Fire Commission on March 9 about grants and donations work for the San Francisco Fire Department.

Kehoe said the department raised approximately $691,415 for 2021'2 and highlighted earlier in-kind community donations of PPE and equipment during COVID. The presenters explained the departments approach to fundraising: pursuing federal, state and private foundation grants, cataloging potential funders, vetting alignment with departmental needs, and forming a grants committee to prioritize applications.

Speakers named foundations and potential partners that have expressed interest in emergency-medical and DEI work (Hirsch Philanthropy Partners, CareStar Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, Genentech, Dean Foundation) and described partnership conversations with the YMCA Bayview Hunters Point for workforce development pathways. Kehoe noted some funders no longer allow direct government applicants and recommended partnering with nonprofit fiscal sponsors in select grant applications.

Commissioners praised the outreach and asked for additional detail on partnerships and staffing for the grants function. The department said it will continue cultivating relationships and assessing fiscal-sponsor options while adhering to city disclosure and donation protocols.