Together, we're building the future of first responder behavioral health

With your support, we’re creating a world where every first responder who reaches for help finds culturally competent care.

The Foundation

Every first responder who reaches for help deserves to find it. Every clinician committed to serving this community deserves access to world-class training. But financial barriers shouldn’t determine who gets to heal or who gets to learn.

The FRBHI Foundation (FRBHF) exists to ensure that cultural competency in first responder behavioral health is accessible to all—regardless of ability to pay.

Our Mission

To eliminate financial barriers that prevent first responders from accessing culturally competent care and prevent clinicians from gaining the specialized training they need to serve this community.

We do this through scholarships, grants, and partnerships that put life-saving education and resources into the hands of those who need them most.

The Crisis We're Addressing

First Responders Face Impossible Choices

A firefighter struggling with moral injury can’t afford therapy. A paramedic wrestling with PTSD works overtime to make ends meet—the same overtime that’s compounding the trauma. A dispatcher experiencing vicarious trauma has no sick leave for mental health care.

The irony is devastating: The people who run toward our emergencies often can’t afford help with their own.

Clinicians Face Barriers to Competency

A rural therapist wants to serve the volunteer fire department in her community but can’t afford the specialized training. A newly licensed counselor recognizes the gaps in his graduate education around first responder culture but faces thousands of dollars in student debt. A community mental health center serves multiple fire and EMS agencies but has no budget for staff development.

The result: First responders receive well-intentioned care from clinicians who lack the cultural competency to truly help them.

How We Break Down Barriers

Scholarship Programs for Clinicians

We provide scholarships for mental health professionals seeking to gain cultural competency in first responder behavioral health. Our scholarships prioritize:

Rural and underserved areas where first responders have limited access to culturally competent care
Early-career clinicians who demonstrate commitment to serving first responder populations
Community mental health providers who serve multiple first responder agencies
Clinicians from first responder families who bring personal understanding and want to formalize their expertise
Mental health professionals working in fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies who are already embedded in the culture

Educational Resources for First Responder Organizations

We partner with fire departments, EMS agencies, law enforcement organizations, and dispatch centers to provide:

Subsidized training programs on critical incident stress, moral injury, and peer support
Free educational resources including webinars, toolkits, and guides
Train-the-trainer programs that build internal capacity for mental health support
Leadership development for chiefs, captains, and supervisors on creating psychologically safe cultures

Direct Support for First Responders Seeking Care

Through partnerships with culturally competent therapists in our network, we provide:

Therapy scholarships for first responders who cannot afford care
Sliding scale connections that match first responders with vetted, culturally competent clinicians
Crisis intervention funding for first responders in acute distress who need immediate access to care

Building a Movement for Change

We’re in the early stages of creating something unprecedented: a sustainable funding model that ensures cultural competency in first responder behavioral health becomes the standard, not the exception.

Our vision is clear:

No first responder should face financial barriers to culturally competent care. No clinician committed to serving this community should be blocked by the cost of specialized training. No department should go without the resources to support their people.

We’re building the infrastructure to make this vision a reality:

Establishing endowed scholarship funds for ongoing clinician training
Creating partnerships with departments and agencies to provide sustainable programming
Developing a network of culturally competent providers who offer accessible care
Providing educational resources that reach first responders wherever they are

This work takes time, commitment, and resources. We’re transparent about where we are in this journey—building foundations, establishing programs, and creating the systems that will save lives for generations to come.

How We're Funded

The FRBH Foundation FRBHF operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, functioning as a sister organization to the First Responder Behavioral Health Institute. We’re funded through:

Individual donations from people who believe first responders deserve better
Corporate partnerships with organizations committed to supporting those who serve
Matching programs that double the impact of employee giving
Training revenue sharing where a portion of FRBHI course fees supports Foundation scholarships
Grant funding from foundations focused on suicide prevention, first responder wellness, and mental health access

Your donation directly supports our core mission—funding research, scholarships, resources, training programs, and care initiatives for first responders. Because FRBHI covers most of our administrative expenses through its operational budget, nearly every dollar you give goes straight to the programs that make a real difference.

Our Commitment to Transparency

We believe donors deserve to know exactly how their contributions create impact.

We commit to:

Clear communication about program development and growth
Honest reporting of both progress and challenges
Rigorous vetting processes for scholarship recipients
Regular updates on how funds are deployed
Financial transparency in all our operations

Ways to Give

One-Time Donation

Every dollar creates ripple effects of healing. Your contribution funds:

$50 – Educational resources for first responders
$250 – Partial course scholarship for one clinician
$500 – Critical incident training materials for one department
$1,000 – Therapy support for a first responder in crisis
$2,500 – Full certification scholarship for one clinician

Monthly Giving: The Protector’s Circle

Join a community of sustaining donors who provide reliable funding for ongoing programs.

Guardian ($25/month) – Provides ongoing educational resources
Defender ($50/month) – Supports scholarship fund development
Champion ($100/month) – Builds sustainable training programs
Sentinel ($250/month) – Creates comprehensive organizational support systems

Monthly giving provides the predictable revenue that allows us to plan, grow, and expand our reach strategically.

Corporate Partnerships

We partner with companies who want to make meaningful impact in first responder mental health. Partnership opportunities include:

Matching gift programs that double employee contributions
Sponsored scholarship funds in your company’s name
Training sponsorships for specific departments or regions
Employee volunteer programs that provide time and talent
Cause marketing campaigns that raise awareness and funds

Workplace Giving

Does your employer offer charitable donation matching? Many companies will match your gift 2:1 or even 3:1, multiplying your impact. Check with your human resources department or contact us for assistance with matching gift programs.

Legacy Giving

Create lasting impact through planned giving. Options include:

Bequests in your will or living trust
Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance
Charitable gift annuities that provide income during your lifetime
Donor-advised funds for ongoing philanthropic engagement

In Honor or Memorial Giving

Honor a first responder in your life or memorialize a fallen hero through a dedicated gift. We’ll send acknowledgment to the family or individual you’re honoring.

For First Responders Seeking Support

You’re Not Alone. Help is Available.

If you’re a first responder struggling with mental health challenges, PTSD, moral injury, or thoughts of suicide—you deserve culturally competent care, and financial barriers shouldn’t stop you from getting it.

Foundation resources being developed for you:

Financial support for individual counseling with culturally competent clinicians
Connection to sliding-scale providers in our vetted network
Crisis intervention support and immediate resource connection
Educational resources on trauma, moral injury, and healing

How to access support:

Email: support@frbhf.org

All requests are handled with complete confidentiality. We exist to help you access care, not to judge, report, or create barriers.

For Clinicians Seeking Scholarships

Committed to Serving First Responders? We Want to Support You.

If you’re a mental health professional seeking to gain cultural competency in first responder behavioral health, Foundation scholarships can make that possible.

Scholarship eligibility:

Licensed or license-eligible mental health professionals (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, psychologists, psychiatrists)
Graduate students in mental health fields with demonstrated commitment to first responder populations
Peer support specialists and chaplains working in first responder organizations
Commitment to serving first responder populations for minimum of 2 years post-training

Application requirements:

Professional statement of purpose
Description of current or planned work with first responder populations
If licensed and/or credentialed, documentation of license numbers and expiration
Two professional references
Financial need documentation
Commitment to outcome reporting

Scholarship decisions based on:

Geographic need (priority to underserved areas)
Demonstrated commitment to cultural competency
Current or planned service to first responder populations
Financial need
Potential for community impact

For Organizations Seeking Scholarships

Serve First Responders? We Can Help You Serve Them Better.

If your fire department, EMS agency, law enforcement organization, or community mental health center serves first responders, Foundation grants can help you expand access to culturally competent care and training.

Grant opportunities:

Training program sponsorships for staff development
Peer support program establishment and training
Leadership development in psychological safety
Critical incident response team training
Organizational culture assessments and interventions

How to apply:

Complete our organizational grant application describing:

Your organization and population served
Specific training or resource needs
Anticipated impact and outcomes
Budget and timeline
Sustainability plan

Volunteer Opportunities

Your Time and Talent Can Save Lives

The Foundation relies on volunteers who share our mission. Opportunities include:

Scholarship Review Committee Help evaluate applications and make funding decisions (requires mental health or first responder background)

Outreach Ambassadors Connect first responders and organizations with Foundation resources in your community

Fundraising Support Assist with campaigns, events, and donor stewardship

Professional Services Offer pro bono expertise in marketing, finance, legal, technology, counseling, social work, or other areas of service.

Questions?

General inquiries: foundation@frbhf.org

Scholarship questions: scholarships@frbhf.org

Grant applications: grants@frbhf.org

First responder support: support@frbhf.org (confidential)

Donor relations: giving@frbhf.org

Join the Movement

First responder suicide is not inevitable. Cultural competency gaps are not insurmountable. Financial barriers are not permanent.

With your support, we’re creating a world where every first responder who reaches for help finds culturally competent care. Where every clinician committed to serving this community has access to world-class training. Where the people who protect us are finally, truly protected.

Together, we’re building the future of first responder behavioral health.

The FRBHI Foundation (FRBHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. EIN: [Tax ID 93-2615698]

We protect those who protect us.

We Protect Those Who Protect Us

The FRBH Foundation (FRBHF) exists to ensure that cultural competency in first responder behavioral health is accessible to all—regardless of ability to pay.