Available Grants

Rural EMS 2024 Program

Two EMS workers wearing personal protective equipment helping load stretcher carrying patient onto EMS vehicle.

Overview

In the foreground, an EMS worker wearing blue PPE gloves grasps a red medical bag with a first aid symbol on it. In the background, two EMS workers wearing blue uniforms assist a patient on a stretcher placed on the ground outside of an EMS vehicle.

Many rural communities face significant barriers accessing reliable Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and first responder networks. Rural communities demonstrate incredible resilience toward these critical challenges, as EMS often serves as the first and only guaranteed access to health services in these areas. With the added complexity of geographic barriers and evolving equipment and staffing standards, many rural EMS agencies are working diligently to sustain these services their communities depend on.

Rural EMS 2024 Program

The Rural EMS 2024 Program is a competitive grant to fund equipment, protective gear, training and certification, and/or operational expenses needed by EMS and first responder teams across the Patterson Family Foundation’s Kansas and western Missouri philanthropic catchment.  
 
The overall effectiveness and sustainability of EMS in many rural communities depends heavily on adequate funding, proper equipment, and trained personnel. This grant program aims to help rural EMS or first responder agencies with these critical gaps so they can continue providing essential medical services in underserved communities.   

Program Details

Eligibility

  • Location: Organizations located in or serving a county or community within the Patterson Family Foundation's Kansas or western Missouri catchment are eligible to apply.  Read more about the Patterson Family Foundation’s philanthropic catchment.
  • Nonprofit Status: Applicants must be 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, government agencies, or tribal entities. Organizations must have EMS provider certification in the State of Kansas or Missouri.
  • EMS Focus: The applicant's primary mission must be related to providing emergency medical services, including first responders and firefighters, either volunteer or county-operated.
Grant Award / Use of Funds


Equipment and Technology

Acceptable examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Purchase of advanced life support (ALS) equipment.
  • Acquisition or repairs of emergency vehicles and ambulances.
  • Implementation of telemedicine systems for remote consultation.
  • Upgrades to communication and dispatch systems.
  • Replacement or upgrade of PPE for responders.

Training and Education

Acceptable examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Certification and recertification courses for EMS personnel.
  • Specialized training in areas such as trauma care, pediatric emergencies, and cardiac care.
  • Leadership and management training for EMS agency leaders.

Operational Support  

Acceptable examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Funding for operational expenses such as fuel, maintenance, and supplies.
  • Support for staffing needs, including hiring additional EMS personnel.
  • Development of community outreach and education programs to promote health and safety.

Supporting Documentation


At the time of application, grant applicants should be ready to share their organization's:

  • Quotes or bids for equipment purchases, acquisition or repairs of emergency vehicles and ambulances 
  • Operating budget 
  • Nonprofit documentation 
  • Licensing documentation (EMS provider certification in the State of Kansas or Missouri)
How to Apply


Interested and eligible organizations can apply via the Patterson Family Foundation Grants Portal between Sept. 11, 2024, and 12 Noon, CST, on Oct. 10, 2024.

1) Organizations must register through the Grants Portal first. Please note that registration closes at 12 Noon, CST, on Oct. 7, 2024. Registration requests are reviewed and verified according to eligibility criteria, before access to the application is allowed.

Already Registered with a Grants Portal account? If your organization has already created an account, you can access the application within the Grants Portal by logging in with your preexisting credentials. If you need to reset your password, follow the account recovery process at login. You can contact us at info@pffkc.org if you need additional support.

2) Once your registration is approved, you can access the Rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program application in the Grants Portal. Applications close at 12 Noon CST, on Oct. 10, 2024.

Reporting Requirements


We are interested in tracking the impact of grants and learning more about the challenges and successes experienced by our grant recipients. Reporting requirements will be tailored to the nature of the applicant’s request and detailed in the Award Letter sent to grantees.

Resources


If you have any questions about this program, please contact:


Adam Erickson, Program Officer
Patterson Family Foundation
adam@pffkc.org

A seemingly elderly woman on a stretcher covered in a grey blanket smiles as she is being tended to by a younger woman in civilian clothes. Two EMS workers in black uniforms lead the stretcher (one in the back and one in front).

FAQS

Capital requests for EMS facilities and ambulance barns are out of scope for this grant opportunity. Police and Sheriff's departments are not eligible for this grant.
Organization-specific information submitted as part of this grant application is accessible only by the Patterson Family Foundation staff and the Grant Committee, a subset of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Foundation will not release any sensitive information gathered during this process unless approved in advance by the applying organization.
Patterson Family Foundation applications are designed to be concise and comprehensive. We recommend that applicants collect supporting documentation in advance and allot 45 minutes to an hour to complete the application. Applicants will be able to save their progress and return later if needed.
Current grantmaking programs are listed on our website. If you have relevant inquiries outside the scope of listed programs and grant opportunities, please contact us using the link at the bottom of our webpage.
Si necesita ayuda en español, favor de contáctenos en info@pffkc.org.

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