Elgin Fire Department

How Lieutenant Josh Smith maximized grant revenue with Funding Navigator

  • $50,000

    grant secured

  • 5-10x more

    than previous grants

  • The department

    Elgin Fire Department in Illinois serves 115,000 citizens. Lt. Josh Smith typically applies for their grants, with some success.

  • The problem

    They needed to upgrade their hydraulic-powered extrication tools, but much of their budget was going to personnel.

  • The solution

    Lt. Smith used Funding Navigator to secure an unprecedented $50,000 grant for his department.

The department

Although Elgin is a large municipality, much of the department’s budget is allocated to essential expenses, leaving little room for new equipment purchases. 

Lt. Smith, who has been with the Elgin Fire Department since 2005, began writing grants for the department in 2011. He has applied for more than 150 grants, securing about 40 successful awards — most of them for amounts under $10,000. 

Before Funding Navigator

  • 150+

    grants applied

  • 40

    grants secured

  • 26%

    success rate

$1,000 - $5,000

typical grant range

The problem

Department needs

It was time to upgrade the department’s aging hydraulic-powered extrication tools. Lt. Smith knew the department would have to rely on grant funding to cover some of the cost. 

The department must apply to the city for additional funds, which are not guaranteed and vary year to year. This volatility makes grant funding an essential source of extra money for equipment upgrades that are not otherwise possible.

“Our city’s budget volatility makes grant funding an essential source of extra money for equipment upgrades that might not otherwise be possible.”

The solution

  • Grant target

    Gary Sinise Foundation

  • Grant awarded

    $50,000

Background

The department previously received a smaller grant from the foundation in 2021, so Lt. Smith was familiar with the organization

Knowing five-figure grants were difficult to obtain,Lt. Smith hoped Funding Navigator’s grant writing feedback and professional editorial assistance would improve the department’s chances of securing a grant in the $5,000 to $10,000 range.

How Funding Navigator Works

  • Onboard your data (one time only)
  • Get help building your application
  • Submit application
  • Secure your grant

Outcome

The department was awarded an unprecedented $50,000 grant by the Gary Sinise Foundation, which covered a significant portion of the cost for new, battery-operated extrication tools. These tools eliminate many of the maintenance challenges associated with older hydraulic systems, so Elgin’s firefighters will now work with more efficient and reliable equipment.

Customer reflections

Customer reflections

“Having people who are familiar with grants and have a writing background review your narratives and give you tips, edits, and suggestions is something I don’t often get to do … Even though I’m ‘somewhat experienced’ compared to other firefighters doing this, that kind of feedback is hugely beneficial.”

“Having people who are familiar with grants and have a writing background review your narratives and give you tips, edits, and suggestions is something I don’t often get to do … Even though I’m ‘somewhat experienced’ compared to other firefighters doing this, that kind of feedback is hugely beneficial.”

“Having people who are familiar with grants and have a writing background review your narratives and give you tips, edits, and suggestions is something I don’t often get to do … Even though I’m ‘somewhat experienced’ compared to other firefighters doing this, that kind of feedback is hugely beneficial.”

“Having people who are familiar with grants and have a writing background review your narratives and give you tips, edits, and suggestions is something I don’t often get to do … Even though I’m ‘somewhat experienced’ compared to other firefighters doing this, that kind of feedback is hugely beneficial.”

Going forward

Lt. Smith plans to continue using Funding Navigator for as long as it’s available. He believes the platform is a valuable tool, especially for departments just starting out.

 “I would absolutely advise other departments to try it and see if it works for them, especially if they’re new to grants. It’s incredibly helpful for getting started and building a grant strategy,” Smith said. “It’s a one-stop shop to organize, evaluate, and submit grant applications for your department.”

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