GOLD2023

First Responder Institute Inc

Our Name Is Our Mission!

Rogersville, AL   |  http://www.firstresponder.org/

Mission

To inspire First Responders to aim for the highest level of fitness, wellness and safety. Our signature program is the globally recognized Firefighter Challenge Championship Series.

Notes from the nonprofit

Strengthening the First Responder community has been at the core of what we do since 1999. Understanding and responding to the causes and long-term consequences of on-the-job injuries is key to prevention. Line of Duty injuries and deaths caused by overexertion, strain, sprain or muscular pain costs departments, insurers and taxpayers billions of dollars each year. It’s our goal to collaborate with the various first responder sectors to help reduce and even eradicate these preventable injuries and deaths among our most respected public servants. We've quietly performed our work since our inception via a number of partnerships whereby they were charged with securing the necessary funding to sustain the studies. In 2021 the board of directors for First Responder Institute launched a new and bold mission that will bring many of these programs back underneath our nonprofit umbrella.

Ruling year info

2014

Chief Executive Officer

Russell Jackson

Main address

138 Deer Run Circle

Rogersville, AL 35652 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

52-2153370

NTEE code info

Private Grantmaking Foundations (T20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Firefighter Challenge

Our research and analyses at First Responder Institute has been broad, extending into many disciplines and institutions. Our most recognized study has been on behalf of the fire service and in partnership with On Target Challenge, Inc. via their internationally recognized event, the Firefighter Challenge. Billed by ESPN and others as the toughest two minutes in sports, the event places Firefighters in an action-packed testing ground where they must perform the Five Essential Functions against a time clock in head-to-head competition. More than 60,000 firefighters in North America have competed, providing us with career-changing data.

Population(s) Served
Work status and occupations

Firehouse Relays is a team-oriented challenge showcasing the Five Essential Job Tasks™ (with a few added twists), to a cheering audience of family, friends, coworkers, media and children served by area nonprofits. Area Fire Departments, located near each event market, participate in this fun-filled relay event that teams use as a means to help raise funding for local nonprofits. First Responder Institute collects and evaluates data from participants to help further our research efforts in preventing injuries.

Population(s) Served
Work status and occupations

For decades the globally recognized Firefighter Challenge competition event has been held in cities across the U.S. showcasing the greatest ambassadors for America’s fire service. Now, they challenge you to join them in a fun, thrilling new event called the Charity Relay Challenge. The Charity Relay Challenge is more than just a fun, friendly competition. It’s about community, coming together to raise critical funding for local nonprofits and celebrate the diverse bodies of local responders who protect, serve, and strengthen their community.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth

Where we work

Videos

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

We are First Responder Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, leading a global movement to inspire and transform the health and well-being of First Responders. We’ve had the privilege of providing research, analyses and counsel to some of the most respected organizations around the world.

Utilizing unique and fun competition event job skilled base platforms we aim to inspire firefighters to be physically prepared for their jobs.

An experienced leader was recruited to lead our organization into the future. With the support of a dynamic board and a number of advisory committees, we feel confident that our signature program, the Firefighter Challenge, has a bright future in delivering our important mission.

In our first year of operating the Firefighter Challenge (2022), we completed a comprehensive organizational and program assessment to prepare for our future. In 2023, 24 months of focus groups, planning, assessment and design was completed. A brand new look of the Firefighter Challenge course was unveiled.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

First Responder Institute Inc
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

First Responder Institute Inc

Board of directors
as of 01/06/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Dr. Paul Davis

OnTarget Marketing, Inc.

Term: 2021 - 2023

Ben May

Retired - Disney Company

Tim Honeycutt

GoRescue

Stephen Schwartz

LION

Christina Francis

Tesla

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 4/25/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 01/23/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.