Testimonials

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See what your colleagues are saying about First Responder Grants

Lyndon Fire & Rescue had been applying for Fire Act grants since 2002, and after being rejected every year till 2006 we decided to seek help. I attended a grant writing training class conducted by Kurt and began using his after-seminar support every year since then. Our results have been outstanding with his assistance and professional guidance:

2007 AFG Award of $102,533 for new SCBA
2007 SAFER – Hiring - $316,275
2010 AFG – Communications upgrade - $51,745
2011 AFG – Washer-Extractor /Drying Cabinet - $18,101
2012 AFG – Hydraulic Rescue tool package - $25,701
Total Awards- $514,355

I have attended several of Kurt’s informative and educational classes and found them to be presented in language that was easy to understand. His post-seminar guidance and assistance in helping us with all of our applications has been, to say the least, invaluable. We have invested approximately $5000 with Kurt and his company since 2006, and our return on investment is around 1000:1.

I highly recommend Kurt Bradley and First Responder Grants, Inc. both for their training classes and their services. You simply can’t go wrong.

Firefighter Lee Look, PhD

Lyndon Fire & Rescue

Kentucky

I attended your Grant Writing for Public Safety course at Delta College in Michigan and was thrilled with the course and content. This summer I applied for a private foundation grant (National Emergency Medicine Association) to fund the purchase of law enforcement specific tactical trauma medical kits for our department. I'm thrilled to report that last month we were awarded nearly $10,000 to purchase 35 of the kits. I credit the success of my first professional grant writing effort to what I learned in your course.

Alexis Davis, Training Coordinator

Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office

Michigan

I am honored to have been mentored by Kurt Bradley. He has inspired me to initiate the grant process for our fire department. Looks like another successful grant for us, to the tune of $7.6 million for staffing. Thank you again, Kurt.

John Lyman, Fire Captain & Paramedic

Waterford Township Fire Department

Michigan

Prior to 2011, our fire company has done all of our grant writing in-house with not much luck. In 2010, we opted to consult a grant writer to help us with this task. After a lot of research and talking to others that had previously used grant writers, Kurt Bradley was the name that kept coming up.

Although I haven't been able to attend one of his seminars, Kurt was very helpful in writing a successful equipment grant for the fire company. He took the time to get to know all the aspects of the fire company so he could help us as much as possible. In 2012, we were awarded nearly $90,000 for some much-needed equipment from the 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

The department made a small, but excellent and smart investment. We will continue to use Kurt for his expertise for future grants.

Joseph Durr

Schuyler Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

New York

I am a retired competitive speech coach/English teacher, and my son, who is a member of our community volunteer fire department, asked me for assistance with grant writing. Our first step was to attend your First Responder Grants workshop, which was a tremendously positive experience.

Kurt did an excellent job of laying out how competitive grant writing has become. He methodically laid out the process of perusing grant literature for information that, if over-looked, will dis-qualify an application. The 2-day presentation was information packed, and there was never a boring moment.

Because the workshop was presented in a "user-friendy" manner, I came home equipped with knowledge that will help me apply for grants with confidence.

James Lester

Oklahoma

I took your grant writing class when it was offered close to home, although I questioned whether it was worth the time or the money, since I was already familiar with grant writing. I have written successful grant applications for some New York State economic development grants, and since I have been involved with the fire service for the last 4 years, 2 of my 3 AFG grant applications have been successful. My record is pretty good. What could I learn?

There were 14 people in the class, and several of them were actually taking the course for the second or third time because they thought there was still more to learn.

By the end of the second day, I agreed with them: the time and money were well spent. I definitely learned more about grant writing, and expect to be more successful as a result of it.

Jack Herrington, Commissioner
East Bloomfield-Holcomb Fire District
New York

I have no one to thank but YOU! You are the one that gave me the guidance and what was needed to be so successful in being awarded a 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Both myself and my department greatly appreciate all your help which enabled us to update and expand our department's equipment and services.

Chief John Kirchner
Diamond Fire Company
Ohio

Just FYI we were awarded the grant for the new livescan fingerprint machine and KLER records management interface.

Figure you like to know when you successfully assist students. I know your company is always in need of business so whenever

I can work it into my schedule I will be attending some more training with you all.

Let's see what we are up to:

$321,999 ARRA Funding

$50,000 911 Grant

$14,000 Polaris Ranger

$23,000 KS JAG Funding

$1,200 Local Kiwanis Funding

That's $410,199, and we have about $4,000 invested in training and assistance through you... which works out to about $100,000 for every $1,000 invested.

THANKS FOR YOU HELP.

Undersheriff Mickey Gruber
Brown County Sheriff
Kansas

I have attended 4 other grant classes, and by far have found yours to be the most comprehensive and useful for the law enforcement field.

Joe Tomanek
Grant Administrator
DuPage County Sheriff's Office
Illinois

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Grant Writing Class offered by First Responder Grants. As a Deputy Sheriff in York, PA, I have had the chance to attend other classes on grant writing but none of them compared to this course. First Responder Grants is truly that—for first responders.

Other classes found me looking for ballistic vests while the people next to me were looking for a new roof on their church. First Responder Grants is catered to us, America’s first responders.

Thank you again for this great opportunity.

Deputy Justin Koller
York County Sheriff’s Office
York, Pennsylvania

I have been to Kurt's classes before and they are GREAT! I have had a 70% success rate with all my grants at Burkville FD and helping other departments in Lowndes Co since attending. It has also opened my eyes to other grant opportunities besides just AFG and others through DHS. If you want to see the Trucks, the Turnouts, the SCBAs, the Thermal Imagers, the Hose, the Cascade System that I have been successful with since attending, just let me know I'll be glad to send you pictures of them!

The $2,000 it cost my department to send me to Orlando years ago has more than paid for itself. Seriously consider this class! The small $300 or so it cost your department to send you will be quickly recouped when AFG and other grants open up.

Justin Dixon
Assistant Chief
Burkville Fire Department
Alabama

My department sent me and another guy to one of Kurt's seminars in Philadelphia, PA about 3 or 4 years ago. It was the best money our department has ever spent. We had been successful one time through AFG and several small local grant programs before attending this seminar.

Since then we have been doing very well with grants. I would estimate in the last 3 years we are in the $750,000-$1,000,000 dollar club for grants.

Our department is very small and gets very little support from local government and $0.00 from taxes. So grants are our livelihood along with fundraisers. As we all know you can only hold so many Bingo's, breakfasts and ticket raffles before you get burnt out. So we have been lucky, and I would highly recommend going to one of Kurt's seminars.

Nick Cook
Lieutenant
Bendersville Community Fire Company
Pennslyvania

After years of doing grant writing on my own, I went to one of Kurt Bradley’s conferences and then hired him as a consultant. All I can say is that I could not possibly be happier. It was well worth the time and money spent!

I would highly recommend the combination local writer/ professional consultant & editor approach as Kurt recommends. It results in a good mix of locally specific information, yet still hits the points that the granting agencies are looking for.

I would also like to recommend to anyone looking to hire a consultant/grant writer to look for a Public Safety-specific Grant Writer. We have used local general grant writers in the past. They charge more and just don't understand the Fire Act/ FEMA system.

I can tell you the applications filed since hiring Kurt Bradley are the best ever filed by my agencies. I am looking forward to dealing with Kurt for years to come.

Michael Ten Kate
Chief
Virgil Fire Department
New York

I gained a great deal of knowledge in your seminar. I am actually able to bring something back and put it to use for a change. Thank you for all of your valuable information and guidance, as well as the continued support.

Randal K. Schlauch
Chief of Police
Hallettsville, Texas

Hazard Fire and Rescue started to pursue grants for our department in the year 2000. Prior to that we had just made do with what we were given.

We attended Kurt’s seminar and have had excellent success since then. We have been awarded 78% of the grants that we applied for.

The seminar presents the information to the students in a format that is easy to comprehend and easy to follow. The instructor emphasizes the points that the reviewers look for in successful grants. The seminar helps to point out a lot of little details that are easily overlooked and may make the difference in getting a grant or getting rejected.

Kurt has answered many emails, and is great to return calls (usually within a few minutes). We feel so confident in this seminar, that we have attended additional seminars and have involved the city police department as well.

The department made an excellent investment in our future by sending a member to this seminar. We invested less than $1,000 dollars, and to this point we have received a total of over $1.9 million dollars in grants altogether. To say the least, we are very happy with our investment. I would encourage any department to take advantage of this excellent training.

Derrick Hall
Assistant Chief/Paramedic
Hazard Fire & Rescue
Kentucky