The Jack Lewis Safety Fund was established in 2018 to honor the legacy of Dr. Jack K. Lewis (1934-2016), a dedicated volunteer and advocate for first responders. Dr. Lewis had a long career in medicine and community service, including serving as an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and as the longtime sports doctor for Omaha Central High School. His passion for supporting law enforcement was particularly evident in his leadership role as board president of the Omaha Police Foundation. The fund continues his legacy by providing financial support to small police, fire, and EMT departments in Nebraska and southwest Iowa.

The grant program is specifically available to police, fire, and EMT departments in second-class Nebraska communities (populations of 5,000 or fewer) and communities in Mills, Harrison, and Pottawattamie Counties in southwest Iowa. Municipalities and rural boards that support these departments are also eligible to apply. The program prioritizes projects that have raised local funds, giving preference to those demonstrating financial commitment from the community.

The funding scope includes grants for equipment, personal protection gear, training programs, and facility improvements. The maximum grant amount awarded is $50,000, with the average grant size around $15,000. Applicants are encouraged to apply once per year in one of two grant cycles—spring or fall. Due to high demand, applications must be complete and all required documents submitted by the deadline; missing items will result in disqualification. Applicants fundraising for ambulances must wait until their remaining balance is below $100,000 before submitting a request.

The 2025 application cycles are as follows:

Spring Cycle: Opens February 1, 2025 – Closes April 1, 2025 – Funding announcements between May 19 and June 6, 2025.
Fall Cycle: Opens June 15, 2025 – Closes September 1, 2025 – Funding announcements between November 17 and December 5, 2025.
Applications must be submitted via an electronic grant portal, as PDF or Word documents sent via email will no longer be accepted. Interested applicants should review the Application FAQs before applying to ensure they meet all requirements. Applicants from previous years are eligible to apply again. Organizations must also comply with a non-discrimination policy, ensuring they do not discriminate in hiring or service provision based on race, ethnicity, religious preference, age, ability/disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, or gender.

For questions regarding the application process, applicants can contact Cindy at 402-502-0062.