The Relentless Defender Foundation reviews requests involving first responders and their families who are facing serious injury, illness, death, catastrophic hardship, or other extraordinary circumstances.
The Foundation considers requests involving first responders and their immediate families when serious hardship creates a need for meaningful financial or community support.
Requests may be considered for active, retired, or fallen public safety professionals whose circumstances align with the Foundation’s mission.
Assistance may also be considered when a first responder’s spouse, child, or immediate household is directly affected by a serious crisis or loss.
The Foundation may contact the beneficiary, family, agency, or another trusted source to confirm the circumstances before assistance or fundraising begins.
Submit the request with the information available. The Foundation can review the circumstances and follow up as needed. Submitting a request does not guarantee approval or financial assistance.
The Foundation focuses on serious and extraordinary circumstances that create an immediate or substantial hardship for a first responder or their family.
A major diagnosis, debilitating medical condition, or significant injury that affects the first responder’s health, employment, family, or financial stability.
Incidents occurring during the performance of public safety duties that result in serious injury, permanent disability, or the death of a first responder.
A fire, flood, storm, accident, or other disaster that causes substantial damage, displacement, or sudden loss of essential property and resources.
Unusual and serious circumstances affecting the immediate family when the resulting need is substantial and closely connected to the Foundation’s mission.
These examples are intended as guidance and are not an exhaustive list. The Foundation may consider other extraordinary circumstances that align with its mission. Approval, fundraising, and financial assistance are not guaranteed.
Assistance is not limited to a single format. After reviewing the circumstances, the Foundation determines which available resources and forms of support are most appropriate.
In some approved situations, the Foundation may provide financial support toward specific and verified needs resulting from the hardship.
The Foundation may create and promote a public campaign that gives donors, agencies, businesses, and supporters a clear way to help.
When appropriate, a coordinated merchandise campaign may help raise funds while giving the community a visible way to stand behind the beneficiary.
Some needs are best addressed by connecting the family with trusted agencies, sponsors, businesses, volunteers, or other community resources.
The Foundation may provide one form of support, combine multiple approaches, or determine that another organization is better equipped to address the request.
The person submitting the request does not need to choose the final support method. Provide complete and accurate information, and the Foundation will evaluate the available options.
Assistance is not guaranteed and may not include a direct cash payment. Approval, support type, campaign structure, fundraising goals, and fund distribution are determined by the Foundation after review.
Every request is reviewed thoughtfully and individually. The Foundation may need additional information before determining whether assistance can be provided and what form that support should take.
The Foundation receives the request and reviews the information provided to determine whether it is complete enough for an initial evaluation.
A Foundation representative may contact the person who submitted the request, the beneficiary, family members, or the relevant agency.
Foundation leadership evaluates whether the request aligns with the mission, available resources, and the organization’s ability to respond responsibly.
The person submitting the request or the beneficiary is contacted with the decision and any next steps required to begin assistance or fundraising.
Do not delay emergency assistance while waiting for a Foundation response. The Relentless Defender Foundation is not an emergency response agency, medical provider, crisis hotline, or government benefits administrator.
Providing clear and accurate information helps the Foundation understand the circumstances, verify the request, and determine the most appropriate next steps.
Provide the basic identifying and contact information for the first responder or family who may receive assistance.
Explain what happened, when it occurred, how the family has been affected, and what needs are currently most urgent.
Identify someone who can confirm the beneficiary’s public safety affiliation and the general circumstances described.
Supporting materials may help the Foundation verify the request and, when approved, prepare accurate campaign content.
Do not submit Social Security numbers, full banking details, account passwords, protected criminal justice information, or complete medical files through the initial request form. The Foundation will request additional documentation securely if needed.
Complete the form below with as much accurate information as possible. A Foundation representative may contact you for additional details, verification, or authorization.
Fields marked as required must be completed before the request can be submitted.
Submitting this form does not guarantee approval, fundraising, financial assistance, or any other support. The Foundation may verify the information provided and determine whether the request aligns with its mission and available resources.
Assistance requests often involve sensitive circumstances. The Foundation seeks to collect only the information reasonably needed to review, verify, and coordinate each request.
Personal information should be limited to what is reasonably necessary for the Foundation to understand and review the request.
Requests differ in urgency and complexity. Review time depends on the completeness of the submission and the verification required.
When a request becomes a public fundraiser, the Foundation will coordinate the approved story, photographs, and updates.
The Foundation will make a good-faith effort to review each request thoughtfully, communicate when additional information is needed, and protect sensitive details from unnecessary disclosure.
Submission does not create an entitlement to assistance or a contractual obligation. The Foundation retains discretion over eligibility, support methods, campaign approval, fundraising goals, and distribution of available funds.
The Foundation may be unable to complete its review when the person submitting the request, beneficiary, family, or verification contact cannot be reached. Respond promptly to follow-up requests and notify the Foundation when circumstances materially change.