MSA’s Globe Gear Giveaway Program
MSA Safety, Nomex® and Kevlar® for Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partner annually to help address critical safety needs facing volunteer fire departments through MSA’s Globe Gear Giveaway. In 2026, the program will award 52 sets of Globe® turnout gear and MSA Cairns® helmets to 13 volunteer fire departments in the U.S. and Canada, with each department receiving four complete sets. The program is designed to support departments that struggle to replace outdated, worn, or non-compliant gear due to limited resources.
Launched in 2012, the Globe Gear Giveaway has grown into a long-standing initiative dedicated to improving firefighter safety and readiness. Over the life of the program, more than $2 million worth of gear has been donated, benefiting 186 volunteer fire departments with 819 sets of turnout gear and 364 helmets. By providing new, state-of-the-art protective equipment, the program helps ensure volunteer firefighters have the protection they need to better serve their communities.
Criteria • Application • Selection • Gear Recipients • Frequently Asked Questions • Contact • Program Partners
To be eligible to apply, departments must meet the following criteria:
- Be over 50% volunteer.
- Serve a population of 25,000 or less.
- Be located in the United States or Canada and be legally organized under state/province law. *Indian/tribal entities not organized under state/province law are eligible.
- Department must have at least one active NVFC member. To help departments meet this requirement, MSA will provide one-year individual NVFC memberships to the first 500 applicants. Check your membership status HERE. You can learn more about NVFC member benefits and join HERE.
- Demonstrate a need for the gear.
- Only one application will be accepted per department. Any subsequent applications received for that department will be disqualified.
- Recipients must use the donated items for the benefit of their department and not for any other purpose; cannot be resold.
- Recipients agree that their department name, details from application essay, and photo may be used in media by MSA, Nomex and Kevlar for Personal Protection, and the NVFC for the purposes of promoting the donation program.
- Department must report back within four months on how the gear has made an impact.
- Previous winners from the past two years are not eligible.
Applicants that do not meet the stated criteria will be disqualified from the application process. Read the official rules and regulations.
The 2026 application period will be open from Tuesday, February 24 at 12:00pm (noon) Eastern to Monday, June 1 at 12:00pm (noon) Eastern.
Check out our special opportunities page for more giveaways, grants, and scholarships exclusively for volunteer responders.
After the application period ends, an expert panel selected by the NVFC will review the applications. Thirteen winning departments will be selected to receive four sets of turnouts and four helmets each. Two to three winners will be announced each month between July and December. Winners will be contacted directly before the public announcement is made.
Click on the pins in the map to learn more about the departments that have received gear.
Do I have to be an NVFC member to apply for the gear?
Departments must have at least one active NVFC member to be eligible to apply. To help departments meet this requirement, MSA will provide one-year individual NVFC memberships to the first 500 applicants. Once all complimentary memberships have been claimed, a notice will be posted in the eligibility criteria and on the application form. Complimentary memberships will be issued to the primary point of contact listed on the application after the application period closes.
Our volunteers are paid on-call. Does our department qualify for the program?
The NVFC considers paid on-call as volunteers for this giveaway program. Your department must be over 50 percent volunteer to be eligible.
We are a tribal organization that is federally organized. Are we eligible to apply for this giveaway program?
Yes, you are eligible!
Can multiple departments or stations within the same town or fire district apply?
Whether multiple departments or stations apply separately or whether a town or fire district submits one application on their behalf is up to the discretion of the town or authority having jurisdiction. Multiple departments or stations may apply individually if they operate as distinct entities and each independently meets all eligibility criteria. Alternatively, a single application may be submitted on behalf of multiple departments or stations if the group collectively meets the eligibility requirements. Departments should carefully consider factors such as shared budgets, resources, and response statistics, as well as which department or station has the greatest need. Coordination is strongly encouraged to avoid duplicate submissions and ensure all parties are informed.
Can junior firefighter programs apply for this program?
Junior firefighter programs can apply for the Globe Gear Giveaway; however, only standard sizing will be provided. Custom garment sizing for this giveaway program is not available. Recipients must be able to fit in these size ranges:
Jacket
Chest: Men 34-60 inches; Women 28-50 inches
Sleeves: Men 32-38 inches; Women 28-34 inches
Length: Men 29, 32 (Standard), or 35 inches; Women 29 inches
Pants
Waist: Men 30-60 inches; Women 28-50 inches
Length: Men 26-36 inches; Women 24-34 inches
When will my department know if we’ve been selected to receive the gear?
Notifications to applicants will go out monthly starting in July until December, and two to three winners will be announced each month. Winners will be contacted directly before the public announcement is made.
What styles of MSA’s Globe turnout gear are part of this giveaway program?
Globe CLASSIX® turnout gear is donated through this program. Learn more about this style on MSA’s web site: Globe CLASSIX Jacket, Globe CLASSIX Pants.
What materials are included in MSA’s Globe turnout gear donated through this program?
The turnout gear donated through this program is made of a gold Pioneer outer shell, Titanium SL2 thermal liner, and Stedair 3000 moisture barrier with lime/yellow 3M Scotchlite Triple Trim. Learn more about these materials on MSA’s web site: Turnout Gear Materials.
What styles of MSA Cairns® helmets are part of this giveaway program?
The helmets donated through this program are the Cairns® 1836 Traditional Composite Fire Helmet in select configurations and with custom fronts. Winning departments select color(s) and sizes(s). Learn more about this helmet on MSA’s web site: Cairns® 1836 Traditional Composite Fire Helmet.
Can our department change the style, specification, or configuration for turnout gear and helmets donated through this program?
The turnout gear and helmet donation cannot be changed to any other style, specification, or configuration. Additional turnout gear options may be purchased at 50% off list price.
Are the four sets of MSA’s Globe turnout gear made to order or taken from the manufacturer’s stock?
Globe does not maintain stock inventory for turnout gear. The four sets of gear donated through this program are made to order based on sizing performed by an MSA representative.
Who from MSA will contact our department about receiving the turnout gear and helmets?
NVFC sends winning department contact information to MSA to reach out about turnout gear sizing and helmet selection. Departments are contacted by either an MSA First Responder Sales Manager or authorized MSA distributor in the winning department’s region.
How long will it take for our department to receive the donated gear?
Once the department is sized for turnout gear, the authorized MSA distributor places the turnout gear order with MSA’s Globe order processing department and the helmet order with MSA’s marketing department. Standard lead times at the time of order receipt apply to gear donated through this program.
Is there a deadline to get our order in to receive turnout gear and helmets through the 2026 giveaway program?
Orders for turnout gear, helmets, and fronts must be processed no later than December 24. This deadline may be extended for awards made in December if it is not feasible to schedule turnout gear sizing in time to meet the December 24 deadline.
Who should I contact for updates on estimated delivery times for the turnout gear and helmet donations?
For an estimated delivery date and subsequent updates, winning departments should contact the authorized MSA distributor who placed the order.
Can I publicize this turnout gear and helmet award?
Yes. Receiving this donated gear is a positive opportunity to proactively reach out to local media outlets and share this news. It’s also a way to highlight why receiving this gear is important for not only your department, but for the volunteer fire service community as a whole.
Who should I contact to publicize this turnout gear and helmet award?
You can share the news about this award with your local municipal government, on your department’s social media pages, and/or with the media members in your local community, such as those you routinely interact with at scenes or other calls.
Are there any example documents my department can use to highlight our gear award?
Yes. The NVFC, in conjunction with MSA Safety, has developed a news release template and social media post templates for you to use. You can follow the templates as a starter for your news announcements or fill in the templates and share with the media or on social media.
When should I publicize our turnout gear and helmet award?
The best time to highlight your turnout gear and helmet award is when the gear arrives and is about to go into service. As noted, however, delivery time on custom turnout gear is typically at least a couple of months. You could make a social media announcement about the award and make a bigger announcement in the months after the gear has arrived.
Should I use photos or video to publicize this opportunity?
Absolutely. Photos showcasing the new turnout gear and helmets are welcome to show off what you’ve been awarded.
If you have any questions, please contact Lori Shirley at lori@nvfc.org or 202-887-5700 ext. 125.
About Globe Manufacturing Company and MSA Safety
Globe Manufacturing Company, a leader in fire service protective clothing, is a subsidiary of MSA Safety Incorporated. MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2024 revenues of $1.8 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of more than 5,000 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSAsafety.com.
About DuPont Personal Protection
From first responders to industrial workers, DuPont provides a wide range of personal protection solutions, including some of the most trusted and innovative brands in the industry, such as Kevlar®, Nomex®, Tyvek® and Tychem® to meet your safety needs. More information can be found at personalprotection.dupont.com
About DuPont
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About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire and emergency medical services. The NVFC unites and supports volunteer and combination fire and EMS organizations through education, advocacy, leadership development, and collaboration. Guided by professionalism and innovation, we provide the tools and resources needed to protect communities, advance responder health and safety, and prepare leaders for the future. Learn more and join at www.nvfc.org.
