Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Mississauga Fire Fighters Association Benevolent Fund (MFFA)

The Mississauga Fire Fighters Association Benevolent Fund is the charitable division of IAFF Local 1212, created to channel the fundraising efforts of Mississauga firefighters into direct financial support for local causes. As a registered non-profit, it raises money through activities such as Muscular Dystrophy car washes, boot drives, golf tournaments, raffles and other community events, and then allocates those funds to a range of charities and community organizations in Mississauga and the surrounding area.

Since its inception in 1982, the Benevolent Fund reports having raised more than $3,036,976 for charities in the community. Its "Our Partners" portfolio highlights long-term relationships with organizations such as Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Trillium Health Partners Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel | York, the Alzheimer Society Peel, Camp BUCKO, ErinoakKids, JDRF, The Dam, EveryMind, Community Living Mississauga, Embrave and The Mississauga Food Bank. Funding typically supports health care, children and youth, mental health, disability services, food security and anti-violence initiatives.

The Fund acts as a discretionary charitable donor rather than a formal grantmaking agency with open calls. Its primary beneficiaries are established charities and non-profit organizations working with children and youth, people living with disabilities, patients in local hospitals, women and children fleeing violence, and residents facing food insecurity. Campaigns such as the "Hope for Kids" raffle are explicitly designed so that 100% of the money raised goes directly to children at SickKids Hospital and the Credit Valley Paediatric Oncology Unit for items and support services that improve their quality of life.

Decisions on how money is distributed are made collectively by elected Benevolent Fund Trustees. Committee members are each linked to specific partner charities and events, helping to manage relationships and ensure that funds raised through golf tournaments, comedy and magic shows, Movember campaigns, pink truck tours and other initiatives are directed to the intended organizations and programs.

The Benevolent Fund is overseen by a committee that includes a chair, treasurer, secretary and several trustees, all of whom are firefighters. All money raised and dispersed is handled without personal gain to members and is approved by majority decision of the trustees, reinforcing a transparent and collective governance model. The Fund maintains strong ties with its partner charities, regularly featuring their missions on its website and acknowledging them at an annual Volunteer Appreciation Event.

Community members, businesses and individuals can get involved as sponsors, donors or volunteers. Sponsorships provide financial backing for fundraising events; donations help expand the Fund’s ability to support local charities and the wider Mississauga community; and volunteers contribute to the successful delivery of events that generate the funds later distributed to partner organizations.