Public Safety Survivor Fund

About the Public Safety Survivor Fund

In May 2019, the Public Safety Survivor Benefits Fund was enacted to provide support for the surviving family members of Iowa peace officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty. The Survivor Fund was established to help those families pay for accident or medical insurance coverage.  

Grants To Surviving Families

Each year, $100,000 in Iowa Lottery proceeds are dedicated to the Survivor Fund. The Iowa Department of Public Safety awards half the money in the fund through grants to organizations that help the surviving families of eligible peace officers killed in the line of duty. The other half of the fund is awarded through grants to organizations that help the surviving families of eligible firefighters killed in the line of duty. The Department is directed by state law to give first consideration in making such grants to the Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., the Iowa Professional Fire Fighters, Inc., and similar nonprofit organizations that provide such resources.

Rules and Application Process 

The Department is in the process of drafting the administrative rules that will govern operation of the Survivor Fund. Once those rules take effect, the application process for grants from the Survivor Fund will begin. Organizations will be able to apply for grants from the Survivor Fund by completing an application form and submitting it to the Department for consideration. A link to the application will be added to this page once it is available.

The Iowa Lottery’s proceeds to the Survivor Fund will be available in late October each year.

For more information, please contact the DPS Policy Advisor/Legislative Liaison