Volunteer Firefighter Pension Fund
Volunteer Firefighter Pension Fund supports Colorado local governments with state matching contributions to volunteer firefighter pensions, helping them offer retirement benefits that attract volunteers.
Funder: Department of Local Affairs
Due Dates: October 31, 2026 (Preferred submission deadline) | May 31, 2027 (Final deadline for late applications)
Funding Amounts: Statutory state match based on local tax contributions (90% calculation, subject to actuarial limits and a one-half-mill cap)
Summary: Supports Colorado local governments’ volunteer firefighter pension funds with state matching contributions to help attract volunteers.
Key Information: Applicants must have contributed local tax revenue to an eligible volunteer firefighter pension fund in the preceding calendar year.
Description
The Volunteer Firefighter Pension Fund helps Colorado local governments offer retirement benefits that attract volunteer firefighters. Administered by the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), it provides state matching contributions to locally funded volunteer firefighter pensions under C.R.S. 31-30-1112. The program supports retirement benefits rather than equipment, facilities, or research projects.
State contributions are calculated using qualifying local tax contributions from the preceding year, the pension’s monthly benefit level, and statutory limits. For pensions providing benefits above $300 per month, actuarial funding requirements also affect the calculation. In a typical year, the program contributes over $4 million to approximately 200 pension funds across Colorado.
