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Grants for Volunteer Fire Departments, Career Departments, and EMS Agencies

Federal AFG and SAFER grants, state firefighter assistance funds, and foundation grants for fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations.

FEMA administers the two largest federal grant programs for fire departments: the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for equipment and training, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant for personnel.

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Top opportunities

  • Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)

    State of IndianaUp to $292Mopen

    Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is sponsored by State of Indiana. (F) Fall 2025 N/A (5-15% local match) FEMA

  • Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program

    Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO)Up to $20Mopen

    Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program is sponsored by Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO). This grant program has two co...

  • Firefighter Assistance Grant Program (Florida)

    Florida Department of Financial Services, State Fire MarshalUp to $2.0Mopen

    Firefighter Assistance Grant Program (Florida) is sponsored by Florida Department of Financial Services, State Fire Marshal. This program aims to impr...

  • Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (Alabama)

    Alabama Forestry CommissionUp to $1.0Mopen

    Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (Alabama) is a grant from the Alabama Forestry Commission that distributes approximately $1,000,000 annua...

  • Jack Lewis Safety Fund

    Walter Scott Family FoundationUp to $50KDeadline: Sep 1, 2026open

    Jack Lewis Safety Fund is sponsored by Walter Scott Family Foundation. Offers grants up to $50,000 for police, fire, and EMS departments in Nebraska c...

  • Leary Firefighters Foundation Grants

    Leary Firefighters Foundation (LFF)Up to $25Kopen

    Leary Firefighters Foundation Grants is sponsored by Leary Firefighters Foundation (LFF). The Leary Firefighters Foundation offers grants for training...

  • Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant – New Mexico

    USDA Forest Service via New Mexico EMNRD Forestry DivisionUp to $25Kopen

    Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant is a grant administered by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) Forestry Di...

  • Jeremiah Lucey Grant Program

    Leary Firefighters FoundationUp to $25Kopen

    Jeremiah Lucey Grant Program is sponsored by Leary Firefighters Foundation. The Leary Firefighters Foundation provides funding to paid and volunteer f...

  • Fire Department Equipment Grant

    Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire MarshalUp to $15Kopen

    Fire Department Equipment Grant is sponsored by Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal. This grant provides funding to qualifying...

  • Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (VFA)

    Up to $5Kopen

    The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (VFA) provides cost-share funding to recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments (VFDs) i...

  • VFIS of Texas/Texas Mutual Insurance Company Health and Wellness Grant

    VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance CompanyUp to $5Kopen

    VFIS of Texas/Texas Mutual Insurance Company Health and Wellness Grant is sponsored by VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company. This need-bas...

  • WPS Rewarding Responders Grant

    Wisconsin Public Service FoundationUp to $2Kopen

    The WPS Rewarding Responders Grant is a program from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation that provides up to $2,000 to support county, local, and ...

  • Volunteer Fire Protection Association Workers’ Compensation Insurance Grant Program

    Missouri Department of Public Safety / Division of Fire SafetyUp to $2Kopen

    Volunteer Fire Protection Association Workers’ Compensation Insurance Grant Program is sponsored by Missouri Department of Public Safety / Division of...

  • Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant

    Firehouse Subs Public Safety FoundationDeadline: Jul 9, 2026open

    Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant is sponsored by Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. This foundation provides grants for firefightin...

  • Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant Program

    Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Division of ForestryDeadline: Nov 15, 2026open

    Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant Program is sponsored by Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Division of Forestry. This 50/50 cost-share g...

  • Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant Program

    Ohio Department of Natural ResourcesDeadline: Nov 15, 2026open

    Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant Program is sponsored by Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant Program ...

  • Federal Excess Personal Property Program & Firefighter Property Program

    USDA Forest Serviceopen

    Federal Excess Personal Property Program and Firefighter Property Program is a grant from the USDA Forest Service that provides state foresters and lo...

  • Public Safety Foundation Grant

    Firehouse Subsopen

    Public Safety Foundation Grant is sponsored by Firehouse Subs. Supports fire departments and first responder organizations with grants for lifesaving ...

  • Firefighter Assistance Grant Program

    Florida Department of Financial Servicesopen

    Firefighter Assistance Grant Program is sponsored by Florida Department of Financial Services. This program aims to improve the emergency response cap...

  • Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Program

    Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinetopen

    Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Program is a grant from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet that funds equipment and training for volunteer fi...

See all 100 matches on the Grant Board

Common questions about grants for fire departments

What is the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)?

AFG is FEMA's primary equipment and training grant for fire departments. It funds turnout gear, breathing apparatus, vehicles (when no other path exists), training (especially EMT-B and EMT-P), wellness programs, and operational equipment. Total AFG funding is approximately $370 million annually. Applications open in winter and close in late winter or early spring each year.

What is SAFER and who qualifies?

SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) funds the hiring and retention of firefighters. Both career and volunteer departments qualify. Career-hiring SAFER awards fund firefighter salaries and benefits for up to three years; recruitment and retention SAFER awards fund volunteer firefighter recruitment campaigns, retention efforts, and incentives.

Do volunteer fire departments qualify for federal grants?

Yes. AFG, SAFER, and the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants all explicitly include volunteer fire departments. Many volunteer departments receive AFG awards for SCBA, turnout gear, and small fire apparatus. State-level firefighter assistance funds, the National Volunteer Fire Council, and rural-development USDA funds also support volunteer departments specifically.

What state funding is available for fire departments?

Most states administer their own firefighter assistance funds, often using state fire-insurance premium taxes as the funding source. State EMS bureaus typically operate parallel grant programs for ambulance services. State homeland-security grant programs (SHSP, UASI in metro areas) pass federal DHS dollars through to local fire departments for hazmat and special-rescue equipment.

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