Grants for Fire Departments

Last updated October 19, 2026

Grantable tracks 123 active grants for fire departments in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 1 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 49 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.

Grants tracked: 123; from 88 funders
Median award: $10K; middle half $2,500–$25K
Total listed funding: $9.1M; across 49 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 4; 8 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Jeremiah Lucey Grant Program The Leary Firefighters Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $25K The Jeremiah Lucey Grant Program, managed by the Leary Firefighters Foundation, supports paid and volunteer fire departments across the US, focusing on training, equipment, and technology enhancements.	Not published	$5K – $25K
Nate Mills Memorial Firefighter's Fund Training Reimbursement Huntington County Community Fdtn Inc · Foundation Rolling · $100 – $200 A specialized fund providing reimbursement for firefighter training expenses, established in memory of Nate Mills, a dedicated firefighter who served the Markle Volunteer Fire Department and Fort Wayne Fire Department.	Rolling	$100 – $200
Terry Farrell Firefighter Fund Grant The Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund Inc. · Foundation Not published · Varies The Terry Farrell Firefighters’ Fund, established post-9/11, provides vital educational and financial support to families of firefighters across the U.S. With over $10 million distributed in grants and surplus gear, the fund offers…	Not published	Varies
Volunteer Fire Assistance Maryland Department of Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Provides financial assistance for equipment maintenance or purchase and training to rural fire companies to improve their ability to fight wildfires.	Not published	Varies
WDNR: Forest Fire Protection (FFP) Grant Program - County/Area Fire Association Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Foundation Not published · $5K – $25K The WDNR's Forest Fire Protection Grant Program offers 50% cost-share grants to Wisconsin fire departments and county/area fire associations.	Not published	$5K – $25K
EMERGENCY SERVICES and PUBLIC SAFETY – Ricochet Out Front™ Wildland + Technical Du-al-Cert Gear National Volunteer Fire Council · State Not published · Varies Provides five sets of gear (jacket and pants) To be eligible to apply, departments must provide emergency medical and/or rescue services, have at least one NVFC member, be over 50 percent volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less…	Not published	Varies
NHEC Foundation Community Grants Program New Hampshire Electric Co-Op Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2K – $20K	Not published	$2K – $20K
Fire Department Equipment & Infrastructure Grant Program San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency · Foundation Not published · Varies For 36 years, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation has been the only fire foundation supporting all of San Diego County with the goal of "Making San Diego the Safest County in the Nation." The foundation prioritizes identifying critical…	Not published	Varies
Maryland State Fire Prevention Commission Maryland State Police · State Not published · Varies Promulgates and amends regulations to safeguard life and property from fire and explosion; hears appeals of enforcement decisions made by the Office State Fire Marshal (OSFM); makes recommendations to the Superintendent about the operation…	Not published	Varies
Live Fire Training Structure Grant Program Department of Fire Programs · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Dry Hydrant Program Department of Forestry · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants (FL) Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services · Foundation Not published · Varies The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants (FL) program offers essential financial and technical support to rural fire departments serving communities with populations of 10,000 or less.	Not published	Varies
Rural Fire Defense 80/20 Reimbursement Grant program Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry · Foundation Not published · Up to $30K The Rural Fire Defense 80/20 Reimbursement Grant Program in Oklahoma provides essential funding to rural fire departments, offering reimbursement of 80% for project costs.	Not published	Up to $30K
Fire and Rescue Grants and Relief Fund State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Appropriations Program Two Hundred Club of Bergen County · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Gesa Local Heroes Grant Gesa Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Gesa Local Heroes Grant empowers organizations that support essential community workers, including firefighters, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, educators, and veterans.	Not published	Varies
Clifford Angell Memorial Scholarship Grant Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The Clifford Angell Memorial Scholarship, provided by the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation, supports students pursuing careers in Fire Science, Natural Resources, Conservation, or Wildlife Management.	Not published	Up to $1K
Volunteer Fire Assistance Program Grant New Mexico State Forestry · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The Volunteer Fire Assistance Program (VFA) offers grants up to $25,000 annually to local fire departments in rural communities with fewer than 10,000 residents.	Not published	Up to $25K
VFD Motor Vehicle Self Insurance Program The State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association of Texas · Foundation Not published · Varies Greatly reduced cost compared to commercial insurance	Not published	Varies
Pleasants Community Foundation Grants Pleasants Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Pleasants Community Foundation, established in 2000, enhances the quality of life in Pleasants County, West Virginia, through charitable giving.	Not published	Varies
Lycoming County Emergency Service Grant Program First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania · Foundation Not published · $10K – $100K The Lycoming County Emergency Service Grant Program, established in 1916, aims to support local fire companies, volunteer organizations, and emergency medical services in Lycoming County.	Not published	$10K – $100K
Nathan A. Pescatore Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant The Pittsburgh Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 The Nathan A. Pescatore Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by Nathan's family through The Pittsburgh Foundation, honors his legacy as a young volunteer firefighter who tragically lost his life at 17.	Not published	$500
VFIS of Texas/Texas Mutual Insurance Company Health and Wellness Grant The State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association of Texas · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K Need-based grant program intended to encourage participation in a health and wellness program to reduce emergency responder injuries and deaths. Grants of up to $5,000 per department are awarded based upon financial need.	Not published	Up to $5K
Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program (MA) Grant Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research (OGR) · Foundation Not published · Varies The Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program aims to help municipalities address staffing shortages in police and fire departments.	Not published	Varies

Showing 25–48 of 123

About grants for fire departments

Grants for fire departments fund apparatus, personal protective equipment, breathing apparatus, training, staffing, and prevention programs that local tax bases often cannot fully cover. The cornerstone is FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, which includes the AFG, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), and Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants. State fire marshal offices, corporate foundations, and national fire service organizations provide additional funding for gear, vehicles, and recruitment.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow grants for fire departments down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for fire departments award?

Of the 123 grants for fire departments Grantable lists as of October 19, 2026, 49 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $2,500 and $25K. The largest is $3.5M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for fire departments?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are The State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association of Texas (11), California Fire Foundation (5), Department of Fire Programs (5), Department of Forestry (3), and Maryland Department of Natural Resources (3). In all, 88 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for fire departments due?

Of 123 grants listed, 4 accept applications on a rolling basis, 8 have a published upcoming deadline, 15 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 96 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What grants are available for fire departments?

Fire departments can pursue grants for engines and apparatus, turnout gear and SCBA, wellness and fitness programs, training, fire prevention education, and firefighter staffing. The primary federal sources are FEMA's three Assistance to Firefighters programs: AFG (equipment and operations), SAFER (hiring and retaining firefighters), and FP&S (prevention and safety research). State agencies and private foundations supplement these with equipment and community risk reduction grants.

What is the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)?

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is a competitive FEMA program that helps fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical services organizations meet their firefighting and emergency response needs. Funds can be used for personal protective equipment, apparatus, training, and health and wellness initiatives. AFG sits alongside FEMA's SAFER grant (which funds firefighter hiring and recruitment) and FP&S grant (which funds prevention and safety projects) under the broader Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program.

Can volunteer fire departments apply?

Yes. Volunteer and combination fire departments are eligible for AFG, SAFER, and FP&S grants, and FEMA's scoring criteria are designed so that smaller and volunteer departments compete fairly against larger career agencies. SAFER in particular funds recruitment and retention campaigns aimed squarely at the volunteer service. A strong application ties each request to documented community risk, call data, and a clear gap that local funding cannot close.

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