Grants for First Responders
Last updated November 10, 2026
Grantable tracks 308 active grants for first responders in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 2 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 142 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.
- Grants tracked
- 308
- from 219 funders
- Median award
- $10K
- middle half $2,500–$50K
- Total listed funding
- $56.9M
- across 142 grants that list an amount
- Rolling deadlines
- 17
- 19 with a published date
On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily
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| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| Virginia Fire Chiefs Foundation Memorial Scholarship Virginia Fire Chiefs Foundation Co James H Johnson · Foundation ~December · Up to $3K The VFCF Memorial Scholarship supports active fire/EMS service personnel, their spouses or dependents, and non-profit organizations in pursuing educational opportunities that benefit the public safety field. | |
| Rural Health Transformation - Overcoming Geographical Barriers to Care - Emergency Medical Services Public Health · State Dec 3, 2026 · Up to $97.8M | |
| McNicholas & McNicholas UFLAC Education Scholarship United Firefighters of Los Angeles City · Foundation Dec 31, 2026 · $13K McNicholas & McNicholas is proud to support the first responder community and believes that education is the key to personal prosperity and the prosperity of society. | |
| Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant Texas Mutual Insurance Company · Foundation ~December · Up to $10K The Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant, sponsored by VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company, offers need-based funding up to $10,000 for Texas fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations. | |
| Code Blue Projects Interior Region EMS Council Inc · Foundation ~January · Varies | |
| Montecito Firefighters' Charitable Foundation Scholarship Montecito Firefighters · Foundation ~January · Varies Montecito Firefighters' Charitable Foundation | |
| Texas Firemens Auxiliary (TFA) Scholarship The State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association of Texas · Foundation ~January · Varies Children and grandchildren (including step-relations) of: Scholarship packets can be requested between November 1 - January 31 annually | |
| FY28 NG9-1-1 Expenses Grant Program Illinois State Police · State Feb 1, 2027 · Varies The Illinois State Police Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator (hereafter “Administrator”) seeks NG9-1-1 Expenses Grant Proposals as defined in 50 ILCS 750/30(b)(1)(E) with priority given to 9-1-1 Authorities that provide 9-1-1… | |
| FY28 9-1-1 System Consolidation Grant Program Illinois State Police · State Feb 1, 2027 · Varies The Illinois State Police Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator (hereafter “Administrator”) seeks Grant Proposals as defined in 50 ILCS 750/15.4b and IL Title 83/Chapter IV/Part 1327 from entities who are subject to consolidation… | |
| AWC Scholarship Program Arlington Woman's Club · Foundation ~February · $5K The Arlington Woman's Club awards scholarships to graduating seniors from Arlington ISD high schools. | |
| TSAFF Scholarship Program Texas State Association of Fire Fighters · Foundation ~March · Varies Annual scholarship program supporting future leaders since 1996. The Fund provides scholarships to eligible dependents of Texas firefighter families entering their first year of college. | |
| First Responder Scholarships Folds of Honor California Chapter · Foundation ~March · $100 – $5K | |
| First Responder Scholarships Folds of Honor Foundation · Foundation ~March · $100 – $5K | |
| Children's Fund Scholarship Folds of Honor Foundation · Foundation ~March · $100 – $5K | |
| MGFRA Scholarship Program Maple Grove Firefighters Relief Association · Foundation ~July · Varies Empowering the next generation of public servants by supporting the educational aspirations of families connected to local fire and police departments. | |
| FY24 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Illinois Emergency Mgt Agency- Office of Homeland Security · State Jul 1, 2027 · Varies The fiscal year (FY) 2024 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, strategically located, and fully interoperable… | |
| NYSPIA Fallen Heroes Memorial Scholarship New York State Police Investigators Association · Foundation ~July · $500 The New York State Police Investigators Association Fallen Heroes Memorial Scholarship is named in memory of NYSPIA members who have died in the Line of Duty. | |
| ALERRT Travel Assistance, FY2027 Texas Governor's Office · State Aug 31, 2027 · Varies | |
| CSX Charitable Investments- Community Service Grants CSX Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K CSX Charitable Investments offers Community Service Grants to organizations that significantly impact their communities. These grants aim to support entities with tax-exempt status, government agencies, or educational institutions. | |
| Signal 13 Financial Hardship Grants Frank J Battaglia Signal 13 Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Foundation provides financial hardship grants to assist police officers and their families during difficult times. Documented examples include support provided to the Lovette family following a family tragedy. | |
| Community Connection Fund Midwest Electric Inc · Foundation Not published · $250 – $3K A voluntary charitable program administered by Midwest Electric, Inc. that distributes funds to west-central Ohio charities and community projects. | |
| Operation Round Up Grants Clay Electric Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K – $15K The Clay Electric Foundation (FL) awards Operation Round Up grants to nonprofits in its North Florida service area on a recurring cycle, funded by members' rounded-up electric bills; monthly recipient lists show individual awards from… | |
| CDPHE EMS and Trauma Funding: Provider and System Improvement Grants Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) · Foundation Not published · Up to $432K The CDPHE EMS and Trauma Funding program for fiscal year 2026 aims to allocate approximately $6.1 million to enhance Colorado's emergency medical and trauma services. | |
| Range Resources Good Neighbors Fund Grant Washington County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Range Resources Good Neighbors Fund, administered by the Washington County Community Foundation, supports fire departments and emergency management services in its core area. |
Showing 1–24 of 307
Grants for first responders by the numbers
How deadlines work
- Rolling or ongoing
- 17 6%
- Upcoming date published
- 19 6%
- Stated cycle, no date yet
- 53 17%
- No deadline published
- 219 71%
Only 19 of these grants publish a date, too few to show a seasonal pattern.
Funders with the most active grants for first responders
- National Law Enforcement and 7 active
- The State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association of Texas 7 active
- Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems 5 active
- North Georgia Community Foundation Inc 5 active
- Berks County Community Foundation Inc 4 active
- California Fire Foundation 4 active
219 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 308 active grants for first responders (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of November 10, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 5 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.
About grants for first responders
Grants for first responders help fire departments, EMS agencies, search and rescue teams, and law enforcement cover equipment, training, staffing, and wellness needs that local budgets rarely stretch to fund. Major federal sources include FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) for firefighting and EMS organizations, the U.S. Department of Justice's COPS Office and Bureau of Justice Assistance for law enforcement, and FEMA preparedness grants administered through state emergency management agencies. National nonprofits and corporate giving programs add further support for gear, vehicles, and responder mental health.
A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow grants for first responders down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.
Grants for First Responders by state
Browse grants for first responders available to organizations in 13 states.
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This page is a snapshot. Funders change, and a list stops being true the day it's made. A grants department keeps looking for you, and tells you when it finds something that fits — with the grant history it reasoned from attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do grants for first responders award?
Of the 308 grants for first responders Grantable lists as of November 10, 2026, 142 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $2,500 and $50K. The largest is $6.7M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.
Which funders offer the most grants for first responders?
By number of active listings, the leading funders are National Law Enforcement and (7), The State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association of Texas (7), Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (5), North Georgia Community Foundation Inc (5), and Berks County Community Foundation Inc (4). In all, 219 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
When are grants for first responders due?
Of 308 grants listed, 17 accept applications on a rolling basis, 19 have a published upcoming deadline, 53 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 219 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.
What grants are available for first responders?
First responder grants span personal protective equipment, apparatus and vehicles, communications gear, training and certification, staffing, and health and wellness initiatives. Federal programs include FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) for fire and EMS agencies, and DOJ COPS Office and Bureau of Justice Assistance awards for law enforcement. State emergency management agencies pass through additional FEMA preparedness funding, and private foundations and corporate programs fund specific equipment and responder support needs.
Who funds grants for first responders?
The largest funders are federal agencies: FEMA (within the Department of Homeland Security) for fire, EMS, and emergency preparedness, and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and Office of Justice Programs for law enforcement. State agencies administer many of these dollars locally, and national nonprofits, hospital systems, and corporate philanthropy round out the field with targeted equipment, training, and wellness grants.
Can volunteer and small-town responder agencies apply?
Yes. Many federal programs, including FEMA's AFG and SAFER, explicitly prioritize volunteer and combination departments and smaller agencies that serve rural communities. Eligibility generally requires that you be a recognized government agency or a qualifying nonprofit emergency organization. Because applications can be competitive and detailed, building a clear needs narrative backed by call volume, response data, and a documented funding gap improves your odds.
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