Grants for First Responders

Last updated October 21, 2026

Grantable tracks 308 active grants for first responders in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 3 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 144 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.

Grants tracked: 308; from 218 funders
Median award: $10K; middle half $2,500–$50K
Total listed funding: $56.9M; across 144 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 17; 17 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Fire-Medic Tim Peebles Scholarship Grant North Georgia Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 This scholarship is awarded to a North Georgia First Responder, their child or spouse who are pursuing their post-secondary education.	Not published	$500
Firefighters Relief Fund Grant North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal · Foundation Not published · Varies The Firefighters Relief Fund, managed by the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association, assists firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty.	Not published	Varies
Darrell & Gloria Rank K9 Corps Fund and Richard Groff and Meda Kern K9 Corps Endowment Fund Grant Berks County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Berks County Community Foundation was founded in 1994 to help individuals, families, organizations and businesses achieve their charitable objectives. Since that time, the foundation has grown to manage hundreds of charitable funds.	Not published	Varies
Disaster Relief Aid Altrusa International Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Funds are available to assist local and international communities in the wake of disasters, whether natural or manmade.	Not published	Varies
Talbot Paramedic Foundation Equipment Grant Talbot County Paramedics Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund Baltimore Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Inspire donors to achieve their charitable goals from generation to generation and to improve the quality of life in the Baltimore region through grantmaking, enlightened civic leadership and strategic investments.	Not published	Varies
Brothers Helping Brothers: Backing Safety Initiative Grants Brothers Helping Brothers · Foundation Not published · Varies The Brothers Helping Brothers initiative aims to provide essential equipment to small fire departments and EMS organizations in the U.S. Established in 2014, the program offers grants to eligible agencies serving communities with…	Not published	Varies
Bereavement Assistance Program National Law Enforcement · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Hammond Trust Emergency Services Scholarship Fund Grant Community Foundation of Mendocino County · Foundation Not published · Varies The Hammond Trust Emergency Services Scholarship Fund, established by the Ukiah Fire Fighters Association, supports Mendocino County high school students pursuing careers in emergency services.	Not published	Varies
Bobby Owen Memorial Scholarship Endowment Grant John Randolph Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Bobby Owen Memorial Scholarship Endowment supports students in Prince George County pursuing careers as firefighters, police officers, or emergency medical providers.	Not published	Up to $5K
Community Investment Grants Owen County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K To supply broad, diverse, and responsive funds to address community needs in Owen County, Indiana.	Not published	$1K – $5K
Rescue Squad Assistance Fund Department of Health · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
FY27 NG9-1-1 Expenses Grant Program Illinois State Police · Foundation Not published · Up to $12M The FY26 NG9-1-1 Expenses Grant Program, administered by the Illinois State Police, aims to support 9-1-1 Authorities outside municipalities with populations over 500,000.	Not published	Up to $12M
Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant (HMEP) (F) Indiana Department of Homeland Security · State Not published · $3M	Not published	$3M
Vegas Golden Knights Foundation Grant Vegas Golden Knights Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The Vegas Golden Knights Foundation Grant supports local non-profits in Las Vegas, focusing on health and wellness, education, youth sports, and military and first responders.	Not published	Up to $20K
Chelan County Fire District #1 Volunteer Association Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of NCW · Foundation Not published · Varies The Chelan County Fire District #1 Volunteer Association Scholarship, established in 1993, supports members and their families in pursuing educational opportunities.	Not published	Varies
Georgia Public Service Memorial (GPSM) Grant Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) · Foundation Not published · Up to $72K The Georgia Public Service Memorial (GPSM) Grant offers financial support for the education of spouses and children of Georgia public safety officers and school employees who have been disabled or killed in the line of duty.	Not published	Up to $72K
Rural VFD Insurance Program (HB 3667) The State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association of Texas · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides reimbursement grants for Texas firefighters to obtain insurance coverage.	Not published	Varies
Reg Christman Fire Science Support Fund Casper College Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A support fund established in memory of Reg Christman, a Casper firefighter for 23 years who ended his career as division chief training officer. The fund provides financial assistance to Casper College fire science students in need.	Not published	Varies
Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (VSTOP) Limited Competition Grant Program Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services · Foundation Not published · $300K The Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (VSTOP) Limited Competition Grant Program aims to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement in Virginia.	Not published	$300K
MCSO Employee Wellness Fund The Central Indiana Police Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A partnership between the Marion County Sheriff's Office and Central Indiana Police Foundation to support employee health, wellness, and resilience initiatives.	Not published	Varies
Norfolk Southern In-Kind Donation Grant Norfolk Southern Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Norfolk Southern In-Kind Donation Grant supports organizations seeking physical donations of materials that align with their focus areas, including safety, sustainability, workforce development, and thriving communities.	Not published	Varies
The Honorable Louis D. Stefan Law Enforcement Award Montgomery Bar Association · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
PEMF Pandemic Grant Program Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide area EMS agencies and first responders with basic-needs items in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Created by PEMF board in 24 hours to address urgent needs of frontline EMS workers.	Not published	Varies

Showing 241–264 of 306

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for first responders award?

Of the 308 grants for first responders Grantable lists as of October 21, 2026, 144 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, 218 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, 17 have a published upcoming deadline, 53 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 221 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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