Grants for First Responders

Last updated October 21, 2026

Grantable tracks 308 active grants for first responders in its free grants database, drawn from 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: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Northern Virginia First Responders Scholarship Fund Grant The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Northern Virginia First Responders Scholarship Fund, managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, supports first responders and their dependents by providing financial assistance for higher education.	Not published	Up to $5K
Flight Medic Phil Hart 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
Enbridge Safe Community Program Mountrail Bethel Home Inc · Foundation Not published · $10K Provide small grants to first-responder organizations to help underwrite equipment or training that would help organizations respond to emergency situations.	Not published	$10K
Code One Fund The Central Indiana Police Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A Central Indiana Police Foundation funding program (specific details limited in provided materials).	Not published	Varies
First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarship Fund Grant National Law Enforcement · Foundation Not published · Varies The First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarship Fund offers college scholarships to children of first responders, emphasizing financial need and academic merit.	Not published	Varies
Signal 13 Scholarship Program Frank J Battaglia Signal 13 Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Foundation has recently expanded its scholarship program to help more police families pay for college.	Not published	Varies
Paramedic/Fire Academy Scholarship Program San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency · Foundation Not published · Up to $200K The Fire Foundation addresses a critical shortage of paramedics in San Diego County, as identified by Fire Chiefs.	Not published	Up to $200K
Public Safety Memorial Grant Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundationinc · Foundation Not published · Up to $18K An award for children of Georgia law enforcement officers, firemen, and prison guards who have been permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty.	Not published	Up to $18K
First Responder Fund Eastmont Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
GBU Foundation Community Grant Awards GBU Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K – $10K	Not published	$3K – $10K
Emergency Relief Program Texas State Association of Fire Fighters · Foundation Rolling · Up to $1K The Texas State Fire Fighters Emergency Relief and College Scholarship Fund, Inc. provides financial assistance to eligible firefighters and their families during challenging times and hardship situations.	Rolling	Up to $1K
Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program - Toxicology Driving Under the Influence (DUI)/Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID): Medical Examiners/Coroner’s Offices, and Law Enforcement Coroner’s Divisions (CA) California Highway Patrol · Foundation Not published · Up to $2M The Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program aims to enhance data collection in Medical Examiner and Coroner's offices regarding DUI/DUID incidents. With approximately $11 million available, each grant application can request up to $2 million.	Not published	Up to $2M
Scholarships for Children of First Responders National Law Enforcement · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Abilene Back the Badge Foundation - Assistance Program Abilene Back the Badge Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The foundation offers an assistance program, though specific details about funding amounts, eligibility criteria, and focus areas are not provided on the available pages. Limited information is available.	Not published	Varies
John T. Sloper Community Scholarship for Paramedics Grant Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K Easily learn more about the John T. The next deadline for this grant is Fri, 15 Jan 2027.	Not published	Up to $3K
Livingston County First Responders Scholarship Grant The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouriinc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri Inc. was established in 2009 as a 501(c)3 public charity to help donors support their favorite charities while receiving maximum tax advantage.	Not published	$1K – $5K
Survivor Tuition Benefits (NJ) Grant New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority · Foundation Not published · Varies The Survivor Tuition Benefits (STB) Program in New Jersey provides scholarships for children and surviving spouses of firefighters, emergency service workers, and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.	Not published	Varies
Sandy Springs Police Benevolent Fund - Grant of Assistance Sandy Springs Police Benevolent Fund · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Sandy Springs Police Benevolent Fund (SSPBF) provides financial assistance to qualified recipients who experience unforeseen circumstances or crises.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 289–306 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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