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
Harry J. Morris, Jr. Emergency Services Grant Grand Rapids Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Easily learn more about the Harry J. Morris, Jr. The next deadline for this grant is Mon, 01 Mar 2027. The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that connects people, passion and resources.	Not published	Varies
Children's Fund Scholarship Folds of Honor Eastern-Pa-NJ-Chapter · Foundation Not published · Varies The Children's Fund scholarship seeks to provide support for dependent(s) enrolled in grades K-12.	Not published	Varies
Gift Programs (Birthday, Holiday, and Remembrance Gifts) American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Remembering the children, spouses and parents of fallen officers with gifts throughout the year is a core part of AFP&CC's work.	Not published	Varies
Hudson Valley Guns and Hoses Scholarship Grant Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) empowers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to fulfill their philanthropic goals through the establishment of charitable funds…	Not published	$1K
Charles Homer Barton Scholarship Fund Grant The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $4K The Charles Homer Barton Scholarship Fund supports the dependent children of police officers and sheriff's deputies in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, focusing on academic achievement and good citizenship.	Not published	Up to $4K
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grants Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grants aim to enhance the life-saving capabilities of public safety organizations.	Not published	Up to $40K
State Aid to Localities With Police Departments ("599") Department of Criminal Justice Services · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Paramedic/Fire Academy Cadet Training Program San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency · Foundation Not published · $250 – $1K	Not published	$250 – $1K
Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Scholarship (NJ) Grant New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority · Foundation Not published · Varies The Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Scholarship in New Jersey offers financial support to dependent children of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.	Not published	Varies
Sexual Assault Kit Testing Fund (SAKT) Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy · State Not published · Varies The Sexual Assault Kit Testing Fund is to provide funding to the Maryland State Police and local law enforcement agencies to pay for the testing of sexual assault evidence collection kits by forensic laboratories and reduce the number of…	Not published	Varies
O'Malley Scholarship Foundations in Education Inc · Foundation Not published · Covers 80% of tuition Scholarship established through a $500,000 five-year commitment to Trinity Catholic High School for children of first responders and healthcare workers.	Not published	Covers 80% of tuition
CARESTAR Foundation: Transformations & Innovations Grants Carestar Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1M – $3M The CARESTAR Foundation's Transformations & Innovations Grants aim to enhance Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in California by supporting collaborative projects that address racial disparities and reflect community diversity.	Not published	$1M – $3M
Disaster Relief Program Texas State Association of Fire Fighters · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The Disaster Relief Program provides financial assistance to TSAFF members who suffer financial hardship in declared disaster areas or following natural or man-made disasters. Catastrophic loss limited to damages to:	Not published	Up to $500
Appropriations Program Two Hundred Club of Bergen County · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
100 Club of Arizona Scholarship Grant Arizona Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies For more than four decades, the Arizona Community Foundation has worked in tandem with generous individuals, families, and organizations to address some of the biggest challenges facing our state.	Not published	Varies
Equipment Grant Funding (WA) State of Washington Department of Ecology · State Not published · Varies The Equipment Grant Funding program in Washington aims to enhance community preparedness for oil spills and hazardous materials. With no set ceiling for grants, projects may receive up to $100,000, depending on available funds.	Not published	Varies
Urban Area Security Initiative Federal Fiscal Year 2026 – Regular Projects (UASI-R) Grant State of Texas Office of the Governor · State Not published · $10K The Urban Area Security Initiative Federal Fiscal Year 2025 (UASI-R) aims to bolster state and local efforts in Texas to prevent terrorism and prepare for significant threats.	Not published	$10K
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
Town Pump Charitable Foundation Grants Town Pump Charitable Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Town Pump Charitable Foundation, established in 1999, supports Montana charitable and governmental organizations focusing on basic needs, education, and community assistance.	Not published	Varies
The John C. Russell Health and Wellness Grant for Public Safety in King George Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The John C. Russell Health and Wellness Grant for Public Safety in King George supports public safety organizations and initiatives that promote the health and wellness of the personnel who dedicated their lives to keeping the community…	Not published	Varies
National FOP Tuition Reimbursement Scholarship National Fraternal Order of Police · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The Education Services Committee recognizes the need and benefit of education for FOP members.	Not published	Up to $500
Fallen Officer Eric Talley Memorial Scholarship Boulder Police Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K Scholarship created in honor of fallen Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, who was killed in the line of duty during the March 22, 2021 mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado.	Not published	$3K
United Paramedics of Nashville and Chief Kappu Deshpande EMS Education Scholarship Grant The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The United Paramedics of Nashville and Chief Kappu Deshpande EMS Education Scholarship supports students enrolled in accredited paramedic programs in Tennessee.	Not published	Varies
AED Program The Wayne Hospital Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Wayne HealthCare Foundation partners with Midmark Corporation and Spirit Emergency Medical Services to provide Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to help save lives in the community.	Not published	Varies

Showing 73–96 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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