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
SC Opioid Recovery Fund (SCORF) South Carolina Hospital Association · Foundation Not published · Varies The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund (SCORF) was created by the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Act to administer and disperse funds from opioid settlement agreements.	Not published	Varies
Columbus Firefighters Foundation Scholarship for Firefighters or EMTs Grant Columbus Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K The Columbus Firefighters Foundation Scholarship supports individuals in Ohio pursuing careers as firefighters or EMTs.	Not published	$1K
ESA Youth Scholarship Program Electronic Security Association · Foundation Not published · $1K – $8K	Not published	$1K – $8K
Darrell and Gloria Rank K9 Corps Fund Grant Berks County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Darrell and Gloria Rank K9 Corps Fund, managed by the Berks County Community Foundation, is dedicated to enhancing public safety in Berks County by providing grants to governmental entities.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Medical Services - Licensing and Certification Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems · State Not published · Varies Coordinate testing, certification, and licensing of all prehospital care clinicians in Maryland. Maintains all continuing education records for Maryland's 18,000 EMS providers.	Not published	Varies
CSX Charitable Investments- In Kind Donations Grant CSX Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies CSX Charitable Investments provide essential in-kind donations to nonprofit organizations focused on supporting military members and community first responders.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Medical Services - Educational Support Services Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems · State Not published · Varies Provides instructional support and continuing education programs for prehospital clinicians and hospital personnel. Produce programs on EMS related issues.	Not published	Varies
Richard "Obie" Oberweiser Memorial Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of NCW · Foundation Not published · Varies The Richard "Obie" Oberweiser Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of a dedicated first responder who served as an EMT-I and volunteer firefighter.	Not published	Varies
SFY26 September 11th License Plates Grant Illinois Emergency Management Agency · Foundation Not published · $170K Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security The primary responsibility of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is to better prepare the State of Illinois for natural…	Not published	$170K
State Preparedness Incident Response Equipment (SPIRE) Grant Program Emergency Management · State Not published · Varies Provides equipment to local governments and other recipients for emergency preparedness.	Not published	Varies
Bensard Medical Scholarship Denver Police Blue Hat Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Scholarship to assist with medical education tuition for children, stepchildren, and grandchildren of active and retired Denver Police officers and professional staff.	Not published	Varies
State Homeland Security Program – Competitive National Priority Area Projects Grant State of Texas Office of the Governor · State Not published · $10K State Homeland Security Program – Competitive National Priority Area Projects The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications for projects that support state and local efforts to prevent terrorism and targeted violence and…	Not published	$10K
Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes (Cyber) Attorney General Grants · State Not published · $50M Supports prevention, enforcement, and prosecution of cybercrimes against individuals.	Not published	$50M
Coleman, Chambers & Rogers First Responders College Scholarship Grant North Georgia Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K Coleman, Chambers & Rogers First Responders College Scholarship This scholarship was established in 2017 by Coleman, Chambers & Rogers LLP. This scholarship was created out of awareness and gratitude for first responders in North Georgia.	Not published	$1K
Fleetwood Memorial Foundation Grant Community Foundation of North Texas (Tax · Foundation Not published · $3K – $10K The Fleetwood Memorial Foundation Grant, established in 1974 by Mr. W.I. Fleetwood, provides essential financial assistance to Texas first responders and their families during critical times.	Not published	$3K – $10K
Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Scholarship Grant The Connecticut Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2K The Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Scholarship, established by the Connecticut Community Foundation, supports college-bound students from Roxbury, offering a $2000 award.	Not published	$2K
Officer Eric Talley Fallen Officer Scholarship Boulder Police Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K Scholarship created in honor of fallen Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley (killed in the line of duty March 22, 2021), funded by an anonymous local donor, for young people pursuing an education and career in law enforcement.	Not published	$3K
YES Camp (Youth Emergency Services) Equipment Grant Community Foundation of Mendocino County · Foundation Not published · Varies Grant from the Community Foundation to support Youth Emergency Services (YES) Camp, a hands-on emergency response training program for high school students.	Not published	Varies
First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (361577) Grant FORECAST Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis · Foundation Not published · Varies The First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) aims to train first responders and communities to effectively administer FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medications.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Medical Services - Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Training Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems · State Not published · Varies Provides funds to assist with training programs for Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) personnel. County Government, Municipalities/Towns, Regional, State Government	Not published	Varies
CU West CARES Foundation Grants Credit Union West · Foundation Rolling · Varies The CU West CARES Charitable Foundation provides one-time grants, financial education, and volunteer support to non-profit organizations aligned with the foundation's four key pillars.	Rolling	Varies
Berges Family Foundation Grant Berges Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Berges Family Foundation Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in St. Louis through targeted philanthropic investments.	Not published	Varies
1687 Foundation Book Ministry Grant The 1687 Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The 1687 Foundation Book Ministry was established in response to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, aiming to provide Christian literature to those in need, including first responders and at-risk populations.	Not published	Varies
Foundation Grant Program Seattle Police Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Seattle Police Foundation provides funding to SPD officers and civilian staff through program grants that emphasize community building, crime prevention, officer wellness, and support to children and families in need.	Not published	Varies

Showing 121–144 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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