Grants for First Responders

Last updated October 22, 2026

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

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Emergency Medical Services Grant Program Montana Department of Transportation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, established in Montana in 2009, aims to enhance prehospital emergency medical services by providing competitive grants to certified emergency medical service providers.	Not published	Varies
New Jersey Emergency Medical Shock Trauma Air Rescue JEMSTAR Grant State of New Jersey Department of Health · State Not published · $6M The New Jersey Emergency Medical Shock Trauma Air Rescue (JEMSTAR) program, overseen by the New Jersey Department of Health, aims to enhance public health response through a dedicated helicopter service.	Not published	$6M
Opioid Settlement Impact and Recovery Grants The Rhode Island Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies In January 2022, Rhode Island joined the national opioid settlement with three major opioid distributors, leading to over $90 million in funding for state and local efforts to address Rhode Island’s opioid crisis.	Not published	Varies
Health and Medical Services: John T. Sloper Community Fund Grants Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $4K The John T. Sloper Community Fund Grants aim to enhance emergency medical services in Southern Dutchess and Putnam counties, honoring the legacy of John T. Sloper.	Not published	Up to $4K
Denver Fire Scholarship Denver Fire Fighters Burn Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Charitable Foundation offers two scholarships to support local high school graduates.	Not published	Varies
Mental & Behavioral Health Program National Law Enforcement · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K Partner Organizations Funded (as of 2021):	Not published	Up to $100K
Hardyston Township First Aid Squad Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of New Jersey · Foundation Not published · Varies Over our 46-year history, the Community Foundation of New Jersey has collaborated with individuals, families, organizations, and businesses to design charitable funds and implement the philanthropic solutions they want to see in their…	Not published	Varies
First Responder Health and Wellness Grants Texas Mutual Insurance Company · Foundation Not published · Varies Texas Mutual partners with VFIS of Texas to support need-based grants for volunteer first responder and nonprofit EMS organizations.	Not published	Varies
Pacific Power / Rocky Mountain Power: Safety and Wellness Organizations Grant Pacificorp Foundation Aka Pacific Power · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Pacific Power Foundation offers grants to support health, safety, and wellness organizations within its service areas across Oregon, Washington, California, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.	Not published	Up to $10K
ALERRT Travel Assistance Grant (TX) State of Texas Office of the Governor · State Not published · Varies The ALERRT Travel Assistance Grant (TX) aims to provide financial support to law enforcement agencies for covering travel expenses incurred while sending officers to Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training.	Not published	Varies
Bell Textron Corporate Grant Bell Textron Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $10K The Bell Textron Corporate Grant aims to uplift communities by supporting military, veterans, first responders, and educational initiatives in STEM. With no application limit, grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000.	Not published	$1K – $10K
Ethan Stadler Memorial Firefighter/EMT Scholarship Grant Ashland County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Ethan Stadler Memorial Firefighter/EMT Scholarship, offered by the Ashland County Community Foundation, supports high school graduates from Ashland County accepted into accredited programs for Firefighter or EMT certification.	Not published	Varies
Texas DPS Scholarship Grant Communities Foundation of Texas Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Texas DPS Scholarship, offered by the Communities Foundation of Texas, provides financial assistance to current or retired Texas Department of Public Safety employees and their immediate family members.	Not published	Up to $5K
EMERGENCY SERVICES and PUBLIC SAFETY – Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative US Department of Justice · Federal Not published · $2.5M – $40M Supports local law enforcement in rural jurisdictions to prevent, respond to, and reduce violent crime.	Not published	$2.5M – $40M
Brian A. Aselton Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant Hartford Foundation for Public Giving · Foundation Not published · $1K The Brian A. Aselton Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, honors a fallen police officer and supports children of active duty police officers in East Hartford, South Windsor, and Hartford.	Not published	$1K
Grant Program Golden Civic Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The foundation supports a wide range of community initiatives including: Based on historical grant recipients (2018-2025), the foundation:	Not published	Varies
Enbridge - Safe Community First Responder Program Grant Enbridge · Foundation Not published · $1K – $10K The Enbridge Safe Community First Responder Program is designed to support emergency response organizations across Canada and the U.S. by providing grants for safety equipment, training, and educational programs.	Not published	$1K – $10K
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation (FHSPSF) Partnership Grant The Ironman Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The IRONMAN Foundation partners with the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation (FHSPSF) to provide grants supporting first responders and public safety initiatives in IRONMAN race communities.	Not published	Varies
Law Enforcement Officer Survival Training Program United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies USDSA offers a highly acclaimed national training program presented FREE of charge to officers across the United States.	Rolling	Varies
Black Hills Charitable Giving Program Grant Black Hills Corporation Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Black Hills Charitable Giving Program supports community growth by providing sponsorships and donations to eligible organizations.	Not published	Varies
NextLevel Jobs - Employer Training Grant (EMS/Fire) (S) Indiana Department of Homeland Security · State Not published · $5M	Not published	$5M
Department of Public Safety - Emergency Communications Networks – Grants Public Safety Department · State Not published · Varies In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Emergency Communication Networks Division (MN DPS-ECN) and the Statewide Emergency Communications Board (SECB), DPS-ECN provides grant funding to support activities related to…	Not published	Varies
California Wildfire Disaster Relief & Recovery Grants California Fire Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The California Fire Foundation is pleased to announce a new grant opportunity for California-based fire departments, local firefighter associations, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit organizations planning relief effort projects…	Not published	Varies
Invest in Blue Fund The Central Indiana Police Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A grant program providing critical equipment, training, and resources to law enforcement agencies across Central Indiana to enhance officer and community safety.	Not published	Varies

Showing 145–168 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 22, 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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