Grants for First Responders

Last updated October 22, 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
Improving Criminal Justice Response (ICJR) Attorney General Grants · State Not published · $50M ICJR grants improve criminal justice system responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.	Not published	$50M
Battle of the Badges Scholarship Fund Grant Berks County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Battle of the Badges Scholarship Fund, established in 2007 by the Berks County Community Foundation, provides scholarships for high school seniors who are children of active or retired police officers and firefighters in Reading.	Not published	Varies
Southern, Central & Coastal California Fire Prevention & Preparedness Grant California Fire Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The California Fire Foundation is offering funding to support wildfire safety and preparedness projects that benefit under-resourced communities in California.	Not published	Up to $25K
Emergency Management Performance Grant - Salary (EMPG-S) (F) Indiana Department of Homeland Security · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
9.11 Promise Run Scholarships Grant 9.11 Promise · Foundation Not published · $5K – $15K The 9.11 Promise Run Scholarships provide financial support to children of first responders and military personnel who have been killed or injured.	Not published	$5K – $15K
North Smithfield Ambulance & Rescue Association Fund Grants The Rhode Island Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $800 – $3K The North Smithfield Ambulance & Rescue Association Fund Grants, supported by The Rhode Island Community Foundation, aim to enhance the health and welfare of North Smithfield citizens.	Not published	$800 – $3K
WellSpan EMS Fund Memorial Health Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies Established by WellSpan Health to create a more coordinated, regional EMS system that effectively meets the needs of York County communities. The fund provides grants to support emergency medical services infrastructure and collaboration.	Not published	Varies
Charleston First Responders Scholarship Grant Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K The Charleston First Responders Scholarship, established by the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, honors the bravery of first responders and their families.	Not published	$1K
Wildland Fire Fund Grant El Pomar Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Wildland Fire Fund Grant, established by El Pomar Foundation, aims to support volunteer fire agencies and first responders in Colorado with essential emergency resources.	Not published	Varies
Kathryn M. Milton Scholarship Fund National Fraternal Order of Police · Foundation Not published · Varies The National Auxiliary's Scholarship program provides educational support to members of the FOP Auxiliary and their descendants.	Not published	Varies
Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) - Grants Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board · State Not published · Varies The Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services administers legislatively named, formula, and a competitive grant program to support the provision of emergency medical services throughout Minnesota.	Not published	Varies
Financial Assistance Program Denver Fire Fighters Burn Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Charitable Foundation assists in the care and recovery of fire fighters and those closest to them throughout life's challenges. The foundation maintains confidentiality for all medical and financial information submitted.	Rolling	Varies
William Warneke Hotshot Memorial Scholarship Pima Community College Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies To encourage students pursuing the important career of Fire Sciences by offering scholarship support to students in the PCC Fire Academy program in Bill's name.	Not published	Varies
Survivors Fund The 100 Club Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $300K The 100 Club's Survivors Fund provides immediate and ongoing financial assistance to families of local heroes killed in the line of duty.	Rolling	Up to $300K
Neighbor Next Door (NND) Down Payment and Closing Costs (DPCC) Assistance Loan Dakota Land Trust · Foundation Rolling · Up to $8K Down payment and closing cost assistance loan program for essential service professionals including teachers, nurses, police officers, and firefighters.	Rolling	Up to $8K
Captain Fred Schwan Firefighter/Paramedic Memorial Scholarship Grant Ashland County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Captain Fred Schwan Firefighter/Paramedic Memorial Scholarship, established by the family and friends of Fred Schwan, aims to support the training of aspiring firefighters and paramedics in Ashland County.	Not published	Varies
Awards of Excellence First Responders Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 Scholarship program for high school seniors who are children of local first responders.	Not published	$500
Annual Grants Families Behind the Badge Children's Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Families Behind the Badge Children's Foundation awards annual grants to local charitable organizations, with a specific interest in non-profits focused on serving the first responder community and providing financial assistance to…	Not published	Varies
Maryland Police K9 Grant - PROGRAM EXTENDED - APPLYnow !! K9 Working Dogs International · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
William and Eleanor Cleveland Scholarship Grant Columbus Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K William and Eleanor Cleveland Scholarship The scholarship provides assistance to dependent children of members of Columbus Division of Fire. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.	Not published	$1K
EMERGENCY SERVICES and PUBLIC SAFETY – State Homeland Security Grant Program Real-location: General   Vermont Department of Homeland Security         · State Not published · $14.4M Support emergency preparedness and management planning, equipment, training and exercises, and law enforcement terrorism prevention activities that assist in achieving core capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, protecting…	Not published	$14.4M
Technical Assistance Fund (TAF) Clean Energy Group Inc · Foundation Not published · $180K – $200K The TAF provides one-on-one technical support and small grants to community-based organizations, municipalities, affordable housing developers, emergency services, and first responders to conduct solar+storage feasibility assessments.	Not published	$180K – $200K
California Statewide Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Funding California Fire Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The California Fire Foundation (CFF) is a statewide nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Sacramento, CA. Formed in 1987, CFF’s mandate includes an array of survivor assistance projects and community initiatives.	Not published	Varies
9/11 First Responders Scholarships (Public Safety Scholarship Fund) Rotary Club of Charlotte North Car · Foundation Not published · $2K – $6K To provide scholarships to undergraduate students who are children of Charlotte area public safety personnel. Awards made on the basis of academic merit, financial need and community service.	Not published	$2K – $6K

Showing 193–216 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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