Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program Grant

Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Volunteer Fire Council Inc
Amount: US $10,000
Last Updated: May 22, 2025

Summary

The Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program Grant, initiated by State Farm and the National Volunteer Fire Council, aims to support volunteer fire departments in acquiring critical safety equipment. In 2025, the program will award $1.5 million in grants, providing $10,000 each to 150 eligible departments. This initiative not only enhances firefighter safety and operational efficiency but also fosters community service, ensuring that these departments are well-equipped to respond effectively to emergencies.

Overview

Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program State Farm® and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are proud to team up for the Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program to help resource-constrained volunteer fire departments secure needed equipment. The program launched in 2024, and due to overwhelming demand State Farm doubled its initial commitment – awarding $1 million in grants to 100 departments. In 2025, the commitment grows even further. State Farm will award a total of $1.5 million to 150 volunteer fire departments. Each will receive a $10,000 grant to help them secure essential equipment that will improve firefighter safety, effectiveness, and efficiency and enable them to better serve their communities. Ongoing support from State Farm ensures that more volunteer fire departments have the resources they need to protect their teams and the people they serve. State Farm will also provide one-year NVFC memberships to the first 2,000 eligible applicants to give them access to all the benefits the NVFC offers. Learn more about what’s included with NVFC membership here.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible for the grant, departments must meet the following criteria:This grant must be used for eligible fire department equipment.Department must be over 50% volunteer; paid on-call is considered volunteer.Department must serve a population of 25,000 or less.Department must be located in the U.S. and legally organized under state law.Revenue for the department’s most recently completed fiscal year must not have exceeded $250,000.Department must demonstrate a need for the grant by indicating what the funds will be used for and articulating the impact this grant will have on the department and community.Department must be willing to share a department photo or video and publicize the grant award. The NVFC will provide sample promotional tools and templates to help.Department must report back within four months on how the grant funds were used.Only one application will be accepted per department.To support volunteer fire departments across the nation, at least one recipient will be selected from each state with 10 or more eligible applications. You do not need to purchase an NVFC membership to be eligible to apply for the grant. Multiple stations within the same district may apply separately if they operate as distinct entities and each independently meets all eligibility criteria (being over 50 percent volunteer, serving a population of 25,000 or less, having annual revenue under $250,000, etc.).Alternatively, the district can submit one application on behalf of multiple stations, but all included stations must collectively meet the eligibility requirements. In either case, coordination is important to avoid duplicate applications and ensure all stations are informed.The grant funds must be used for equipment. Warranties and training costs specifically for the requested equipment can be included in the total grant request. If funding for equipment training or a warranty is needed, be sure to include those costs in your application as part of the items you plan to purchase with the $10,000. The grant can be used to purchase a wide range of equipment that supports firefighter safety and operational readiness. This includes items such as personal protective equipment, communications tools, EMS and fire suppression equipment, rescue and hazmat tools, decontamination supplies, rehab items, and basic station support. Technology like drones and tablets, as well as a variety of tools and respirator equipment, are also eligible. Training costs and warranties related to the requested equipment may also be included. Refer to the Eligible Items list for more details. The grant may be used to complete a larger equipment purchase. For example, if your department has been raising funds for a new apparatus and only needs $10,000 more to complete the purchase, this grant can be used to meet that goal. However, the grant funds must be spent within four months of being received. That means all other funds needed to complete the purchase must already be in hand. The grant may be used for maintenance, repairs, or upgrades to existing equipment if the work improves safety, functionality, or extends the usable life of the item and is directly related to improving firefighter safety and readiness. Examples include refitting SCBAs, replacing worn components on extrication tools, upgrading communication equipment, or servicing gear to meet current standards. You may apply for used or refurbished equipment.The grant covers sales tax or shipping costs. Include those expenses in your $10,000 cost breakdown.If your department exceeded the $250,000 revenue limit due to a one-time grant, you may still qualify. In that case:Enter your typical annual revenue (excluding the one-time grant) in the revenue field. Use the narrative to explain the one-time grant, including the amount, purpose, and that it is not expected to recur.

Ineligibility

Any subsequent applications received for that department will be ineligible.2024 recipients are ineligible to apply in 2025.Late applications cannot be accepted for any reason, including emergency calls. EMS or rescue squads cannot apply.Auxiliaries or associations are not eligible.A State Farm agent cannot apply on behalf of the fire department.The only exception is if the State Farm agent is a member of the department; however, the agent will be applying on behalf of the fire department and representing the fire department and not State Farm.Having a State Farm agent or associate on the department does not influence the review or selection process.This grant is not intended to support an ongoing fundraising effort or to be held for future use. The grant cannot be used toward loan repayments or debt reduction. If you enter over $250,000 in the Revenue field or enter $0, your application will be automatically disqualified.