Firefighters' Grants Were Open—But Now They're Closed for FY 2025 Applications
Published Date: 9/10/2026
Notice
Summary
Firefighters and related groups can apply for grants to boost safety and training through the FY 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant and Fire Prevention and Safety programs. Applications were open from May 19 to June 22, 2026, helping fire departments and nonprofits get funding to protect both first responders and the public. These grants support everything from training to research, making communities safer and stronger.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Award Caps by Population Served
AFG awards are capped by population served: recipients serving 100,000 people or fewer may receive up to $1,000,000; those serving >100,000–500,000 up to $2,000,000; >500,000–1,000,000 up to $2,910,000. Recipients serving >1,000,000–2.5 million and >2.5 million are subject to a 1% aggregate cap (FY2025 1% cap = $2,910,000), though FEMA may waive the aggregate cap in individual cases—waiver limits cited are up to $6,000,000 and up to $9,000,000 respectively. FEMA may not waive population-based limits set by statute (15 U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)(A)).
FY2025 Fire Grants Funding Totals
For FY2025, Congress appropriated $324,000,000 to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. FEMA made $291,600,000 available for AFG awards (about 1,800 awards) and $32,400,000 available for Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) awards (about 100 awards); FEMA received 8,426 AFG and 758 FP&S applications.
Statutory Funding Set-Asides and Limits
FY2025 AFG funds must follow statutory set-asides: at least 25% for career fire departments, 25% for volunteer departments, 25% for combination/paid-on-call departments, at least 10% for open competition, at least 3.5% for EMS providers, and nonaffiliated EMS providers no more than 2% of total funds. State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs) may receive not more than 3% collectively (maximum $500,000 per SFTA). No more than 25% of funds may be used to buy vehicles; FEMA intends to dedicate 10% of vehicle funds for ambulances.
Who Can (and Cannot) Apply
Eligible applicants include fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, State Fire Training Academies, national/regional/State/local/Tribal governments, and certain nonprofits operating in the 50 States, DC, U.S. territories, or federally recognized Tribal Nations. Ineligible applicants include for-profit organizations, Federal agencies, and individuals; some fire departments solely responsible for fires on Federal land and organizations whose sole duties are limited to airport/port facility grounds also are ineligible.
Cost-Share and Maintenance Requirements
AFG grants require non-Federal cost-share and a maintenance-of-effort. Generally the cost-share is 15% of the award, but it varies: applicants serving populations of 20,000 or less must provide at least 5%; those serving >20,000 up to 1,000,000 must provide at least 10%; and those serving over 1,000,000 must provide at least 15%. Cost-share need not be in hand at application, but FEMA validates ability to meet it before award. In-kind matches are not allowed; FEMA may allow trade-in credit of owned assets as cash.
How Applications Are Scored
AFG applications are pre-scored electronically (50% of total) and then peer-reviewed by at least three panelists (50% of total), followed by technical and FEMA program office reviews. For AFG peer review, narrative scoring is split evenly: Financial Need 25%, Project Description 25%, Cost-Benefit 25%, and Statement of Effect 25%. FP&S and R&D activities have their own weighted narrative criteria described in the notice.
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