Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, specifically within the Grant Programs Directorate. This program is part of a broader federal effort to enhance national resilience and improve emergency response capacity across the United States. Since its inception in 2005, the SAFER Program has distributed billions of dollars in funding to support fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations in strengthening staffing levels and operational readiness. The program aligns with federal priorities to reduce fire-related risks, improve emergency response outcomes, and ensure communities are adequately protected. The primary purpose of the SAFER Grant Program is to increase the number of trained firefighters available to respond to emergencies. Funding supports hiring new firefighters, converting part-time or paid-on-call personnel into full-time roles, and recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters. The program is structured around two primary activity types: Hiring Activity and Recruitment and Retention (R&R) Activity. These activities are designed to help fire departments meet nationally recognized staffing and deployment standards, achieve consistent 24-hour staffing, and improve compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards. Funding under the program is provided as federal financial assistance grants with a total expected program funding of $324 million and approximately 190 anticipated awards. While no specific award range is provided, funding is distributed based on applicant needs, project scope, and alignment with program priorities. Allowable uses of funds include personnel-related costs such as salaries and benefits for firefighters, recruitment initiatives, and retention programs. Certain restrictions apply, including prohibitions on supplanting existing funding, using funds for construction, lobbying, or legal actions against government entities. Indirect costs are allowable, and limited management and administration costs are permitted under specific activities. Eligibility is limited to fire departments and nonprofit organizations that represent volunteer firefighter interests at various jurisdictional levels. Federal agencies, for-profit entities, and individuals are not eligible. Applicants must meet strict requirements related to organizational structure, staffing, and financial stability, including maintaining at least 80 percent of prior fire-related budget levels. The program does not allow subawards or subapplicants, and only one application per activity type may be submitted. Additional eligibility conditions apply depending on the selected activity, particularly regarding volunteer versus career department status. The application process is conducted through the FEMA GO system and requires completion of standard federal forms such as the SF-424 and associated budget and certification documents. Applicants must also register with SAM.gov, obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, and maintain active federal registration throughout the grant lifecycle. No pre-application or letter of intent is required. Applications are evaluated through a multi-phase review process that includes automated pre-scoring, peer review panels composed of fire service professionals, and technical evaluations by FEMA staff. Evaluation criteria focus on project description, operational impact, financial need, and cost-benefit justification. The application window for this funding cycle opens on May 19, 2026 and closes on June 22, 2026. Funding selections are expected no later than September 30, 2026, with awards issued beginning around mid-September and continuing through the end of the fiscal year. The period of performance varies depending on the activity type, with hiring grants typically lasting 36 months and recruitment and retention grants ranging from 12 to 48 months. Recipients must comply with ongoing reporting requirements, including semi-annual financial and performance reports, and participate in program evaluations as required. Technical assistance and support are available through the Fire Grants Program Help Desk, which provides guidance on eligibility, application submission, and program administration. Additional support is available through FEMA regional offices and specialized divisions handling financial, compliance, and environmental review matters. Overall, the SAFER Grant Program represents a significant federal investment in public safety infrastructure, aimed at ensuring that communities nationwide have sufficient firefighting personnel to respond effectively to emergencies.

Focus on clearly demonstrating financial need and operational risk reduction Align project with NFPA standards and staffing improvements Ensure narratives are unique accurate and detailed to avoid disqualification