Rewarding Responders Grant

The Rewarding Responders Grant is a private philanthropic funding opportunity offered by the We Energies Foundation to support public safety response agencies operating within the utility company's natural gas and electric service territory. The foundation emphasizes its commitment to employee and community safety and uses this grant initiative to strengthen emergency response capabilities across the communities it serves. County, local, and volunteer fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and rescue organizations are specifically encouraged to apply. Organizations that previously received funding through the 2025 grant cycle are not eligible to apply during the 2026 cycle, reinforcing the program's intent to distribute support across a broad range of public safety organizations over time. The program is designed to fund special, one-time public safety initiatives that improve emergency preparedness, responder safety, or lifesaving capabilities. Eligible expenditures include both equipment purchases and professional development or training expenses. The foundation specifically notes that projects should be part of a well-planned and integrated safety initiative rather than routine operational spending. Examples of allowable equipment include automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Jaws of Life rescue tools, carbon monoxide and natural gas measuring devices, thermal imaging cameras, pediatric IV kits, night-vision equipment, ballistic vests, masks, helmets, fire-resistant suits, and other responder safety gear. Professional development costs such as registration fees, tuition, on-site trainer fees, and related instructional expenses are also eligible. The foundation imposes several restrictions on funding use. Grants cannot support emergency generators, large capital projects such as buildings or major vehicle purchases, real estate acquisitions, endowments, software purchases, promotional items such as T-shirts, travel expenses, stipends, or meal costs. Any equipment purchased through the grant program must remain under the ownership of the recipient department for at least five years unless the item is consumable or expires naturally. This requirement demonstrates the foundation's emphasis on durable community benefit and long-term public safety enhancement. Grant funds must be fully utilized within two years of award receipt. The We Energies Foundation will distribute a total of $150,000 annually through this initiative. Individual awards are capped at $2,000 per project, and only one application per organization will be accepted during the funding cycle. The online application requires applicants to provide organizational and project budget information, an organizational overview, and several narrative responses describing the proposed project. Organizations must include their legal organizational name, EIN or Federal Tax Identification Number, details about organization size and service area, and statistics regarding emergency response activity. Applicants are also asked to explain why the requested equipment or training was selected, how it will be maintained, and how it will improve safety outcomes in the community. Applications are evaluated according to a structured scoring framework. Organizational descriptions are worth five points, while project descriptions and project impact explanations are each worth fifteen points. Project timelines and identification of additional funding sources are worth ten points, and contribution recognition plans are worth five points. Applicants are encouraged to provide data and statistics demonstrating how the proposed equipment or training would have improved prior emergency response situations. The application also asks organizations to describe how the We Energies Foundation will be recognized for its support, such as through press releases, event signage, or community acknowledgments. The application period opens May 1 and closes June 15 annually, making the opportunity recurring on a yearly basis. Award notifications are expected by August 31. Applications are submitted online through the We Energies Foundation application process. No pre-application, letter of intent, or concept paper is required before submission. Questions regarding the program may be directed to the Foundation Administrator through the provided email address at foundation@we-energies.com or by telephone at 414-221-2107. The opportunity is geographically restricted to organizations operating within the We Energies natural gas and electric service area, making eligibility dependent on local service geography rather than statewide or national availability.

Provide detailed data-driven explanations of how the equipment or training will improve community safety outcomes. Clearly justify why the selected equipment or training was chosen over alternatives and explain expected usage frequency maintenance requirements and long-term impact. Include strong recognition plans for the We Energies Foundation and demonstrate that the project is a well-planned one-time safety initiative.