Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency within the Grant Programs Directorate. The program is a longstanding federal initiative designed to provide direct financial assistance to fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations, and State Fire Training Academies. Since its inception, the program has distributed billions of dollars to enhance firefighter and public safety, improve operational readiness, and strengthen national resilience against fire-related hazards. The primary purpose of the program is to equip and train emergency responders to meet established national standards. Funding supports a wide range of activities including the acquisition of personal protective equipment, fire apparatus and emergency vehicles, facility modifications to mitigate health risks, and implementation of wellness and resilience programs. The program also emphasizes interoperability, operational efficiency, and preparedness through training aligned with recognized standards such as NFPA and OSHA. These objectives collectively aim to reduce injuries, fatalities, and property damage associated with fire incidents. Funding is provided as a grant with a total program allocation of approximately $291.6 million and an anticipated 1,800 awards. While specific award amounts vary based on jurisdiction population and project type, statutory caps limit awards up to several million dollars depending on service population. Allowable costs must comply with federal regulations, and recipients are restricted from using funds for personnel salaries or benefits. Indirect costs are not permitted, but management and administration costs are allowable with proper justification. Pre-award costs, such as grant writing fees, may be reimbursed with prior approval. A cost share is required for all recipients and is determined based on population served. Jurisdictions serving 20,000 or fewer residents must provide a 5 percent match, those serving between 20,000 and 1 million must provide 10 percent, and those serving over 1 million must provide 15 percent. Cost share must be in the form of non-federal cash contributions, although limited trade-in allowances may be considered. Applicants must also maintain a level of effort equal to at least 80 percent of their previous two years of expenditures for similar activities. Eligible applicants include fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, and State Fire Training Academies located within U.S. states, territories, and federally recognized tribal jurisdictions. Applications are submitted through the FEMA Grants Outcomes system and require completion of standard federal forms along with detailed narratives addressing financial need, project description, cost-benefit, and operational impact. Each narrative section is limited in length and plays a critical role in the peer review evaluation process. Applications undergo a multi-phase evaluation process including electronic pre-scoring, peer review by fire service professionals, and internal FEMA review. Selection criteria emphasize alignment with program priorities, demonstrated financial need, operational impact, and cost effectiveness. Awards are expected to be announced on a rolling basis beginning in late August and continuing through September, with performance periods determined individually upon award obligation. The application window for this cycle opens May 19, 2026 and closes June 22, 2026. There are no pre-application requirements. Applicants must ensure proper registration in federal systems such as SAM and FEMA GO prior to submission. Technical assistance is available through the Fire Grants Program Help Desk via phone and email. The program is recurring annually, with future cycles expected based on federal appropriations and program continuation.

Align requests with FEMA priorities; clearly demonstrate financial need; ensure narratives are original and data is accurate; prioritize high-impact safety improvements