The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is a foundational DHS and FEMA preparedness program. Originally established in 2000 and expanded in the wake of Sept. 11, the program enhances public safety by providing funding for the mission-critical resources, including training, protective gear, vehicles and specialized equipment, needed to protect their communities from fire and evolving hazards.

Three main categories of organizations are eligible to apply directly to FEMA for AFG funding:

1. Fire departments: Local fire departments operating in any of the 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. territories (such as Guam and American Samoa) or any federally recognized Indian tribe.
2. Nonaffiliated EMS organizations: Public or private nonprofit EMS entities that provide medical transport. To be eligible, the EMS unit must not be affiliated with a hospital and must serve an area where emergency services are not already adequately provided by a fire department.
3. State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs): Applicants must be the designated sole fire service training agency within a state or territory, as recognized by legislation or a Governor's declaration.

Note for AFG FY 2025: Ensure your SAM.gov registration and FEMA GO account are active and updated. Eligibility is verified during the technical review process, and an expired registration can disqualify your otherwise competitive application.

With FY 2024 awards often exceeding $150,000 for equipment sets, the AFG program frequently prioritizes solutions that drive interoperability and enhance responder safety. Items are ranked high, medium or low priority. Per recent FEMA guidelines, the following are eligible at various levels of priority for each applicant type:

1. P25 two-way radios & pagers: Portable and mobile radios remain a consistent high priority for replacing non-compliant equipment.
2. Accountability solutions: Tools integrated into radio networks to support fire ground safety and personnel tracking.
3. In-vehicle repeaters & headsets: Essential for maintaining clear communication in extreme environments.

Please note: FEMA has previously stated they will only consider high-priority items for funding projects, so it’s important to check previous priority lists to understand FEMA’s focus for upcoming cycles.

Take advantage of our collaboration with FireRescue1 to maximize your funding potential. We offer a robust range of professional grant resources at little to no cost, including:

1. Tailored research & data: Access the localized stats needed to justify your department’s specific needs.
2. Expert consulting: Work with experts to streamline your application process and build the most competitive proposal possible.
3. Real-time grant notifications: Keep track of the latest on the AFG 2025 opportunities and get technical updates.

Please note: While we provide extensive resources to help you succeed, comprehensive grant writing services are available as a separate, fee-based service depending on your agency’s requirements.

The FY 2025 AFG application period is the next major window for fire and EMS grant funding. However, the FEMA FY25 AFG program dates are unknown at this time. As such, departments should not wait to begin preparing their narratives. Once the FEMA GO system returns to full operational status, verifying your login credentials and SAM.gov status will be critical to avoid the expected rush.

Pro tip: Do not wait for the official NOFO to land. Because of the budget delays, the application window could be more condensed than usual. Use this time to troubleshoot any FEMA GO access issues and update your organization’s Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). This ensures you can hit submit the moment the window opens and avoid last-minute technical disqualifications.

Keeping track of past awards is an excellent way to gauge the competitive average for equipment costs in your region. Information regarding previous AFG awards is available on the official FEMA AFG program page. Most FY24 AFG awards were finalized by late 2025.

AFG funding limits are determined by the population of the jurisdiction served. Based on previous cycles, the following caps are expected for the FY25 cycle:

*Final aggregate caps are subject to the specific FY 2025 AFG NOFO guidelines.

You can start your application package ASAP! Similar documentation is required each year, so take the time now, while the application isn’t open, to get prepared. The open application period typically lasts only a few weeks, and competition is high.

Important warning: Late submissions are never accepted. Common pitfalls like expired SAM.gov registrations, forgotten FEMA GO passwords or last-minute technical malfunctions can disqualify your department. Starting early ensures you have time to troubleshoot technical issues and polish your narrative sections.

To ensure a complete narrative application for the AFG, your application must clearly articulate these six critical narratives:

1. Financial need: Prove your budget shortfall is beyond your control.
2. Project description: Use local statistics and technical language to justify why your radio technology or other equipment requests meet the risks you have identified.
3. Cost/benefit: Show that your project is a high-yield investment of federal dollars.
4. Statement of effect: Detail how this award will improve daily life-saving operations.
5. Critical infrastructure: Identify high-risk areas (hospitals, schools, power plants and more) in your “first-due” response area.
6. Organization description: Clearly explain your community’s unique risks to reviewers who may be unfamiliar with your region.

Important note: Of these, four (Financial Need, Project Description, Cost/Benefit, and Statement of Effect) are scored at peer review, each weighted at 25%. This is averaged with the electronic pre-score to establish the final score.

We partner with FireRescue1 to offer professional grant resources, including tailored research and expert consulting. While we cannot guarantee funding, our specialists help you build the most competitive proposal possible to meet the FY25 AFG requirements.