FY 2025 SAFER Recruit and Retention Grant Workshop
FEMA's SAFER Recruitment and Retention grant funds projects that boost the number and retention of volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters to ensure effective emergency response in communities.
Funder: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2026 (Letter of Intent) | June 2026 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: Funding varies by project; recent cycles have awarded millions annually with individual awards often ranging from $100,000 to several million dollars over up to 4 years.
Summary: Supports recruitment and retention of volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters to help fire departments increase or maintain their staffing levels.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity—dates and details may shift; monitor the FEMA program page for updates.
Description
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Recruitment and Retention grant program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides funding to help fire departments and eligible organizations increase or maintain the number of trained, "front-line" firefighters available in their communities. The program focuses specifically on recruitment and retention of volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters, aiming to ensure adequate staffing for effective emergency response and improved community safety. This forecasted opportunity is based on FEMA’s annual funding cycle and is subject to change; applicants are encouraged to monitor the FEMA SAFER program page for the latest information.
