Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 25 GPD 044 00 98
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through FEMA. Its purpose is to provide direct financial support to frontline response organizations so they can strengthen day-to-day capabilities, improve safety and readiness, and better serve their communities. In practical terms, the program is designed to help fire and emergency medical organizations bring their staffing, training, equipment, and facilities up to recognized standards, while also supporting longer-term improvements in efficiency and interoperability across the emergency response system.
AFG funding is aimed at three primary types of recipients: eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs). The eligible applicant categories listed for this opportunity include county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and certain nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), along with other eligible entities as defined by the program. The core idea is that the grant is meant for organizations directly responsible for emergency response and training, rather than for purely academic or unrelated institutions.
The program supports a wide range of investments that directly affect responder capability and safety. This includes purchasing and upgrading equipment, funding training to meet recognized professional standards, and outfitting personnel with compliant personal protective equipment (PPE). It also allows funding for facility retrofits or modifications that reduce known health hazards for personnel, which can include changes intended to limit exposure risks and improve occupational health protections. In addition, AFG can help organizations acquire emergency response vehicles, which is often a major cost barrier for departments and EMS organizations trying to maintain reliable, modern apparatus.
Beyond equipment and vehicles, the AFG Program also emphasizes the health and readiness of responders. Funding can be used to design and implement health, wellness, and resiliency initiatives that better prepare personnel for the physical and mental demands of incident response. The opportunity also highlights goals like improving operational efficiency, fostering interoperability (so agencies can communicate and operate together more effectively), and supporting broader community resilience. Taken together, these focus areas show that AFG is not only about buying gear, but also about building safer, more coordinated, and more sustainable emergency response organizations.
Key administrative details for this opportunity include the Funding Opportunity Number DHS 25 GPD 044 00 98 and CFDA number 97.044. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity category is listed as discretionary. FEMA anticipates making approximately 1,800 awards under this solicitation, with an award ceiling of $9,000,000. The opportunity was created on 2026-05-18, and the original closing date is 2026-06-22, which is the stated deadline for submitting applications under this posting.Apply for DHS 25 GPD 044 00 98
- The Department of Homeland Security - FEMA in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.044.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $9,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1,800 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.
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FY 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program - FAQs
What is the FY 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program?
The FY 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through FEMA. It provides direct financial support to frontline response organizations to strengthen day-to-day capabilities, improve safety and readiness, and better serve their communities.
What is the main purpose of the AFG Program?
The program is designed to help fire and emergency medical organizations bring staffing, training, equipment, and facilities up to recognized standards. It also supports longer-term improvements in operational efficiency and interoperability across the emergency response system.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by FEMA under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Is this grant competitive or automatic?
The opportunity is listed as discretionary, which indicates it is not an entitlement and awards are made based on the solicitation process rather than automatically.
What types of organizations are the primary intended recipients of AFG funding?
AFG funding is aimed at three primary types of recipients: eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs).
What applicant categories are listed as eligible under this opportunity?
The eligible applicant categories listed include county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and certain nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), along with other eligible entities as defined by the program.
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply as 501(c)(3) nonprofits?
No. The listing specifies 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations excluding institutions of higher education.
What is the overall focus of what AFG is meant to fund?
The core idea is that the grant is meant for organizations directly responsible for emergency response and training, rather than for purely academic or unrelated institutions.
What kinds of projects or purchases can AFG funds support?
The program supports investments that directly affect responder capability and safety, including purchasing and upgrading equipment, funding training to meet recognized professional standards, and outfitting personnel with compliant personal protective equipment (PPE).
Can AFG be used for training?
Yes. The opportunity describes funding training to meet recognized professional standards as an allowable focus area.
Can AFG be used to purchase or upgrade emergency response equipment?
Yes. Purchasing and upgrading equipment is specifically included as a supported investment area.
Can AFG be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Yes. The program allows outfitting personnel with compliant PPE as part of improving safety and readiness.
Can AFG funds be used for facilities?
Yes. The opportunity allows funding for facility retrofits or modifications that reduce known health hazards for personnel, including changes intended to limit exposure risks and improve occupational health protections.
Can AFG fund facility changes aimed at reducing exposure and health risks?
Yes. Facility retrofits or modifications intended to reduce known health hazards and limit exposure risks are included in the described uses of funds.
Can AFG be used to buy emergency response vehicles?
Yes. The program can help organizations acquire emergency response vehicles, addressing a major cost barrier for fire departments and EMS organizations maintaining reliable, modern apparatus.
Does AFG support health, wellness, and resiliency initiatives?
Yes. Funding can be used to design and implement health, wellness, and resiliency initiatives that prepare personnel for the physical and mental demands of incident response.
Is the AFG Program only about buying gear?
No. While equipment and vehicles are supported, the opportunity also emphasizes health and readiness, operational efficiency, interoperability, and broader community resilience.
What does the opportunity mean by interoperability?
Interoperability is described as helping agencies communicate and operate together more effectively across the emergency response system.
How many awards does FEMA anticipate making under this solicitation?
FEMA anticipates making approximately 1,800 awards under this solicitation.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $9,000,000.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this posting?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DHS 25 GPD 044 00 98.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 97.044.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-05-18.
What is the application deadline listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date is 2026-06-22, which is the stated deadline for submitting applications under this posting.
What does the stated closing date represent?
The closing date is described as the deadline for submitting applications under this posting.
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