How to Write a Safer Grant Completed Application

FEMA prefers that all funds be spent, so many departments develop fire prevention training programs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) created the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) to directly fund fire departments. Funding goes to either the hiring or training of firefighters, or to the recruitment and retention of volunteers. Applications can be completed online through FEMA's website for the upcoming year. FEMA also provides guidelines and training on how best to allocate the funds your fire department receives.

Instructions

1. Check your eligibility. Career fire departments can apply only for funding in the hiring category. Volunteer and combination fire departments are eligible for both hiring and recruitment grants, but must fill out an application for each. Municipalities and fire districts are able to submit applications on behalf of fire departments lacking the legal status to do so.

2. Go to www.firegrantsupport.com and create a user name and password. The user name and password can be used each time you apply as a representative for the same organization. Only one application per category, per application period is accepted; attempting to file multiple applications will void your eligibility. Look for an online tutorial that takes you through the application process.

3. Log in during open application (usually between August and September) and fill out an automated application. The application can be saved, however, once it has been submitted, no changes can be made. Use the drop-down menus to select the best answer for each question. If possible, have all paperwork, employee information and training standards handy for easy referral. You will also need to provide information about the population served, number of stations, call volume, number of civilian and firefighter casualties and the number of firefighter positions.

4. Designate and justify your community as either urban, suburban or rural. This may effect your funding priorities. If you are unsure about how your department should be classified, contact FEMA. You may choose a different designation than what their organization provides, but you must justify it based on population information and department statistics.

5. Complete the grant proposal. The bulk of your application will detail the budget and plans for your proposed activity. Each line item in the Request Details section of the application should be expanded on and fully described. Be sure that your grant's main focus is relating the activities back to the funding purpose of either hiring or recruitment. It should be clearly and professionally written, weighing heavily on information and organization and less on emotional appeals. Provide stipulations on how the grant money will be handled and dispersed, especially for volunteer training. Conclude your grant by describing your organization's financial needs and the likely benefits of new programs to the community, particularly in terms of increased safety and daily productivity, improved ability to save lives, and continued maintenance of the critical infrastructure. Consider writing a first draft using a word processing program.

6. Submit both a DUNS number, a unique nine-character number that identifies your organization and is available at no cost by calling 866-705-5711, and a confirmed Central Contractor Registration. Both are necessary to ensure your application goes through. Any supplemental letters of support from the community can be sent to:

   Ms. Elizabeth M. Harman, Assistant Administrator

   DHS/FEMA/Grants Program Preparedness

   Tech World Building -- 9th Floor South Tower

   800 K Street, NW

   Washington, DC 20472-3620

   Fax [phone]

7. For any further questions, contact the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Help Desk at 866-274-0960 or by email at [e-mail].

References

• Fire Grants Support: GUIDANCE AND APPLICATION KIT 2010