Question 1

How Do I Get Started?

Accepted Answer

Please contact Ron at Ron@firegrantsexpert.com or (301) 646-0789 to have a conversation about your department’s needs and how they align with grant program priorities. Our job is to make sure you are applying for high priority projects which will ensure the highest chance of success. Our award rate is over 60%.

Question 2

When Can My Department Apply?

Accepted Answer

FEMA AFG and SAFER grants only open for 4-6 weeks each year. Therefore, it is critical that you have your grant application ready prior to the opening. How do we do that? Fire Grants Expert uses a proprietary online data collection tool so that we can get all the information we need to develop a successful application.  We then prepare your narratives and have the department review.

While we are obtaining your data and developing your narratives, our staff will ensure that your SAM and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) registrations are up to date and correctly registered.  If they are not, you cannot begin the application, so this is critical and must be completed weeks in advance.

Departments that prepare in advance have significantly higher award rates.

Question 3

What is Expected of My Department?

Accepted Answer

The grant writing process is a collaboration between FGE and the members of your department.  The online data collection will enable FGE to develop compelling narratives to make your department stand out from other applicants.  Much of the research needed is available in department annual reports, strategic plans, NFIRS/NFORS data, CAD data, etc.

FGE has extensive fire and EMS experience, knows how to maximize your overall score, and will ask questions to determine specific details of your department.  These questions are opportunities for your department to provide additional information that will make your department stand out from the other applicants.

Question 4

Application Period and Email Alerts

Accepted Answer

The application period for federal grants is typically open for four (4) weeks, with the guidance documents usually available for a week or two before the application opening. To find out exactly when documents and applications periods will occur, as well as receive other important grant information from FGE, sign up here.

Question 5

What can I request in a grant?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the grant program.  And just because you can request certain items does not mean they are a priority for the grantor.  Before deciding on what project(s) to pursue, FGE will assist each department in performing a vulnerability analysis and will consider the grant priorities listed in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), as well as past history of the grantor.

Question 6

Where can my department quickly find money?

Accepted Answer

The largest “pot of money” available is the FEMA Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) program.  The AFG program has three main components: SAFER grants are used for personnel (salary and benefits);  The AFG Training and Equipment Grant is used for any non-personnel requests, including training, equipment, health and safety, and vehicle projects, within certain limitations; and the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) is used for fire prevention and research funding. See below for further information on these programs.
There are also many other smaller grant programs available through private foundations, businesses, state, and other federal grants that can provide your department with critically needed resources.  Contact FGE and we’ll research specific grants for your needed items.

Question 7

SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Information

Accepted Answer

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720).
The Guidance and Application Kit will be posted on the SAFER Assistance to Firefighters web site near the start of the application period. All SAFER applicants should read the Guidance to fully understand any changes to the program, award criteria, funding priorities and important special application instructions for completing the application.

Question 8

AFG (Training and Equipment Grants) Information

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
The Guidance and Application Kit will be posted on the AFG Training and Equipment Assistance to Firefighters web site near the start of the application period. All AFG applicants should read the Guidance to fully understand any changes to the program, award criteria, funding priorities and important special application instructions for completing the application.

Question 9

FP&S (Fire Prevention and Safety) Information

Accepted Answer

The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations. 
The Guidance and Application Kit will be posted on the FP&S Assistance to Firefighters web site near the start of the application period. All AFG applicants should read the Guidance to fully understand any changes to the program, award criteria, funding priorities and important special application instructions for completing the application.

Question 10

What if FEMA has turned down/rejected your request for funding?

Accepted Answer

Fire departments that have received turndown notices are encouraged to contact FGE for feedback on your application. FGE can provide a detailed review of your application and point out where the application was deficient, as well as recommend changes in the narrative or the data sections that will strengthen the application.  Often departments are not providing sufficient details in their narratives, have not answered the data sections in the best manner possible, or have other errors that result in the loss of a few points.  One or two points often makes the difference between getting your application funded.
During the review process, FGE staff who served as grant peer reviewers will grade your entire application (both automated entry/data and narrative sections), suggest areas for improvement, and provide other feedback using the self-assessment guide.  With this comprehensive review process, we have assisted many departments with markedly improving their application and submitting successful applications which were subsequently funded.  We ask that applications be submitted as soon as possible, and for departments to allow for at least a 72 hour turnaround for a full review.  The further into the grant application window, the busier staff are, so please be sure to start early.

Question 11

How do I access and print prior grant submissions?

Accepted Answer

Prior FEMA grants are available directly from the FEMA grants portals. You will need the user ID and password to access your account. If you would like FGE to review a prior grant, you can grant us access to the application through our credentials. Please contact us in advance and we'll walk you through those steps.

Question 12

Why Should Our Department Hire FGE?

Accepted Answer

FGE is the most awarded AFG grant writer in the history of the AFG program.  The owner of FGE has successfully worked with hundreds of departments to secure almost $750M in funding over the previous 10 years.  FGE is here to build a relationship with your department and ensure that you obtain needed funding to ensure everyone goes home safely.

Question 13

What will working with FGE cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the specifics of your grant, and whether a fee-based or contingency contract is chosen.

With a fee-based contract, your department pays a set price regardless of whether the grant is funded.

With a contingency based contract, if your project is not awarded, you pay nothing. If your project receives the grant award, Fire Grants Expert's fee is a percentage of the funded amount for project. The contingency fee varies based on the amount requested.

An example of our cost breakout follows:

CONTRACT: If you decide to apply for $100,000 of equipment, our contract rate is $7,500. Based on our history 65% of applications are successful on the first round. If you are not awarded, and the feedback from FEMA indicates a high likelihood of success if you were to reapply the next cycle, you could pay FGE $1,750 the following year to update and resubmit the application. Our team has a success rate of closer to 80% if provided two cycles to obtain your grant. Unfortunately, there are always a small percentage of applications which are not funded despite our best efforts. In those cases, we work with the department to modify or choose another project at a very reduced rate. We do not like to see departments throwing money away!

CONTINGENCY: If you decide to apply for $100,000 of equipment, our contingency fee is 15% of the federal funds awarded, or $12,750. *  Most importantly, you do not pay anything if the grant is not awarded.

*This is calculated as follows:
Total Project Request $100,000
FEMA Grant Award $90,000 (federal funds)
Local Matching Funds $10,000

Question 14

What about matching funds?

Accepted Answer

FEMA requires that the jurisdiction or fire department contribute a cost match to the project. Think of this as the department's contribution to the project. This is paid directly to the vendor and varies from 5-15% of the total amount requested based on the population:

>20,000 population is 5%
Over 20,000 but less than 100,000 is 10%
Over 100,000 is 15%

Frequently Asked Questions