Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 25 GPD 083 00 99
Apply for DHS 25 GPD 083 00 99
- The Department of Homeland Security - FEMA in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.083.
- 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.)
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), specifically FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate. The core purpose of SAFER is to strengthen local fire and emergency response capability by helping fire departments increase the number of frontline firefighters available for day-to-day operations and incident response. In practical terms, the program is aimed at improving staffing levels so departments can meet response demands, maintain safe staffing practices, and sustain service coverage for the communities they protect.
The opportunity is organized around two main activity areas. First, the Hiring of Firefighters activity supports departments that need to add paid personnel to increase staffing and improve operational readiness. This track is generally focused on expanding the number of career firefighters or bringing staffing up to safer, more sustainable levels. Second, the Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters activity is designed for departments and firefighter organizations that rely on volunteers and need resources to attract new volunteers and keep existing volunteers engaged over time. This can be especially important in areas where volunteer participation is declining and where staffing shortages can quickly affect response times and overall service capacity.
The legal authority for SAFER comes from Section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-498, as amended), codified at 15 U.S.C. 2229a. That statutory foundation establishes FEMA's authority to provide financial assistance targeted specifically at firefighter staffing needs, including both paid staffing increases and volunteer workforce support.
Eligible applicants include local government entities such as county governments and city or township governments, as well as federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The eligibility list also includes nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), and other eligible entities as defined in the program materials. The narrative description also notes that eligible applicants may include fire departments and national, state, local, or federally recognized tribal organizations that represent the interests of volunteer firefighters, reflecting the program's emphasis on strengthening the volunteer fire service where it is a major component of local emergency response.
Administrative and identification details for this opportunity include the Funding Opportunity Number DHS-25-GPD-083-00-99 and the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 97.083. The posting shows an original closing date of 2026-06-22 and a creation date of 2026-05-18. The listing also shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically means the public summary page is not specifying a single maximum award amount in that field and applicants should rely on the official notice of funding opportunity for any limits, caps, cost share requirements, and other program-specific budget rules.
FY 2025 SAFER Grant Program (DHS/FEMA) FAQs
1) What is the FY 2025 SAFER Grant Program?
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), specifically FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate.
2) What is the main purpose of the SAFER Grant Program?
The core purpose of SAFER is to strengthen local fire and emergency response capability by helping fire departments increase the number of frontline firefighters available for day-to-day operations and incident response. The program is aimed at improving staffing levels so departments can better meet response demands, maintain safe staffing practices, and sustain service coverage for the communities they protect.
3) Who administers this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by DHS through FEMA, specifically FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate.
4) Is SAFER a discretionary or formula grant?
SAFER is described as a discretionary federal grant opportunity.
5) What kinds of staffing problems is SAFER designed to address?
Based on the description provided, SAFER is designed to address firefighter staffing shortages and staffing sustainability issues that can affect response demands, safe staffing practices, response times, and overall service coverage. It supports efforts to increase frontline staffing for daily operations and incident response.
6) What are the main activity areas (tracks) under this opportunity?
The opportunity is organized around two main activity areas:
- Hiring of Firefighters
- Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters
7) What does the "Hiring of Firefighters" activity area support?
The Hiring of Firefighters activity supports departments that need to add paid personnel to increase staffing and improve operational readiness. This track is generally focused on expanding the number of career firefighters or bringing staffing up to safer, more sustainable levels.
8) What does the "Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters" activity area support?
The Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters activity area is designed for departments and firefighter organizations that rely on volunteers and need resources to attract new volunteers and keep existing volunteers engaged over time. This is particularly relevant where volunteer participation is declining and staffing shortages can quickly affect response times and service capacity.
9) Can volunteer-based departments or volunteer firefighter organizations apply?
The description indicates that eligible applicants may include fire departments and national, state, local, or federally recognized tribal organizations that represent the interests of volunteer firefighters, reflecting the program's emphasis on strengthening the volunteer fire service where it is a major component of local emergency response.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants listed include:
- Local government entities (including county governments and city or township governments)
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education)
- Other eligible entities as defined in the program materials
The narrative also notes that eligibility may include fire departments and organizations representing the interests of volunteer firefighters.
11) Are institutions of higher education eligible if they are nonprofits?
No. The eligibility description specifies nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
12) What is the legal authority for the SAFER Grant Program?
The legal authority is Section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-498, as amended), codified at 15 U.S.C. 2229a.
13) What does the statutory authority allow FEMA to fund under SAFER?
Based on the description provided, the statutory foundation establishes FEMA's authority to provide financial assistance targeted specifically at firefighter staffing needs, including both paid staffing increases and volunteer workforce support.
14) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DHS-25-GPD-083-00-99.
15) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for SAFER?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 97.083.
16) What are the key dates shown in the listing?
The posting shows:
- Creation date: 2026-05-18
- Original closing date: 2026-06-22
17) What does the posted "award ceiling of 0" mean?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically means the public summary page is not specifying a single maximum award amount in that field. Applicants are expected to rely on the official notice of funding opportunity for any limits, caps, cost share requirements, and other program-specific budget rules.
18) Where should applicants look for official limits, caps, cost share requirements, and budget rules?
The description indicates applicants should rely on the official notice of funding opportunity for award limits, caps, cost share requirements, and other program-specific budget rules.
19) What types of communities or services does SAFER aim to protect and support?
SAFER is intended to help departments sustain service coverage for the communities they protect by improving staffing levels that support day-to-day operations and incident response.
20) Does the opportunity focus only on career firefighters?
No. The opportunity includes a hiring track that supports adding paid personnel, and it also includes a recruitment and retention track focused on volunteer firefighters and volunteer firefighter organizations.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other
Next opportunity: Fiscal Year 2025 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program
Previous opportunity: FY 2026 Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation (CDLPI)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DHS 25 GPD 083 00 99
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DHS 25 GPD 083 00 99) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Strengthening Strategic Partnerships through Expert Engagement Apply for FY26BRAPDS0001 Funding Number: FY26BRAPDS0001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Brazil Category: Other Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| FY2025 & FY2026 Historic Preservation Fund - Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program Apply for P25AS00497 Funding Number: P25AS00497 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Apply for DHS 25 GPD 044 00 98 Funding Number: DHS 25 GPD 044 00 98 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Other Funding Amount: $9,000,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2025 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program Apply for DHS 25 GPD 044 00 97 Funding Number: DHS 25 GPD 044 00 97 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Other Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| FY2025 Historic Preservation Fund - Tribal Heritage Grants Apply for P25AS00501 Funding Number: P25AS00501 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors Programs Apply for DFOP0018391 Funding Number: DFOP0018391 Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Other Funding Amount: $2,100,000 |
| FY 2026 Study of the U.S. Institutes Madeleine K. Albright Young Women Leaders Program Apply for DFOP0018387 Funding Number: DFOP0018387 Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Other Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Yemen Public Diplomacy Programs: English Language Education and Media Development Apply for DOS YEMEN FY26 001 Funding Number: DOS YEMEN FY26 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia Category: Other Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Call for Proposals to Make America and the Region Safer, Stronger, and More Prosperous Apply for PDS GUA FY26 01 Funding Number: PDS GUA FY26 01 Agency: U.S. Mission to Guatemala Category: Other Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Storytelling to Safeguard Cultural Identity and Sovereignty: Bolstering the Tourism Industry Apply for TASHKENT PDS FY26 002 Funding Number: TASHKENT PDS FY26 002 Agency: U.S. Mission to Uzbekistan Category: Other Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Amendment - Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces Apply for VA SPORTS 26A Funding Number: VA SPORTS 26A Agency: National Veterans Sports Programs Category: Other Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Annual Program Statement for Public Diplomacy Mission Mexico - FY26 Apply for PD MEX FY26 01 Funding Number: PD MEX FY26 01 Agency: U.S. Mission to Mexico Category: Other Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Advancing Behavioral Health in Corrections: Training and Policy Innovation Initiative Apply for 26PR05 Funding Number: 26PR05 Agency: National Institute of Corrections Category: Other Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| School Safety Enhancement Apply for ED GRANT 26 056 Funding Number: ED GRANT 26 056 Agency: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Category: Other Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| U.S. Embassy Montevideo Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program Apply for PD MVD 2026 001 Funding Number: PD MVD 2026 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Uruguay Category: Other Funding Amount: $220,000 |
| Launching the Next 250 Years of American and European Innovation and Growth Apply for OFOP0002797 Funding Number: OFOP0002797 Agency: U.S. Mission to Belgium Category: Other Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Building English Teaching Capacity for STEM in Brazil Apply for FY26BRAPDS0002 Funding Number: FY26BRAPDS0002 Agency: U.S. Mission to Brazil Category: Other Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| IRF FY25 Nigeria Documentation and Accountability for Religious Freedom Abuses Apply for DFOP0018347 Funding Number: DFOP0018347 Agency: Office of International Religious Freedom Category: Other Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| FY2025 Historic Preservation Fund - Underrepresented Communities Grants Apply for P25AS00510 Funding Number: P25AS00510 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| State Border Security Reinforcement Fund Apply for DHS 26 GPD 159 00 99 Funding Number: DHS 26 GPD 159 00 99 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Other Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DHS 25 GPD 083 00 99", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.