The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Grants Programs Directorate is responsible for the implementation and administrations of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Programs. The purpose of the AFG Program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The Grants Programs Directorate administers the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants as part of the AFG Program. FP&S offers grants to support activities in two categories: (1) activities designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate incidences of death and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards ("Fire Prevention and Safety Activity") and (2) research and development activities aimed at improving firefighter safety ("Firefighter Safety Research and Development Activity").
Eligible applicants may apply for funding under both eligible activities (FP&S and R&D) but must complete a separate application for each eligible activity. Each application may be for up to three projects under that activity, however each project within an application must be presented separately as a free-standing proposal. Applicants are limited to one application per activity, per application period. If an applicant submits two applications for the same activity during a single application period, FEMA will disqualify both applications. Duke's nominee for FP&S has already been selected. Interested applicants from within Duke for R&D should contact fundopps@duke.edu as early as possible.
Application Submission Deadline: July 3, 2025
The FP&S Activity is designed to reach high-risk target groups and
mitigate the incidence of death and injuries caused by fire and firerelated
hazards. The five project categories eligible for funding under
this activity are:
1. Community Risk Reduction;
2. Wildfire Risk Reduction;
3. Code Enforcement/Awareness;
4. Origin and Cause Investigation; and
5. National/State/Regional Programs and Projects.
The R&D Activity is aimed at improving firefighter safety, health, or
well-being through research and development that reduces firefighter
fatalities and injuries. The four project categories eligible for funding
under this activity are:
1. Clinical Studies;
2. Technology and Product Development;
3. Preliminary Studies; and
4. Early Career Investigator.
Eligible Applicants
a. FP&S Activity: Fire departments operating in any of the 50 states, as well as fire departments in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico2, or any federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization. A fire department is an agency or organization having a formally recognized arrangement with a state, local, tribal, or territorial authority (city, county, parish, fire district, township, town, or other governing body) to provide fire suppression to a population within a geographically fixed primary first due response area. National, regional, state, local, tribal and nonprofit interest organizations that are recognized for their experience and expertise in fire prevention and safety programs and activities are eligible applicants. Both private and public nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for funding under this activity.
b. R&D Activity: National, state, local, federally recognized tribal, and non-profit organizations, such as academic (e.g., universities), research foundations, public safety institutes, public health, occupational health, and injury prevention institutions.
The total amount of funding a recipient may receive under an FP&S Program award is limited to a maximum federal share of $1.5 million set by § 33(d)(2) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, Pub. L. 93-498, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 2229(d)(2)).
R&D Activity applicants applying under the Early Career Investigator category are limited to a maximum federal share of $600,000 per project.