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Who is eligible for SAFER funding?
Your type of organization affects your eligibility for funding in any
of the SAFER activities. All volunteer or combination volunteer fire departments
may apply for either or both of the two SAFER activities. Volunteer firefighter
interest organizations are eligible for funding only in the Recruitment
and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters Activity. Career fire departments
are eligible for funding only in the Hiring of Firefighters Activity.
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Eligible Organization
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SAFER Activity Eligibility
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| Volunteer and Combination Fire Departments |
- Hiring Firefighters AND
- Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters
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| Career Fire Departments |
Hiring Firefighters ONLY |
| Statewide and Local Volunteer Firefighter Interest Organizations
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Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters ONLY |
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Can my career fire department apply under the Recruitment
and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters Activity?
No. Career fire departments are only eligible for funding in the Hiring
of Firefighters Activity.
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May I request items from more than one SAFER Activity?
All volunteer or combination volunteer fire departments may apply for
either or both of the two grant program activities. Volunteer firefighter
interest organizations are eligible for funding only in the Recruitment
and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters Activity. Career fire departments
are eligible for funding only in the Hiring of Firefighters Activity.
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I represent a volunteer firefighter interest organization
that received a Fire Prevention grant. Are we eligible for a SAFER grant
too?
Yes. Local and statewide organizations that represent the interests of
volunteer firefighters are eligible to receive assistance under the Recruitment
and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters Activity, regardless of whether
they received Fire Prevention grants. However, volunteer firefighter interest
organizations are not eligible for funding in the Hiring of Firefighters
Activity.
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If I applied for a grant last fall and/or spring, can I still
apply for SAFER?
Yes. While the SAFER grants and the Assistance to Firefighters Grants
(AFG) are administered by the same office in the Department of Homeland
Security, there are no restrictions with respect to awards between the
two funding sources.
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Can an independent rescue squad or emergency medical services
unit apply?
No. Only fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations
are eligible for SAFER grants.
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If my department received one or more AFG grants in a prior
year, are we still eligible to apply?
Your department is eligible for SAFER funding even if you recently have
received other Assistance to Firefighters Act grant awards. Applicants
should indicate if their request builds upon the program awarded in a
prior year, if applicable. The adequacy of a grantee's performance on
a prior year's grant may be considered during the evaluation phase when
determining any award.
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The SAFER Grant Program prohibits "for-profit"
organizations from applying for grant funding. How do I determine if I
am "for-profit"?
If you are a municipally based organization, i.e., an organization that
provides services on behalf of a governmental entity, or if you are registered
with the IRS as a 501(c) corporation, you are NOT a for-profit
organization and are therefore eligible to receive SAFER funding.
According to the IRS definition, a 501(c) (3) corporation is "A
corporation, or any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and
operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for
public safety, literary, or educational purposes . . . no part of the
net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder
or individual. . . ."
A 501(c) (4) corporation is, according to the IRS, "A civic league
or organization not organized for profit but operated exclusively for
the promotion of social welfare . . . and the net earnings of which are
devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes."
Both of these "501(c)" corporations are nonprofit which is what
the AFG regulations provide. The only difference is that one is organized
for promotion of social welfare and the other for the testing of public
safety. It should be noted that it does not matter that an organization
charges individuals for services rendered as long as the organization
is only claiming its expenses and isn't profiting.
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