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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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 its expenses and isn't profiting.
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