ONLINE PUBLICATIONS WRITING YOUR PROPOSAL
PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDS FOUNDATIONS FIRE-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
DATA COLLECTION FEDERAL FUNDING SAMPLE GRANT PROPOSALS

E-MAIL this page to a friend or colleague!

ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

These fire-related Web sites are useful for tracking emergency responses and trends in the industry. You may also find a useful story that you can use to dramatize your grant application.

Fire Chief Magazine

Firehouse Magazine

Firefighting.com

The Chronical of Philanthropy

The Non Profit Times

Wildland Firefighter Magazine

WRITING YOUR PROPOSAL

  PSA Associates
    Provides free assistance in developing and writing proposals.
    Offers a free newsletter filled with hints and techniques.

Grammar Guide
An excellent site to assist you with writing and grammar questions.

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

A Proposal Writing Short Course from The Foundation Center

What to do Before You Write a Grant Proposal

Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal

Proposal Pointers and Pitfalls

The Downing Foundation Guide for Grantseekers

Writing a Successful Proposal
From the Minnesota Council on Foundations

Ten Commandments of Private Foundation Grant Proposals

Elements of a Grant Proposal
By The Paladin Group

PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDS

  National Congress for Community Economic Development
    The National Congress for Community Economic Development (NCCED)
    is the trade association and advocate for the community-based
    development industry.

Medtronic Foundation
The Medtronic Foundation funds emergency service related programs.

Walmart Foundation
Supports fire-related grant requests in areas where it has stores.

Guidestar
This site has information on over 40,000 nonprofits and charities.

  Artsedge
    This is a collaboration between the John F. Kennedy Center
    for the Performing Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts
    and the U.S. Department of Education. Good information for
    your arts-related projects here.

FOUNDATIONS

Community Foundation Locator
A state-by state listing of community foundations

Council on Foundations Member List
Members with corporate giving programs who also have Web sites.

State-by-State List of Foundations

A state-by-state list of libraries that have the Foundation Center's searchable CD-ROM containing over 40,000 grantmakers

Corporate Philanthropy Community Grantmakers

FIRE-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI)
This is a non-profit, non-partisan policy institute charged with informing Congress about fire and life safety issues.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency
This is an independent agency of the federal government, reporting to the President. FEMA's mission is to reduce loss of life and property and protect our nation's critical infrastructure from all types of hazards through a comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

United States Fire Administration
The USFA's mission is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy, coordination, and support.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (ICHIEFS)
This a network of fire and emergency chief officers who are experts in: fire fighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search & rescue, and public safety legislation.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
A non-profit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the information source regarding legislation, standards and regulatory issues.

DATA COLLECTION

Collecting the data and information you need to support your justification for a grant may come from a variety of resources including; your department's own run records as well as other information collected at the local level. You may also want to match your program up with regional, state and federal initiatives. Your grant application may need to demonstrate how you are solving a national problem at the local level, or it may be important to compare your problem with national and state statistics. These Web sites offer data and information to help support your justification for grant funding.

FEDSTATS
This is a gateway to statistics from 100 federal agencies.

The United States Census Bureau
Provides fascinating information on the shifts in American populations. This is a good Web site to help target underserved populations for fire prevention and injury programs.

  USFA Publications Center
    Fire-related information from the USFA to support to your needs statement.

  The Environmental Protection Agency
    The EPA has documents and demonstration programs.

The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics
Provides health-related information and statistics. A good source of information to support EMS-related grant applications.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
This organization maintains records of injury and non-injury traffic collisions, as well as crash test results and product recalls.

U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics
Get your crime stats here!

The U.S. Department of Labor
For detailed stats on occupational hazards and injuries. If you have a specific industry in your jurisdiction, this data can enhance your justification for a grant.

Office of Management and Budget
Maintains the rules on how federal dollars are allocated and spent.

  OMB Circulars
    This page under the Office of Management and Budget is extremely     important. If you intend to apply for a FEMA grant, this section will inform     you of all of the rules.
    Of particular interest is OMB Circular A-87, "Cost Principles for State,     Local, and Indian Tribal Governments" and OMB Circular A-102 "Grants     and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments."

FEDERAL FUNDING

The federal government funds billions of dollars in grants every year. Enterprising fire-grant researchers can grants from a variety of federal sources. As a grant researcher, you'll want to review these grant programs and match them to fire-related programs. Federal money flows from the Washington to your state and, in some cases, from Washington to your city hall. Here are a few sites to start with.

The Federal Register
This is where all federal programs are posted for public notice. Search this site first to find federal grant programs and funding initiatives.

Commerce Business Daily
Here you'll find notices for request for proposals and changes in federal rules and regulations on how our money can be spent. Fascinating!

Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP)
This is federal property purchased for use by a federal agency, but no longer needed by that agency. It is then acquired by the USDA Forest Service for loan to one of the 50 states or territories for use in the state’s rural or wildland fire protection program. It stays in service to the U.S., protecting lives and property across the nation.

National Telecommunications and Information Agency's Office of Telecommunications
and Information Applications (OTIA)
Assists state and local governments, educational and health care entities, libraries, public service agencies and other groups in effectively using telecommunications and information technologies to better provide public services and advance other national goals.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.

The U.S. State Department
Offers grant opportunities in education and information exchange.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Provides grants to individual states. Check this Web site to see whether your state is participating and how much you are receiving.

The Federal Aviation Administration
Offers grant programs. Check out the site's search system. Type in "grants" or "airport improvement fund."

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Rich with grant programs. In one of my recent classes, a participant from Louisiana received $10 million in grants over the last two years...most of them from H.U.D.

The U.S. Department of the Interior
This department has a variety of agencies under its auspices, each with its own grant programs.

The U.S. Department of Justice
Has many law enforcement grant programs, some related to the fire service.

SAMPLE GRANT PROPOSALS

NOTE: In order to view or print these proposals, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Galveston Fire Department

  OSHPD PROPOSAL:
    RFA
    Cover Letter
    Budget
    Needs Statement

Lou Ball
Waterloo, Iowa Fire Department
Proposal Title: Bicycle Helmet and Safety Education Program
Amount requested: $11,965.00
Comment by the instructor: This is a terrific example of a community coalition getting things accomplished. Coalitions are a growing trend in the grant field and I'm sure this was helpful to you in obtaining your funding, Lou. Smart strategy.
Successfully Funded
View the proposal

Chris Caulkins
Woodbury, Minnesota Public Safety Dept.
Proposal Title: 12-Lead Monitor/Defibrillators
Amount requested: $41,600
Comment by the instructor: Chris, the large percentage of matching funds you are pledging will help persuade reviewers you are committed to this project. I predict you'll get it funded.
View the proposal

Loren Charlston
Redmond, Washington Fire Department
Proposal Title: Multiple Casualty Incident Trailer
Amount requested: $8,023.50
Comment by instructor: This grant proposal was unsolicited and does not follow the traditional format. The bottom line is, Loren got it funded. Good work.
Successfully Funded
View the proposal

Jill Craig
Austin, Texas Fire Department
Proposal Title: Safety Initative --A fitness/wellness program for firefighters
Amount requested: $10,000.
Successfully Funded
View the proposal

Wayne Glidden
La Luz, New Mexico Fire Department
Proposal Title: Quick Attack Equal Safety and Savings
Amount requested: $97,000
Comment by the instructor: Well-organized and succinct...just what the funding sources look for in a proposal, Wayne. Good luck.
View the proposal

Tom Harnsberger
Carroll Fire Protection District in Urbana, Illinois
Proposal Title: Extrication Equipment
Amount requested: $13,263
Successfully Funded
View the proposal

Dan Hernandez
Monterey County, California Fire Chief's Association
Proposal Title: Breaking the Fire Department's Language Barrier
Amount requested: $48,500
Comment by the instructor: Excellent examples here of qualitative materials that are truly persuasive. Your story of the ill-fated Geberal Motors Nova campaign in Mexico is the perfect intro to your objectives section.
View the proposal

Michael Holdeman
Porter Township (Michigan) Emergency Services
Proposal Title: Enhancing Porter Township
Emergency Services
Amount requested: $11,453
Comment by the instructor: Good research, Michael.
Looking around your own community and state can unearth little gems of opportunity, right? The harder you work, the luckier you get!
Successfully Funded
View the proposal

Mark Klaene
High Rolls, New Mexico Volunteer Fire Department
Proposal Title: Quick Attack Wildland/Urban Interface Vehicle
Amount requested: $70,000
View the proposal

Thomas Maloney
Polson, Montana Fire Department
Proposal Title: Thermal Imaging Camera
Amount requested: $25,850
Comment by the instructor: Very effective supporting materials, Thomas. I especially like your FAQ section.
View the proposal

Geoff Maloon
Carmel Valley, California Fire Protection District
Proposal Title: Lowering the Devastating Costs of Firefighters With Poor Health
--A Fitness/Wellness Program
Amount requested: $75,500
Comment by the instructor: I like your Dickens' quote in the title subhead, Geoff. Nice touch. Also, your delayed lead technique in the problem statement draws the reader into your proposal very effectively.
View the proposal

Shannon Marston
City of Nevada, Missouri Fire Department
Proposal Title: Preserving Life with a Thermal Imaging Camera
Amount requested: $19,458
Comment by the instructor: It's great to see another fire department seeking funds from a source other than FEMA. Your proposal is well organized, Shannon, and your qualitative supporting materials are very persuasive.
View the proposal

Jay Neuman
Chester, California Fire Department
Sample Cover Letter
Amount requested: $200,000
Comment by the instructor: This is an example of a well-written cover letter...succinct and sincere. I always recommend a positive approach and in this letter the use of transitive verbs (rather than the conditional would or could) gives it added strength.
View the Cover Letter

Judy Pierce
Cape Coral, Florida Fire Department
Proposal Title: Emergency Operations Center Equipment
Amount requested: $158,147
Comment by the instructor: Good strategy, Judy...tying your grant request into a larger city project. Your proposal (representing only 9% of the city's total outlay for the EOC) makes a very strong matching funds statement of credibility and commitment to the project.
Successfully Funded
View the proposal

Ann Pond
Laramie, Wyoming Fire Department
Proposal Title: Paramedics Save Lives
--A training program for paramedics
Amount requested: $417,762
Comment by the instructor: This is an ambitious project, Ann. Your very thorough methodology section will show the reviewers you have planned it carefully, and I believe you have a good shot at getting it funded.
View the proposal

Jeremy Rahn
Atwater, California Firefighters' Association
Proposal Title: Countdown to Survival
--A proposal for Automated External Defibrillators
Amount requested: $25,000
Comment by the instructor: Jeremy, this is one of the top three proposals I've seen this year in terms of clarity, design and overall concept. The Bank of America should come through for you.
View the proposal

Gerald Simon
Oakland, California Fire Department
Proposal Title: The Oakland Fire Safe Hills, Prevention in Practice
Amount requested: $75,000
Comment by the instructor: A complex proposal that's easy to read because it's so well organized. The objectives, methodology and budget pages are especially well conceived and presented.
View the proposal

Jeffrey Smith
Galveston, Texas Fire Department
Proposal Title: Saving Our Past From Fire --A proposal for thermal imaging cameras
Amount requested: $57,250
Comment by the instructor: This is one of my favorite success stories from our graduates...Great idea, Jeff!
Successfully Funded

View the proposal Devon Wells
Hood River, Oregon Fire Department
Proposal Title: Protecting Historical Hood River
--A proposal for thermal imaging cameras
Amount requested: $103,450
Comment by the instructor: You are a creative guy, Devon. This proposal is well conceived and clearly presented.
View the proposal