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Grants for a Volunteer EMS

Although they don't have payroll to worry about, volunteer emergency medical services have plenty of other expenses, such as vehicles, training and equipment. Federal agencies such as the United States Department of Homeland Security offer grants to EMS programs. In many cases, the largest portions of grant awards go to volunteer departments.

  1. Assistance to Firefighters

    • EMS programs at volunteer fire departments can access several grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, such as Assistance to Firefighters Grants. Almost 20,000 fire departments---56.6 percent of which were entirely volunteer and 22.6 were partially volunteer---split a little less than $3.2 billion in grants in 2009.

      U.S. Department of Homeland Security

      FEMA

      800 K Street NW

      Washington, DC 20472-3620

      866-274-0960

      www.firegrantsupport.com

    SAFER

    • Although volunteer fire departments don't need to pay EMS personnel, they might need to pay for training. FEMA's Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response program issues grants that can pay for paramedic training. The program had about 2,100 applicants and awarded about $1.2 billion in 2009.

      U.S. Department of Homeland Security

      FEMA

      800 K Street NW

      Washington, DC 20472-3620

      866-274-0960

      www.firegrantsupport.com

    Community Facilities

    • Volunteer EMS programs that need to buy or replace ambulances or other vehicles in their fleets can seek financial help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department's Community Facilities Grants can pay for as much as 75 percent of the costs for public safety vehicles, which includes ambulances. Recipients must be in towns with 20,000 or fewer residents.

      USDA Rural Development

      Room 205-W

      1400 Independence Ave., SW

      Washington, DC 20250

      202-720-4581

      www.rurdev.usda.gov

    Network Development

    • Paramedics wanting to better respond to distant rural areas can use the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help them fill the gaps. The Health Resources and Services Administration, a subagency of HHS, provides money to EMS organizations through its Network Development Grants program. The program intends to help paramedics respond more quickly to areas they previously could not cover well because of the distance from the stations or garages.

      HRSA

      P.O. Box 2910

      Merrifield, VA 22118

      888-ASK-HRSA

      www.hrsa.gov

    Rural Fire Assistance

    • The U.S. Department of the Interior provides grants that intend help fire departments and their EMS programs better cover wild lands and other low-population areas. Grantees can receive up to $20,000. They must be in communities of 10,000 or fewer people.

      U.S. Department of the Interior

      1849 C. St., NW

      Washington, DC 20240

      202-208-3100

      www.doi.gov

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