2. What is SAFER?
(We’re so glad you asked!)
SAFER
Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response
The goal of SAFER is to assist local fire departments with
staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond
to emergencies and ensure that communities have
adequate protection from fire or fire-related hazards.
SAFER is offered by FEMA and has $345 million available in FY2016 to
support fire departments nationwide!
3. SAFER Recruitment & Retention
(R&R)
Differs from the SAFER Hiring Program
Funds activities to recruit new and retain
current VOLUNTEER firefighters
Considers projects for individual agencies,
regional consortiums and volunteer firefighter
interest/support organizations
Oh and by the way – NO MATCH REQUIRED
4. Who can apply?
• Combination fire departments
• Volunteer fire departments
• National, State, Local, or Tribal
Volunteer Firefighter Interest
Organizations
5. What does it fund?
Incentives that encourage volunteer firefighting to
increase the ranks of trained, certified and competent
firefighters in local communities. Examples of eligible costs
include:
• Costs to support a staffing needs assessment
• Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
• Marketing costs to recruit new members
• New recruit costs – training, physicals, and PPE
• Tuition assistance
• Grant writing fee
6. Key Dates
Application Opens: 1/09/2017
Application Deadline: 2/10/2017
Award Notification: anticipate all
notices will be issued by June 1, 2017
8. Rule #1: Identify the Legal Applicant
• For R&R Applications, this is typically the entity
that controls the budget, vehicle titles and
issues paychecks
– Nonprofit volunteer fire department
– Fire Protection District
– City, town, township, county
Obtain the DUNS Number & EIN from your Finance Office
Your DUNS number will look something like this Your EIN will looks something like this
9. Rule #2: Check SAM Registration
The Legal Applicant must have an active
SAM.gov Entity Record
– When you apply
– When you are awarded
– Throughout the duration of your federal award
If the Legal Applicant is not registered in SAM.gov, ask your
Finance Office to create an Entity Record
10. Rule # 3: Access the FEMA Portal
Your Organization must have an active FEMA registration
status - you can’t apply to SAFER without one
Has your organization ever received a FEMA grant? Be sure to use
the same Portal Account! (get help if you don’t know or are
locked out)
Money doesn’t grow on
trees…that’s why we have grants
11. Rule #4: Know Your Facts
Ask these questions:
• What are your department’s current staffing levels?
• Have you conducted a risk and staffing needs analysis?
• What are your current recruitment and retention
activities?
• How can you encourage volunteers to stay with or join
the department?
• How will additional firefighters help protect your
community?
Data and facts make for a strong application!
12. You’ll need to provide:
Access to the budgets from
2001, 2002, and 2003, and if so,
to provide the total
operating budget numbers
Community & Legal
Applicant’s financial
situation
• How does it impact your
organization budget?
• What other costs or revenue
challenges are straining the
budget?
Rule #5: Financial Details Required
If you’re still using one of these to do math,
click for help
13. Rule #6: Know your Needs
– Does your department meet NFPA Standards
for response time and staffing levels?
– Do you need a marketing plan to recruit new
volunteers?
– Are volunteers leaving because a lack of
incentives and/or benefits?
14. Rule #7: Understand How Applications are
Judged
The review process consists of:
• Computer Scoring – application data is
crunched by a computer
• Peer Review – 2 reviewers read and score your
narrative
• Technical Review – FEMA staff checks
administrative items are in order before issuing
an award
tip: Make sure any old AFG, SAFER or FP&S awards are closed out
before you apply!
15. Rule #8: Plan Accordingly
• Narratives are important BUT your Narratives will only
be read if your application passes Computer Scoring
• The moral of the story: There is no room for error
16. Still have questions?
We can help!
Our Grant Writers:
• Have a combined 30+ years
of grant writing experience
• Many are active members
of the public safety
community!
• Helped fund more than $75
million in grant awards!
• Have a grant success rate
of 60% higher than the
national average!
Contact us for grant
writing help today!
To work with the best of the best
