Grants for EMS and Ambulance Services 2026
Quick Answer: The main grants for EMS and ambulance services, for nonprofit rescue squads and public EMS agencies, are FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), where according to the FY 2025 notice standalone nonprofit EMS agencies share a pool capped at 2% of a $291.6 million program…
Full answer and how we checked it
The main grants for EMS and ambulance services, for nonprofit rescue squads and public EMS agencies, are FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), where according to the FY 2025 notice standalone nonprofit EMS agencies share a pool capped at 2% of a $291.6 million program; SAMHSA's Rural EMS Training grants of up to $300,000 a year with no match; USDA Community Facilities grants for rural stations and vehicles; state EMS funds such as Virginia's Rescue Squad Assistance Fund; and local private foundations that report their giving on IRS Form 990-PF.
Data note: Federal figures come from FEMA's FY 2025 AFG notice of funding opportunity and fact sheet (May 2026), SAMHSA's FY 2026 Rural EMS Training notice (TI-26-004), and the USDA Community Facilities regulations at 7 CFR part 3570. State program details come from the Virginia Department of Health and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Foundation figures come from Grantsights analysis of IRS Form 990-PF grant records, pulled October 29, 2026, grouped by the state of the organization that received each grant.
In this guide (13 sections)
- Grants for EMS and Ambulance Services: The 5 Funding Routes
- FEMA AFG for Nonaffiliated EMS: A 2% Slice of $291.6 Million
- SAFER and Combination Departments: Who Can Use It
- SAMHSA Rural EMS Training: Up to $300,000 a Year With No Match
- USDA Community Facilities: Stations and Ambulances in Rural Towns
- State EMS Grants: Often the Best First Application
- Which Foundations Fund EMS and Ambulance Services: What 990-PF Filings Show
- What FEMA Doesn't Tell You About EMS Grants
- Common Mistakes That Sink Rescue Squad Applications
- A 12-Month Funding Calendar for a Rescue Squad
- FAQ: Common Questions
- Sources
- Related Guides
Foundations near you already fund this work. See three in your state that take requests, with how to apply. Free, about a minute.
Foundations that fund this work
25,620 private foundations gave to community foundations, civic clubs, fire companies, veterans groups and historical societies
From their own IRS Form 990-PF filings (tax years 2019 to 2025). Pick your state to see who gave there, with one foundation in full. About the list
Across the US, these foundations gave 127,765 grants totaling $6,735,961,007.
Historical giving does not establish an open application or eligibility for your organization. For-profit operators should check each foundation's applicant rules before buying.
The full list names all 25,620, state by state: what each gave, to whom, for what, and a link to its filings. One payment, no subscription.
If you're the chief, treasurer, or a board member of a volunteer rescue squad, a nonprofit ambulance corps, or a small municipal EMS agency, this guide is for you. It sorts the grants for EMS and ambulance services by who can actually apply, what each pays for, and the match you'll owe. It isn't about grants for individual EMTs or paramedic students, and it doesn't cover for-profit ambulance companies, which almost none of these programs fund.
How this guide was checked (October 29, 2026): For EMS agencies, Grantsights compared every rule in the FY 2025 AFG notice that treats nonaffiliated EMS differently from fire departments, checked SAMHSA's TI-26-004 notice for eligibility and award size, compared the Community Facilities grant tiers in the federal regulations, and reviewed ambulance and rescue squad grants in 990-PF filings. Where official sources stop: none of these agencies tells a 30-member rescue squad which of the 5 routes below fits a $280,000 ambulance, or how small the EMS slice of AFG really is.
Grants for EMS and Ambulance Services: The 5 Funding Routes
There are 5 routes worth your time, and each has a different calendar and match. Most rescue squads that keep their rigs current use 2 or 3 of them at once.
| Route | Who runs it | What it pays for | Match | Fit for a volunteer squad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), nonaffiliated EMS | FEMA, direct | Ambulances, power cots, monitors, radios, training | 5% to 15% cash by population | Good for equipment, tough for vehicles |
| Rural EMS Training | SAMHSA, direct | Training, recruitment, some equipment | None | Good if you can manage a federal grant |
| Community Facilities | USDA Rural Development | Stations, ambulances, equipment in towns of 20,000 or fewer | Grant covers 15% to 75%; loan covers the rest | Best for buildings |
| State EMS funds | State EMS office | Vehicles, equipment, training, recruitment | Often 50/50 or 80/20 | The best first grant for most squads |
| Private and community foundations | Local family and community foundations | Ambulances, cots, buildings, operations | Rarely | Strong for the local share and gaps |
The honest summary: federal EMS money exists, but it was written mostly with fire departments in mind. State funds and local foundations do more of the heavy lifting for independent squads than most guides admit.
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FEMA AFG for Nonaffiliated EMS: A 2% Slice of $291.6 Million
AFG is the biggest federal program an independent ambulance squad can apply to directly, but EMS agencies get a small share of it. According to FEMA's FY 2025 AFG fact sheet (opens in a new tab), the program provides grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, state fire training academies and certain airport and port authority units. The FY 2025 notice (opens in a new tab) projected $291.6 million in total funding and about 1,800 awards.
Here's the rule that matters most for a rescue squad. The notice says not more than 2% of available funds can go to all nonaffiliated EMS recipients combined. Grantsights analysis of that cap puts it at about $5.8 million (2% of $291.6 million), shared by every independent nonprofit EMS agency in the country. A separate floor of at least 3.5% must fund emergency medical services, but that floor counts fire-based EMS too.
| AFG rule (FY 2025 notice) | What it means for an EMS agency |
|---|---|
| Nonaffiliated EMS gets not more than 2% of funds | About $5.8 million nationally; expect strong competition |
| EMS overall gets not less than 3.5% | Fire-based EMS and standalone squads both count toward it |
| Vehicles capped at 25% of funds, 10% of that for ambulances | If the vehicle pool is fully used, roughly $7.3 million for ambulances |
| Cost share 5% for 20,000 residents or fewer | A $60,000 power cot and load system request needs about $2,860 in local cash |
| Match must be cash; in-kind isn't allowed | Volunteer hours and donated labor don't count |
| Micro grants for $75,000 or less | Smaller requests compete only with other micro grants |
| One application per type per year | Bundle equipment into one Operations and Safety request |
Who counts as nonaffiliated EMS. The notice defines it as a public or private nonprofit EMS entity that provides medical transport, isn't affiliated with a hospital, and doesn't serve an area where a fire department already provides adequate EMS. Clinics, medical centers and surgery centers all count as hospitals for this test. The notice lists several ineligible applicants that trip up EMS agencies: for-profit services, fire-based EMS applying as nonaffiliated EMS, search and rescue squads that don't transport patients, and squads that are under the day-to-day command of a larger agency.
What scores well. In the notice's equipment priorities for nonaffiliated EMS, high-priority items include ALS and BLS equipment, AEDs, automatic CPR devices, 15-lead monitor/defibrillators, power lift cots and load systems, power stair chairs, suction units, capnography and P-25 compliant radios. Stretchers, backboards and trauma bags sit at low priority. A request built around a power cot and a cardiac monitor will pre-score far better than one built around backboards.
Vehicles. Nonaffiliated EMS agencies can ask for ambulances, bariatric ambulances and non-transport community paramedic vehicles, all listed as high priority. Ambulances must meet NFPA 1900 or GSA's KKK-A-1822F standard, your drivers must be trained to the federal Emergency Vehicle Operator Course or an equivalent before delivery, and the old unit has to be permanently retired from emergency service.
Timing. The FY 2025 window ran from May 19 to June 22, 2026. As of October 29, 2026, no FY 2026 notice is posted, so register in SAM.gov and FEMA GO now. Grantsights' SAM.gov registration guide covers the steps.
SAFER and Combination Departments: Who Can Use It
SAFER is a firefighter staffing grant, not an EMS grant. FEMA's SAFER page (opens in a new tab) says it was created to fund fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations. A standalone ambulance corps isn't a fire department, so it can't apply on its own.
SAFER still matters in 2 situations:
- Combination fire and rescue companies. If your organization is a fire department that also runs ambulances, SAFER's Recruitment and Retention category can pay for recruiting and keeping volunteer members, many of whom will also staff your rigs.
- Statewide associations. Some state firefighter associations apply for regional recruitment and retention grants. Ask whether EMS-only squads in your state can take part in their marketing or stipend programs.
For a fire company weighing AFG, SAFER and Volunteer Fire Assistance together, Grantsights' grants for volunteer fire departments guide lays out the fire side in detail.
SAMHSA Rural EMS Training: Up to $300,000 a Year With No Match
The one federal program written specifically for rural EMS agencies is run by SAMHSA, not FEMA. According to SAMHSA's TI-26-004 notice page (opens in a new tab), the FY 2026 round offered $13.5 million for about 45 awards, with budgets capped at $300,000 in total costs per year for up to 2 years. Cost sharing isn't required.
Eligibility is set by statute: EMS agencies operated by a local or tribal government, either fire-based or non-fire-based, and nonprofit EMS agencies that are tax-exempt under section 501(c). That's a wider door than AFG, because it includes municipal ambulance services and fire-based EMS as well as independent squads.
The program focuses on training and keeping EMS personnel in rural areas, including training on substance use and mental health emergencies and overdose reversal. It's a good fit for a squad that needs EMT classes, continuing education, or a recruitment drive more than hardware.
The downside: this is a full federal grant with performance reporting. A squad with no paid administrator should think hard about who'll file the reports for 2 years. The FY 2026 deadline was July 16, 2026; watch SAMHSA's forecast list for the next round.
USDA Community Facilities: Stations and Ambulances in Rural Towns
For a new station, a bay addition, or an ambulance in a rural area, USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program (opens in a new tab) is often a better fit than AFG. Per the program regulations at 7 CFR 3570.61, eligible applicants are public bodies and nonprofit corporations with significant ties to the local rural community. Grant money is limited to towns of 20,000 people or fewer.
The grant share depends on population and income, per 7 CFR 3570.63:
| Grant share | Community population | Median household income of the area served |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 75% | 5,000 or less | Below the poverty line or 60% of the state nonmetro median |
| Up to 55% | 12,000 or less | Below the poverty line or 70% of the state nonmetro median |
| Up to 35% | 20,000 or less | Below the poverty line or 80% of the state nonmetro median |
| Up to 15% | 20,000 or less | Below the poverty line or 90% of the state nonmetro median |
USDA's Community Facilities scoring rules at 7 CFR 1942.17 give public safety projects 10 points, the highest of the facility types listed, and name fire, rescue and ambulance services as examples. Health care projects get 5.
The catch is that most of the money is loans. A squad hoping for a 75% grant on a $300,000 rig should call its state Rural Development office first; the common answer is a smaller grant paired with a low-rate loan. Grantsights' USDA Community Facilities guide explains how the grant and loan sides fit together.
State EMS Grants: Often the Best First Application
Many states run their own EMS grant funds, and the rules vary widely, so treat these 2 programs as examples of what to look for in your state.
Virginia's Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF). According to the Virginia Department of Health's RSAF FAQ (opens in a new tab), RSAF is a multimillion-dollar program for Virginia nonprofit EMS agencies and organizations. It runs 2 cycles a year with deadlines of March 15 and September 15, has no cap on the amount requested, and requires each line item to be at least $500. Awards are usually 50/50 or 80/20 (state share first), and only rarely 100%. Eligible items include equipment, vehicles, computers, EMS management training, EMS courses and recruitment and retention projects.
Wisconsin's Funding Assistance Program (FAP). The Wisconsin Department of Health Services' FAP page (opens in a new tab) describes it as supplemental funding for qualified EMS providers. The state fiscal year 2027 application ran from August 3 to September 14, 2026, through the service director's E-Licensing account, and the department says buying an ambulance or an ambulance remount is an eligible use of FAP money.
To find your state's version, start with your state EMS office and search for "EMS grant," "rescue squad fund," or "EMS assistance fund." Regional EMS councils often know the deadlines first.
Which Foundations Fund EMS and Ambulance Services: What 990-PF Filings Show
Private foundations are a main source of money for rescue squads, especially for the vehicles and local match that public programs leave short. Each private foundation lists the grants it paid on IRS Form 990-PF (opens in a new tab), which makes its giving to ambulance services public record.
Grantsights groups those grants by cause. Rescue squads and ambulance services fall under community and civic giving, next to fire companies, civic clubs and veterans groups, so the totals below describe the wider pool an EMS agency competes in. These are Grantsights analysis figures from 990-PF records pulled October 29, 2026, by the recipient's state:
| State | Community and civic grants in 990-PF records | Foundations giving | Foundations open to requests | Typical (median) grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 5,115 | 1,502 | 469 | $2,800 |
| Wisconsin | 3,453 | 852 | 322 | $2,500 |
| Iowa | 2,338 | 496 | 201 | $2,500 |
| Oklahoma | 1,228 | 306 | 132 | $2,500 |
| Vermont | 858 | 322 | 97 | $1,500 |
| Delaware | 460 | 164 | 50 | $1,500 |
In Iowa, 71 of those grants named fire and emergency rescue services as their purpose, the clearest sign of how often local foundations back rescue work there.
Named grants from the same filings show what foundations will pay for:
- For example, the Absher Charitable Foundation gave White County Ambulance Service in Carmi, Illinois $659,628 to purchase 2 new ambulances in tax year 2025 (filings (opens in a new tab)).
- The McCrory Foundation gave Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service in Ardmore $102,500 toward event expenses and new facility construction (filings (opens in a new tab)).
- The Community Foundation of Ardmore gave the same ambulance service $47,000 for a Ford F-150 response vehicle (filings (opens in a new tab)).
- The J Edwin Treakle Foundation gave Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue in Virginia $54,000 for equipment maintenance, education and an audit (filings (opens in a new tab)).
- The Reid Lillian Charitable Foundation gave Manchester Rescue Squad in Manchester Center, Vermont $14,580 for daily operating support (filings (opens in a new tab)).
- Children's Aide Fund gave Laurel Fire Department in Delaware $24,000 for its ambulance and fire service (filings (opens in a new tab)).
Two patterns stand out. First, the Oklahoma service got money from 2 different local funders in the same period, which is how ambulance services stack foundation support. Second, the Vermont grant paid for day-to-day operations, something AFG and most state funds won't touch. Foundations close to home are where a squad finds money for fuel, insurance and billing software.
To find the funders behind grants like these in your own state, use the Grantsights community and civic funder list. It names the foundations that reported grants to rescue squads, fire companies, civic clubs and veterans groups on their own 990-PF filings, organized by state. Foundations that say they accept requests come first, and each entry shows recent grants with the recipient and stated purpose. You can see a free preview on this page; the full community list is $29 for every state, or $99 buys a year of access to every cause list, and both carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What FEMA Doesn't Tell You About EMS Grants
The AFG notice is long, but it leaves out several things an independent squad needs to know:
- The EMS pool is tiny next to the fire pool. Fire departments are guaranteed at least 75% of AFG funds, and nonaffiliated EMS is capped at 2%. A squad that writes a strong application can still lose simply because the money runs out. Apply anyway, but don't build your budget around winning.
- Your legal form decides eligibility. AFG requires nonaffiliated EMS to be a public agency or a private nonprofit, and the notice lists for-profit services as ineligible. If your squad set up a for-profit company for billing or staffing, check with the AFG help desk about which entity should apply.
- Hospital ties can sink an application. If your ambulance service is owned by, operated by, or otherwise affiliated with a hospital, clinic or medical center, FEMA treats you as hospital-affiliated and ineligible as nonaffiliated EMS.
- Cash match only. Volunteer-heavy squads often assume donated labor counts. Under the FY 2025 notice it doesn't; a trade-in credit on a vehicle you bought with non-federal cash is the only non-cash exception FEMA may allow, case by case.
- Foundations prefer public charities and governments. IRS rules on expenditure responsibility (opens in a new tab) add paperwork when a private foundation funds a group that isn't a public charity, but not when it funds a unit of local government. A rescue squad organized as a 501(c)(4) may find that asking the town or county to receive the grant on its behalf opens more doors.
Common Mistakes That Sink Rescue Squad Applications
These errors account for most rejected EMS requests:
- Asking AFG for low-priority items. Backboards, stretchers and trauma bags score low. If you need them, buy them with foundation or state money and save AFG for monitors, cots and radios.
- No run data. Reviewers want call volume, transport counts, response times and mutual aid figures for at least 3 years. Squads that guess underestimate how much this costs them in technical review.
- Treating the 5% match as an afterthought. On a $250,000 ambulance purchase, the cash share is about $11,900 at the 5% rate. Line up a foundation pledge or a town commitment before you submit.
- Missing the state cycle. Virginia's RSAF closes March 15 and September 15. A squad that waits for the federal calendar can lose a full year of state money.
- Sending one letter to 50 foundations. A red flag for any foundation is a request that ignores what it has funded before. Check each foundation's recent grants to ambulance or rescue groups first; Grantsights' guide on how to read a 990-PF shows where to look.
A 12-Month Funding Calendar for a Rescue Squad
| Months | What to do |
|---|---|
| January to February | Renew SAM.gov; pull 3 years of run reports; price vehicles and equipment with written quotes |
| March | State EMS grant cycle in many states (Virginia's RSAF closes March 15) |
| April to May | Draft the AFG narrative; secure the cash match; check SAMHSA's forecast for Rural EMS Training |
| May to July | Submit AFG when the window opens (FY 2025 ran May 19 to June 22, 2026); SAMHSA's FY 2026 deadline was July 16 |
| August to September | Second state cycles (Virginia's September 15; Wisconsin's FAP closed September 14, 2026) |
| October to December | Send foundation requests; meet USDA Rural Development about any station or rig project |
To build the foundation list in that last step, see Grantsights' how to find foundation grants guide and the community foundation grants guide. County community foundations often run small grant rounds that welcome rescue squads. Squads that share a hall or members with a VFW or Legion post can also read grants for veterans organizations. For a wider look at rural federal money, see federal grants for rural organizations, and search open programs with the Grantsights grant search.
FAQ: Common Questions
Can a volunteer ambulance squad apply for FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant? Yes, as a nonaffiliated EMS organization: a nonprofit or public EMS agency that transports patients, isn't hospital-affiliated, and doesn't serve an area a fire department already covers adequately.
How much AFG money goes to standalone EMS agencies? Not more than 2% of available funds, or about $5.8 million of the $291.6 million projected in the FY 2025 notice.
Are there grants to buy a new ambulance? Yes: AFG vehicle grants, USDA Community Facilities in rural towns, state funds such as Virginia's RSAF and Wisconsin's FAP, and local foundations.
Is there a federal grant for EMS training in rural areas? Yes. SAMHSA's Rural EMS Training program offered awards of up to $300,000 a year for 2 years in FY 2026, with no match required.
Do private foundations give grants to rescue squads? Yes, mostly local family and community foundations, for ambulances, buildings and operating costs.
Sources
- FEMA: FY 2025 AFG Fact Sheet (May 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- FEMA: FY 2025 AFG Notice of Funding Opportunity (opens in a new tab)
- FEMA: Assistance to Firefighters Grants (opens in a new tab)
- FEMA: Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) (opens in a new tab)
- SAMHSA: Rural Emergency Medical Services Training (TI-26-004) (opens in a new tab)
- USDA Rural Development: Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program (opens in a new tab)
- Virginia Department of Health: Rescue Squad Assistance Fund FAQ (opens in a new tab)
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: EMS Funding Assistance Program (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: About Form 990-PF (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: IRC Section 4945(h) expenditure responsibility (opens in a new tab)
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Last updated October 29, 2026. Published by Grantsights from public sources. See our editorial policy, how we build and check guides, corrections and how we make money.
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