Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant (Firehouse Subs PSF)
Funds lifesaving equipment for public safety organizations. The foundation usually buys and ships the approved equipment directly rather than sending cash. Common awards include AEDs, extrication tools, thermal imaging cameras, bunker gear, rescue boats, and similar gear.
Who it is for
Fire departments, EMS agencies, law enforcement, and other public safety organizations, plus schools and nonprofits. The foundation prefers organizations within 60 miles of a Firehouse Subs restaurant, but states that is only a guideline and accepts requests from rural and volunteer departments nationwide. Body cameras, drones, firearms, fitness equipment, and used or already-purchased equipment are not funded.
Department types: Career, Volunteer, Combination, Any department
An honest note on fit
Strong fit for a single, well-defined equipment purchase. It funds gear, not salaries, vehicles, or construction, and excludes body cameras, drones, and firearms. The quarterly application cap fills fast, so treat the opening time as the real deadline.
Before you start
How you apply: Apply directly to the funder.
Your organization applies directly to the foundation through its online grant portal.
Match required: No formal match, but partial funding is possible. If the foundation funds only part of a request, you must show the balance is secured in your application.
How to apply
- Review the funding areas and grant FAQs on the foundation site so your request fits what they fund.
- Get a current vendor quote, dated within six months, for the specific equipment you need.
- Prepare your financial documents: a balance sheet, profit-and-loss statement, or annual budget showing your organization name and location.
- Create an account in the grant portal at grants.firehousesubs.com and complete the application. The portal opens on fixed quarterly dates and closes once the quarterly application cap is reached, so apply early on the opening date.
- If approved, the foundation typically procures and ships the equipment to you rather than sending funds.
Deadline: Quarterly. The portal opens on set dates (for 2026, January 8, April 7, and July 9 at 10 a.m. ET) and closes for the quarter once a cap of 600 U.S. applications is reached. Confirm the next opening date on the portal, since hitting the opening time matters. (Annual cycle)
Funding: Up to $40,000 per request in the current cycle. Many awards land in the roughly $15,000 to $40,000 range. Confirm the current maximum on the program page.
Verified as of 2026-05-31. Programs are checked periodically against their official source. Funding details and deadlines change. Confirm the current requirements on the official program page before you apply.