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2025 Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC)

Grantor:
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Portal ID:
98160
Status:
Active
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
 | 
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

To provide local and rural fire departments with minor firefighting, training, communications and safety equipment for their volunteer firefighters.

 

 

Description:

The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program is a federally funded grant program that allows California to provide local and rural fire departments with minor firefighting, training, communications and safety equipment for their volunteer firefighters. The VFC Program is not intended for major equipment purchases (fire engines, vehicles, etc.) or capital repairs. The VFC Program has a 50/50 match provision, which requires the applying department to be able to meet the intended grant award, dollar for dollar. Awards for departments are set at a minimum of $500 with a maximum of $20,000. Amounts may be adjusted based on the grant funding available. For additional information please contact Amanda Jernigan at Amanda.Jernigan@fire.ca.gov or Bryan Giambrone at Bryan.Giambrone@fire.ca.gov.

Please visit the Cooperative Efforts web page on the CAL FIRE website for more information about this grant and how to apply.

https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fire-protection/cooperative-efforts

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

Please visit the Cooperative Efforts web page on the CAL FIRE website for more information on this grant and how to apply.

https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fire-protection/cooperative-efforts

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
August 2025
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
08/2025 - 6/2026

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
See Notes Below
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
$500 – $20,000
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
50%

Available Funding Notes:

Available funding is historically between $1,000,000  and $1,500,000. PLEASE NOTE: The level of federal funding fluctuates on an annual basis and is subject to the availability of federal funds for the 2025 cycle.

The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • Federal
The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Reimbursement(s)

Funding Method Notes:

Invoices and proof of payment will need to be submitted to receive reimbursement. 

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Amanda Jernigan, 1-916-894-9845, Amanda.Jernigan@fire.ca.gov

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