Funding Your Fire Department Drone Program
State & Private Grant Programs
The number one question we hear from fire departments is: 'How do we pay for it?' The good news: federal, state, and private grant programs have never been better funded for public safety UAS acquisition. DroneRescue helps you identify the right funding sources and supports your grant narrative with technical documentation, spec sheets, and cost-benefit analysis.
Program
Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
FEMA BRIC / HMGP
DHS Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
DRONE Act of 2025
FEMA Port Security Grant
Details
Primary federal grant for fire equipment. Apply under Operations & Safety. Annual cycle — applications typically open in the fall.
Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Strong fit for WUI communities.
Covers SHSP and UASI sub-awards. Drone acquisition for disaster response aligns with priority areas.
Bipartisan legislation directing DOJ's Byrne-JAG and COPS programs to explicitly fund UAS acquisition for public safety.
For departments protecting critical port infrastructure.
State Homeland Security sub-awards (contact your State Administering Agency / SAA)
EQT Foundation — supports volunteer SAR and firefighting drone programs
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation — fire department equipment grants
Firefighter's Charitable Foundation — fire/disaster equipment funding
Local municipal budget appropriations and cooperative purchasing
How DroneRescue Supports Your Grant Application
We provide the technical documentation grant reviewers require:
Official system specifications and performance data
Cost-benefit analysis vs. helicopter operations
Deployment scenario documentation for narrative justification
Letters of support and vendor certification documentation
Reference contacts from departments with existing programs
Our fire service team will provide a customized grant support package for your department within 5 business days.