AES Safer Tomorrow Fund
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and AES are proud to partner to offer the AES Safer Tomorrow Fund to support volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services that help keep communities safe every day. Through this grant program, 10 volunteer fire departments will receive up to $20,000 each to address critical needs that improve responder safety, strengthen operational readiness, and enhance community resilience.
The grants are designed to provide access to essential resources that strengthen emergency preparedness, including but not limited to equipment, training, recruitment and retention, and other priorities. Departments must be at least 50 percent volunteer and located in or serving communities that host AES energy projects.
The AES Safer Tomorrow Fund reflects AES’ core value of Safety First and a shared commitment with the NVFC to supporting stronger, safer, and more resilient communities across the U.S.
Applicant Eligibility • Eligible Locations • Eligible Use of Funds • How to Apply • Contact • Program Partners
Applicant Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a legally organized fire, EMS, or rescue service with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
- Be comprised of at least 50% volunteers. Paid-on-call personnel are considered volunteer.
- Be located in or provide emergency response services to one or more of the eligible geographic areas listed below.
- Have the personnel, resources, and capacity to successfully carry out the proposed project.
- Submit a complete application, including the required project budget and supporting information.
Applications should clearly identify the department’s need(s), explain how the requested funding will address that need, and describe the anticipated benefit to responders and the community. Applicants must submit:
- A completed application with all required information.
- An itemized grant budget identifying each item or activity to be funded and its anticipated cost.
- A completed budget showing revenue and expenses; a template will be provided.
- Any additional supporting documentation requested as part of the application.
NVFC Membership: Priority will be given to applicants with at least one active NVFC member.
Joint Applications: Collaboration among neighboring departments is encouraged when it can increase the reach or impact of the grant. One application may be submitted on behalf of multiple stations or departments if they collectively meet all eligibility requirements. Applicants should coordinate before applying to avoid duplicate requests and consider shared budgets, resources, response statistics, and areas of greatest need.
Grant Reporting: If selected, recipients will be required to submit a brief report documenting how grant funds were used and the impact on their department and community. Receipts for all grant-funded purchases must be included with the report.
Volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services must be working in or serving communities in the following counties that host AES energy projects:
- Arizona: Maricopa, Coconino, Pima, Pinal
- California: Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Kern, San Bernardino
- Colorado: Prowers
- Georgia: Taliaferro, Greene, Hancock
- Indiana: Clinton, Dubois
- Louisiana: Morehouse Parish
- New York: Suffolk, Lewis
- North Carolina: Robeson
- Pennsylvania: Beaver
- South Carolina: Marlboro
- Utah: Juab, Kane, San Juan
- Virginia: Surry, Isle of Wight, Lunenburg, Pulaski, Charles City
The AES Safer Tomorrow Fund provides grants of up to $20,000; applicants are encouraged to request the full grant amount. Funding is flexible and may be used for a single need or a combination of eligible needs. For example, a department may request funding for equipment, training, and recruitment and retention activities within the same application.
Applicants will be required to provide an itemized budget identifying each item or activity they intend to fund, along with its anticipated cost. Requests should total as close to $20,000 as possible.
Eligible uses of funds include:
- Safety equipment and response tools, including personal protective equipment (PPE), hoses, extrication equipment, search and rescue gear, medical equipment and supplies, communications equipment, radios, AEDs, and other tools that improve responder safety and emergency response capabilities.
- Training, education, and certifications, including fire, EMS, rescue, incident command, hazmat, wildland, technical rescue, and leadership, as well as NVFC training opportunities, such as the NVFC Training Summit and Virtual Classroom.
- Emergency preparedness, prevention, and mitigation, including programs, equipment, and resources that help departments prepare for emergencies, reduce community risks, prevent injuries and property loss, and strengthen disaster resilience.
- Recruitment and retention, including initiatives and resources that help departments recruit, engage, train, and retain volunteer responders.
- Other priority needs that strengthen responder safety, operational readiness, emergency response capabilities, or community resilience.
Grant funds may not be used for:
- Overhead or general operating expenses, including salaries, wages, or routine personnel costs
- Building maintenance or facility costs
- Debt repayment or reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the grant award
- Crowd control materials
- Combat or tactical equipment
- Food, refreshments, fundraising expenses, or events unless directly tied to an eligible initiative
- Subscription services or recurring fees
- Political or lobbying activities
- Items primarily intended for personal use rather than department or community benefit
Should your organization and proposal description fall within the funding criteria, you are encouraged to submit an application. The application form will be available on this page when the application period opens.
Application opens: Wednesday, October 15, 2026
Application closes: Wednesday, January 15, 2027, at noon EST.
All applicants will be notified of funding decisions by April 30, 2027.
If you have any questions, please contact Lori Shirley, senior program manager, at lori@nvfc.org or 202-887-5700 ext. 125.
About AES
The AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 global energy company accelerating the future of energy. Together with our many stakeholders, we’re improving lives by delivering the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs. We also put safety first every minute of every day – for our people, contractors, and communities. Our commitment to safety first aligns with the NVFC’s mission and we are proud to support and collaborate with volunteer fire/EMS organizations across the nation. For more information, visit www.aes.com.
About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire and emergency medical services. The NVFC unites and supports volunteer and combination fire and EMS organizations through education, advocacy, leadership development, and collaboration. Guided by professionalism and innovation, we provide the tools and resources needed to protect communities, advance responder health and safety, and prepare leaders for the future. Learn more and join at www.nvfc.org.
