SAFER RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

In Brief Brought to you by the FireGrantsHelp Team

What is SAFER? (We’re so glad you asked!)

SAFER Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response The goal of SAFER is to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies and ensure that communities have adequate protection from fire or fire-related hazards.

SAFER is offered by FEMA and has $345 million available in FY2016 to support fire departments nationwide!

SAFER Recruitment & Retention (R&R)

Differs from the SAFER Hiring Program Funds activities to recruit new and retain current VOLUNTEER firefighters Considers projects for individual agencies, regional consortiums and volunteer firefighter interest/support organizations

Oh and by the way – NO MATCH REQUIRED

Who can apply? • Combination fire departments

• Volunteer fire departments • National, State, Local, or Tribal

Volunteer Firefighter Interest Organizations

What does it fund? Incentives that encourage volunteer firefighting to increase the ranks of trained, certified and competent firefighters in local communities. Examples of eligible costs include:

• Costs to support a staffing needs assessment • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator • Marketing costs to recruit new members • New recruit costs – training, physicals, and PPE • Tuition assistance • Grant writing fee

Key Dates Application Opens: 1/09/2017

Application Deadline: 2/10/2017

Award Notification: anticipate all notices will be issued by June 1, 2017

8 Simple Rules to Get Started

Rule #1: Identify the Legal Applicant • For R&R Applications, this is typically the entity

that controls the budget, vehicle titles and issues paychecks – Nonprofit volunteer fire department – Fire Protection District – City, town, township, county

Obtain the DUNS Number & EIN from your Finance Office

Your DUNS number will look something like this

Your EIN will looks something like this

Rule #2: Check SAM Registration

The Legal Applicant must have an active SAM.gov Entity Record

– When you apply – When you are awarded – Throughout the duration of your federal award

If the Legal Applicant is not registered in SAM.gov, ask your Finance Office to create an Entity Record

Rule # 3: Access the FEMA Portal

Your Organization must have an active FEMA registration status - you can’t apply to SAFER without one

Has your organization ever received a FEMA grant? Be sure to use the same Portal Account! (get help if you don’t know or are locked out)

Money doesn’t grow on trees…that’s why we have grants

Rule #4: Know Your Facts

Ask these questions: • What are your department’s current staffing levels? • Have you conducted a risk and staffing needs analysis? • What are your current recruitment and retention

activities? • How can you encourage volunteers to stay with or join

the department? • How will additional firefighters help protect your

community? Data and facts make for a strong application!

You’ll need to provide: Access to the budgets from 2001, 2002, and 2003, and if so, to provide the total operating budget numbers

Community & Legal Applicant’s financial situation

• How does it impact your organization budget?

• What other costs or revenue challenges are straining the budget?

Rule #5: Financial Details Required

If you’re still using one of these to do math,

click for help

Rule #6: Know your Needs – Does your department meet NFPA Standards

for response time and staffing levels? – Do you need a marketing plan to recruit new

volunteers? – Are volunteers leaving because a lack of

incentives and/or benefits?

Rule #7: Understand How Applications are Judged

The review process consists of: • Computer Scoring – application data is

crunched by a computer • Peer Review – 2 reviewers read and score your

narrative • Technical Review – FEMA staff checks

administrative items are in order before issuing an award

tip: Make sure any old AFG, SAFER or FP&S awards are closed out before you apply!

Rule #8: Plan Accordingly

• Narratives are important BUT your Narratives will only be read if your application passes Computer Scoring

• The moral of the story: There is no room for error

Still have questions? We can help! Our Grant Writers: • Have a combined 30+ years

of grant writing experience • Many are active members

of the public safety community!

• Helped fund more than $75 million in grant awards!

• Have a grant success rate of 60% higher than the national average!

Contact us for grant writing help today!

To work with the best of the best