Start with SAFER
FEMA SAFER includes a Recruitment and Retention activity. The applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity controls eligible applicants, expenses, dates and requirements for each cycle.
Check state fire programs
Some states expressly fund recruitment, retention, youth programs, stipends or outreach. Others fund equipment or training that may support retention but do not allow marketing expenses.
Separate relevance from eligibility
A program can be relevant to the recruitment problem without paying for a specific website, advertisement or service. Ask the administrator and obtain written confirmation when guidance is unclear.
Watch official sources
Application pages, NOFOs and administrator notices change. Record the source, status and verification date, then recheck national programs weekly and state programs monthly.
Use free resources too
Grant funding is not a prerequisite for better recruiting. NVFC, Make Me A Firefighter, IAFC and state programs offer legitimate free tools departments should use.
Put the pieces into one local funnel.
StationReach gives departments a consistent page, short form, source tracking and follow-up board while openly linking to free fire-service resources.
See the demonstration →