1. Reading the program guidance and basing their planning on that guideline -  
2. Performing a risk assessment of their department
3. From the risk assessment identifying their needs vs. their wants
4. Applying only for needs that match the program priorities as outlined in the rules
5. Make sure their needs line up with the program priorities
6. Getting someone outside their department to review their application before submitting it

In preparing your grant application a risk assessment is critical. What is it and how do you go about it?

1.        A risk assessment identifies not only the biggest problems your department faces in carrying out its mission
but also the gap between the problem and your ability to effectively deal with it. 

2.       A quick way to do an assessment is to look at your last ISO rating report. That usually does a good job of identifying your biggest problems or risks such as a lack of documented training. Don't use ISO as a justification for your request - they mentioned this in grant workshops, but use the assessment to point you in the right direction to identify risks if you are having trouble doing so on your own.

3.        Next determine which of these risks you cannot take care of through normal funding means.

4.        Finally choose the problems that line up best with a grant program priority. Only these should go in your application.

5.        Remember, even if you have a very real problem that needs to be addressed, but it does not match up with a grant priority according to the rules, it won't get funded. Read the rules, follow the rules and you will be several steps ahead of most of the people that apply for a grant.

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43% of the funds for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program must go to paid departments each year. In 2008 there is a total of $574 million in the program. Compared to volunteer departments, very few paid departments apply.

As a result, the reality is that you actually have better odds of getting a grant if you are a paid department rather than a volunteer or combination department. They aren't showing favoritism - it's simple math. Even if fewer paid departments apply the law states that 43% or $247 million still has to go to paid departments.

If you are a paid department and have been on the fence about applying for this grant program or have just ignored it you are passing up a great chance for some funding.

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