Grants

Grants awarded by the Merrill Community Foundation provide funding for projects and programs that enhance the lives of Merrill’s residents and visitors. The checklist and guidelines linked below will help determine if your project or program is eligible for consideration.

• Are you a registered nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status?
• Does your project or program aligns with the Foundation’s charitable mission in areas such as human services, education, health and wellness, arts and culture, environmental stewardship, and community development?
• Will your project be implemented within a two-year timeframe?

Submission Deadlines: April 10 and September 10

Notification: Applicants will receive notification within four weeks of the deadline

Discuss your project idea with a member of the Advisory Board before completing an application, especially if this is the first time you are applying for a grant from the Merrill Community Foundation. Contact the Advisory Board at info@merrillcf.org.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities.

The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720). For details, review the National Fire Protection Association's codes and standards.

• Ongoing applications accepted for up to $45,000

• Grants for first responders and public safety organizations for life-saving equipment (e.g., AEDs, vehicle extraction equipment, ATVs), public education (e.g., CPR training), and scholarships.

• Learn more and apply

• Applications accepted and reviewed quarterly; next deadline is October 15

• Grants to support local organizations that meet the unique needs of the communities where Walmart operates, including Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs, and Distribution Centers.

• Open to 501(c)(3) organizations, municipalities, schools, faith-based organizations for $250 to $5,0004

• Learn more and apply

The EMS Funding Assistance Program (FAP) will open August 18, 2025

The FAP provides supplemental funding for qualified Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers.

The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026 FAP application will be open from August 18, 2025, through September 29, 2025. Applications received after 4 p.m. CST on September 29, 2025, will not be considered for SFY 2026 FAP funds. This application can be accessed by the service director in E-Licensing in the service's application tab. This application will have the name "SFY 2026 FAP Application."

SFY 2025 FAP expense reporting

A separate application to report SFY 2025 FAP expenses will also open on August 18, 2025. This application can be accessed by the service director in E-Licensing in the service's application tab. This application will have the name "SFY 25 EMS Funding Assistance Program Expenditure Report." This application is only for reporting expenses utilizing SFY 2025 FAP funds from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

Purchasing questions

For any questions regarding the use of FAP funds towards an expense, send your inquiry to the FAP team at dhsfap@dhs.wisconsin.gov. Provide a detailed description of any supporting material (for example, images or links) in addition to how this supports the EMS function of your service. All inquiries received will be reviewed for a determination of eligibility.

• FAP Guidance, P-02422 (PDF)
• FAP Purchasing Guide, P-02422a (PDF)
• FAP Frequently Asked Questions, P-02422b (PDF)
• EMS Program Municipal Signature and Population Verification, F-47255 (PDF)

Questions?

Direct any questions or requests for assistance to DHSFAP@dhs.wisconsin.gov to ensure the fastest response. Responses typically occur within two business days, but may take longer due to a higher volume of inquiries during the FAP application period. To improve the time in responses, we ask that you communicate any additional questions through the same email chain in place of starting a new e-mail.

Full details can be found on DHS' website located here: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ems/fap.htm

Agency Name: SAMHSA
May 1st, 2024

The purpose of this program is to recruit and train EMS personnel in rural areas with a particular focus on addressing substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring disorders (COD) substance use and mental disorders. Recipients will be expected to train EMS personnel on SUD and COD, trauma-informed, recovery-based care for people with such disorders in emergency situations and, as appropriate, to maintain licenses and certifications relevant to serve in an EMS agency.

Eligible applicants are rural emergency medical service agencies operated by a local or tribal government (fire-based and non-fire based) and rural non-profit emergency medical service agencies.

Learn More

Agency Name: FEMA
Closed for 2025

The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations.

Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Learn More

Agency Name: First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF)
Ongoing

Grants to USA first responders to mitigate expenses. Funding is intended to assist with housing payments, work-related medical or mental health expenses, and childcare or eldercare expenses, and to offset financial hardships incurred as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Agency Name: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Unknown for 2024

To qualify for FAP, EMS services must:

Be licensed in Wisconsin.
Provide transporting services (non-transporting services don’t qualify).
Respond to 911 calls for a primary service area (in other words, interfacility).

Learn More

Agency Name: CPR Savers
Ongoing

This program provides grants to cover all or part of the costs of purchasing an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Agency Name: Dispensary of Hope
Ongoing

Dispensary of Hope donates medications to assist nonprofit health systems, hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in serving their patient population, especially low income individuals and the uninsured.

Agency Name: First Responder Service & Awards
Ongoing

To participate, you must comply with the HUD’s program regulations and meet the first responder requirements. To be eligible, you must be employed full-time as a firefighter, EMT, paramedic or law enforcement officer by a fire department, EMS unit or law enforcement agency of the Federal Government, a state, a unit of general local government or an Indian tribal government, serving in the locality in which the home is located.

Agency Name: FEMA
Unkown for 2024

The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations. In 2005, Congress reauthorized funding for FP&S and expanded the eligible uses of funds to include Firefighter Safety Research and Development.

Agency Name: Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF)
Ongoing

Grants to USA first responders, military personnel, and veterans with disabilities for sports and fitness programs that enhance their physical and mental health. Applicants may request funding for sports equipment and program expenses. The purpose of the program is to empower individuals with permanent physical injuries through sports.

Agency Name: Gary Sinise Foundation
Ongoing

Grants to USA and territories emergency response providers for training and equipment. Eligible applicants include paramedic or EMS departments, fire departments, and law enforcement departments. Priority will be given to volunteer departments as well as low and underfunded departments.

Agency Name: First Responder Service & Awards
Ongoing

Housing Grants of up to $8,000 are available to ALL law enforcement officers and support staff. Subject to availability, you will receive a minimum of $1,000 NON-repayable GRANT to be used toward the purchase of a home. In addition to the Officer Next Door Grant, you may be eligible for down payment assistance of up to $10,681. Your Officer Next Door Program Specialist may also review your eligibility for any state-specific government housing grants, if available in your state, and how they may be used in addition to the Officer Next Door benefits.

Agency Name: FEMA
Unknown for 2024

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities.

The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720). For details, review the National Fire Protection Association's codes and standards.

Learn More