Grant Information

Typically, grant announcement and deadline occurs February to March of each year.

Grant Administration

Grant applicants must identify a fiscal agent for the grant and discuss the capabilities of the designated organization/individual to perform these functions in their application. Applicants and their partners may be subject to program and fiscal audits.

Budge Line Items Table and Budget Detail

Applicants must complete a project budget using the categories outlined below. Each line-item requested in the Budget Summary table requires an accompanying comprehensive description in the Budget Detail section that provides: 1) the basis for estimating and calculating each component of that line-item cost; and 2) a justification of the need for that component. Must be described in detail in a project budget and reflect the direct cost of developing and delivering a junior firefighter program for middle school students or firefighter training for high school students.

Eligible costs include the following and are described in more detail in Attachment A: Budget Line Items Table and Budget Detail.

• Training development

• Training delivery

• Outreach and student recruitment

• Transportation of students while participating in the program

• Supplies and materials for classroom work and practice activities

• Travel for instructors

Project Costs

Grant funds shall be used for training-related expenses, which may include training materials, personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies.

Grant Proposals

Grant applicants must describe how they will measure and meet the following goals as well as any additional goals defined in their proposal.

• Develop collaborative and innovative efforts to train youth. If applicable, any efforts to train high school students in entry-level firefighter or firefighter I/II.

• Plan to engage, recruit, or retain students as volunteers once trained (not necessarily in the same department in which they were trained).

• Offering incentives to eligible youth and students in the form of high school and/or college credits for firefighter training.

• Leveraging other programs for student career development and training such as those offered through the Department of Public Instruction and Department of Workforce Development, or other recognized programs.

DSPS does not require a match for this grant; however, this grant will only reimburse reasonable, direct non-capital expenses related to creating and delivering the training program. An expense is reasonable if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the costs.

DSPS expects that the grant recipient will be making monetary and non-monetary contributions to ensure the success of the program. Certain costs will be considered an in-kind contribution to the program and can be identified but not included in the grant budget. The following are examples of items that would be in-kind contributions to the program from either the grant recipient or other program partners:

• Comfortable and safe training facilities

• Grant management activities such as reporting, tracking, and invoicing indirect, shared, or overhead costs

• Transportation for students to the training location

• Use of equipment owned by or purchased by the grantee or partners

• Monetary incentives for students or completion awards

• Insurance coverage for participants in grant related activities

Description of investments that show commitment to the program may strengthen the proposal, even though they are not allowed as part of the project budget.

Eligibility

To be considered for award, the entity submitting the proposal, or Applicant must meet the following conditions:

1. Must be one of the following:

   • Wisconsin DSPS recognized volunteer or combination Fire Department in good standing

   • Middle or High School collaborating with a volunteer or combination Fire Department(s) in good standing

   • Technical College collaborating with a volunteer or combination Fire Department(s) in good standing

   • Association, Organization, or Non-Profit organization collaborating with a volunteer or

     combination Fire Department(s) in good standing

2. Must be able to obtain or have liability insurance coverage for the proposed program.

Collaborative efforts must be documented through written agreements and provided with grant applications.

Good Standing means a fire department recognized by the DSPS that is in substantial compliance with the 2% Dues and Firefighter Health and Safety requirements of SPS 330.

Additional information on Volunteer and Combination Departments can be found under SBD-9490-P, Wisconsin Fire Service Guidebook.

Letters of Commitment

Applicant must include attestation on organization letterhead from each participating and/or supporting organization. The letter(s) should include partnership expectations and any other elements that inform the application.

Program or Application Questions

Any questions or requests for clarification related to this grant, or technical questions (such as accessing forms or documents, submitting your proposal, etc.), email your inquiry to DSPSGrants@wisconsin.gov.

A grant is defined as an agreement between DSPS and the grantee (proposer awarded a contract) whereby DSPS provides funds from the Youth Volunteer Firefighter Program for the purposes of establishing or expanding a youth volunteer firefighter development or training program.

Grant Evaluation Rubric and Scoring

The evaluation committee will appraise grant applications for compliance with grant guidelines and specifications cited in this document. Grant proposals will be rated on a 72-point scale, based upon the following point values:

Overview and History: 8 points

Project Need Statement: 28 points

Program Design, Cost, and Implementation: 20 points

Program Objectives and Outcomes: 12 points

Program Equity and Inclusion Outcomes: 4 points

Grants will be ranked by preference and high score, and they will be awarded based upon ranking and availability of budgeted funds. Grants that score below 36 points will not be eligible for funding. It is strongly recommended that Applicants consult the Grant Evaluation Rubric and Scoresheet to address all criteria when writing proposals.

Grant amounts offered may be less than the requested amount.

Contract

The DSPS Youth Volunteer Firefighter Program grants that are funded under this Grant Announcement will be required to execute a contract with DSPS before any expenses are incurred for which reimbursement is expected. The contract is a legal document that defines the expectations and obligations of the parties to the contract. No grant recipient shall expend grant funds until a contract has been fully executed with DSPS. Upon contract execution, recipients will be allowed to incur costs. The successful Applicant's application and portions of the GPA deemed applicable by DSPS will be made a part of the grant contract.

Reimbursement

Awards are structured as cost-reimbursement grants, meaning that recipients are expected to incur expenses before receiving any program funds. All eligible grant expenses will be reimbursed as specified in individual contracts when expenses are documented by grantee, per the contract, and approved by DSPS.

• As a condition of reimbursement, DSPS will require that the awardee has submitted outcome reporting as determined by the individual grant contract.

• Reimbursement requests may be made once per month but at a minimum once per quarter. No invoices will be accepted 60 days after the grant end date.

• A properly submitted invoice includes expense documentation.

• Reimbursement request with expense documentation must be submitted to the DSPS Fiscal Mailbox at DSPSFiscal@wisconsin.gov.

Grant Reporting Requirement

Grantees will be required to submit regular project updates in a form and frequency to be outlined in the grant contract. The report shall include the following:

1. The quantifiable outcomes and impacts for the fire department, training participants, and the State of Wisconsin, such as increased volunteer fire department membership, the number of students credentialed as volunteer firefighters, and the number of credits received by students both through their participating high school or technical college. Additional outcome metrics may include the number of inquiries received to participate in the program, applications by students in excess of program capacity, inquiries by non-students to join the department or any other metric with the grantee believes demonstrates program outcomes.

2. A copy of any curriculum or training materials must be delivered to DSPS.

Additional Information

All applications and accompanying documentation will become the property of the DSPS and will not be returned. The content of each Applicant's application will be held in strict confidence, to the extent allowable by law, during the evaluation process, and no details of the application will be discussed outside of the evaluation processes. 

If DSPS funds are utilized for curriculum development expenses, the curriculum becomes property of the DSPS and may be distributed to the public.

Any materials submitted to DSPS may be public records and subject to release upon request under Public Records Law, Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-39.

DSPS may facilitate a media presentation/press event at local fire departments, colleges, or high schools awarded grant funds to acknowledge and recognize the award.

Attachment A: Budget Line Items Table and Budget Detail

SBD-8119, Youth Volunteer Firefighter Training Program Grant Application

FAQs for Youth​ Volunteer Firefighter Training Grant

2025 Youth Volunteer Firefighter Training Grant Virtual Forum​

DSPS has consolidated a list of other fire prevention grant sources.

The 2026 grant application process is closed.

Definitions

Abandoned Manufactured Home: A manufactured housing unit not legally occupied for six months; a unit that is wrecked or partially dismantled; or a derelict manufactured housing unit left unprotected from the elements. This shall include substantially damaged mobile homes.

Administrative costs: The expenses incurred by the grantee in providing funds to or on behalf of participating households. These may include such things as staff costs, office expenses, printing, mailing, travel, training, accounting, auditing, and reporting. Eligible organizations may generally request MHRR funds for the cost of administering the program of no more than 10 percent of the total housing assistance payments requested.

Accessibility: Critical Repairs that include modifications to ensure an existing housing unit is usable by individuals with mobility or sensory impairments.

Annual Income: For determining household income, DIS uses the current federal Section 8 income levels, as established, and published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Annual income includes the total household income from all income sources from all members of the household who are at least 18 years of age.

Critical Repair: A permanent improvement to a Manufactured Home Owner-occupied manufactured housing unit, including installation or replacement of windows, doors, roofing, plumbing, water heater, heating system/furnace, insulation, tie downs, footing/foundation. The total cost of critical repairs needed shall not exceed 50 percent of the value of the manufactured home.

Person with a Disability: A person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of such person’s major life activities; or a record of having such impairment; or regarded as having such impairment. However, such term does not include current, illegal use of or addiction to alcohol or a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act 21 USC 802.

Household: For the purposes of this program, household means one or more persons occupying a housing unit.

Housing Inspection: All housing units assisted with MHRR funds must be decent, safe, and sanitary, and meet applicable state and local codes upon completion of Critical Repairs.

Low Income: Gross annual household income that is at or below 80 percent of the county median income, adjusted for household size.

Manufactured Home: The meaning given in Wis. Stat. § 101.91(2). A structure or Mobile Home which is designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation and which is certified by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development as complying with the standards established under 42 USC 5401 to 5425.

Manufactured Home Owner: The meaning given in Wis. Stat. § 101.91(4). Any person who purchases, or leases from another, a manufactured home primarily for use for personal, family, or household purposes.

Mobile Home: The meaning given in Wis. Stat. § 101.91(10). A vehicle manufactured or assembled before June 15, 1976, designed to be towed as a single unit or in sections upon a highway by a motor vehicle and equipped and used, or intended to be used, primarily for human habitation, with walls of rigid, uncollapsible construction, which has an overall length in excess of 45 feet. “Mobile home" includes the mobile home structure, its plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical systems, and all appliances and all other equipment carrying a manufacturer's warranty.

Project-Related Soft Costs: These are costs directly related to carrying out a specific Critical Repair activity. Grantees may charge these as project costs. Soft costs include appraisals, construction inspections and oversight, preparation of work specifications, and relocation services. The total of project-related soft costs may not exceed 10 percent of the activity cost, with the exception of relocation services.

Rehabilitation: Permanent Critical Repairs to the home. The intent of these repairs is to ensure that the home meets all applicable state and local codes and passes an inspection by an individual with technical expertise in manufactured housing ensuring the unit is decent, safe, and sanitary.

Religious Activities: Organizations that receive funds through the MHRR program may not engage in inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization, as part of the programs or services directly funded under this program. If an organization conducts such activities, they must offer the activities separately, in time or location, from the program activity. Participation must be voluntary for the program beneficiary.

Very-low Income: Gross annual household income that is at or below 50 percent of the county median income adjusted for household size.

Funds Available

DSPS will award up to $80,000 in MHRR funds. DSPS will release the funds to successful applicants.

Eligible applicants may apply for funding for disposal of Abandoned Manufactured Homes, completion of Critical Repairs to Manufactured Home Owner -occupied manufactured housing, and costs to administer the program.

Actual funding requests should reflect agency capacity, service area, and activities proposed. Applicants are strongly encouraged to work together with other organizations to provide statewide availability of funding.

Project Costs

Grant funds shall be used for training-related expenses, which may include training materials, personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies.

Eligible Applicants

An applicant is eligible to apply for funding under the MHRR program if the organization is a nonprofit organization identified under sec. 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as tax exempt. An applicant may submit only one MHRR Program application per competition. DSPS does not make funding awards to individual Households or municipalities.

Grantees that have received notification of violations of program rules, related audit issues, or monitoring findings from any DIS housing contracts must resolve the violations to the Division’s satisfaction prior to receiving a grant through the MHRR program.

Eligible Activates

Grantees may use MHRR funds to:

• Assist eligible Manufactured Home Owners with Critical Repairs of their primary residence.

• Assist municipalities and organizations involved in disposal to ensure environmentally sound disposal of Abandoned Manufactured Homes.

Eligible Property Types

For Manufactured Home Owner occupied activities, “eligible property” shall be a manufactured home that will serve as the Manufactured Home Owner's principal residence. At the time of activity completion, the manufactured housing unit must have permanent utility hook-ups connected. The unit must be located on land owned by the manufactured housing unit’s Manufactured Home Owner, or on land for which the manufactured housing unit Manufactured Home Owner has a lease for a period of at least one year.

Property Standards

All MHRR-assisted properties must meet certain standards:

• Housing repaired with MHRR funds must meet all applicable State and/or local codes, rehabilitation standards and ordinances, and zoning ordinances. DIS encourages Energy Star® improvements, installations, and other energy efficient improvements in housing.

• Abandoned Manufactured Homes must be disposed of utilizing environmentally sound disposal practices.

Administrative Costs

Applicants may request MHRR funds for the cost of administering the program of not more than 10 percent of the total housing activity funds requested.

Program or Application Questions

Any questions or requests for clarification related to this grant, or technical questions (such as accessing forms or documents, submitting your proposal, etc.), email your inquiry to DSPSGrants@wisconsin.gov.

DSPS will hold meetings with eligible applicants to decide the final allocation of funds. This will be a negotiation between the applicants and the MHRR program manager. Within 60 days of award, grantee will enter into a contract with DSPS.

DSPS reserves the right to amend, modify, or withdraw this application package and any of the grant program instructions or procedures contained herein. DSPS may exercise such right at any time without notice and without liability to any applicant or other parties for their expenses incurred in the preparation of a proposal or otherwise.

See the 2026 MHRR Grant Application and Instructions. This document has been archived but is available to those looking to prepare for the next potential grant availability.

The Wisconsin Fund Program provides grants to homeowners and owners of small businesses that need to replace a failing private onsite wastewater treatment system with a new system. A farm of 35 acres or more may also be considered a small business.

When is the system considered failing?

When properly operating, a system safely treats wastewater by storing sludge and solids in a treatment tank and discharging wastewater to a dispersal component.

A failing system does not properly treat wastewater and can discharge sewage to the surface, to a lake or stream, or to groundwater. Your system may not show any apparent signs of failure and yet be failing.

Eligibility

Principal Residence

If you are applying for a grant for your principal residence, you may be eligible if all of the following are met:

1. You reside in a municipality that is participating in the program.

2. A municipal employee verifies that you have a failing system before installation of the replacement system begins.

3. Your residence is not located in an area served by a municipal sewer system.

4. The failing system serving your residence was constructed prior to July 1, 1978.

5. The adjusted gross income of all owners and spouses is less than $45,000 in the year of or prior to the year the municipality verifies the failure.

6. Your residence is served by a Category 1 or 2 Failing System.

7. The residence is occupied 51% of the year by one of the owners.

8. Your application is submitted to the municipality within 3 years from the date of the verification failure.

Business

If you are applying for a grant for your business, you may be eligible if all of the following are met:

1. You reside in a municipality that is participating in the program.

2. A municipal employee verifies that you have a failing system before installation of the replacement system begins.

3. Your business is not located in an area served by a municipal sewer system.

4. The failing system serving your business was constructed prior to July 1, 1978.

5. The gross income of the business in the year of or prior to the year the municipality verifies the failure is less than $362,500.

6. Your business is served by a Category 1 or 2 Failing System.

7. The business occupying the structure is operated by the owner.

8. Your application is submitted to the municipality within three years from the date of the verification of failure.

Grant Money is Not Guaranteed

If approved applications exceed available funding, the DSPS is required to prioritize funds based on potential environmental harm. System failures are divided into three categories:

• Category 1: Systems that fail by discharging sewage to surface water, groundwater, drain tiles, bedrock or zones of seasonally saturated soils. These are considered the most serious types of failure and are given highest priority for grant assistance.

• Category 2: Systems that fail by discharging sewage to the surface of the ground. This type of failing system is eligible for a grant only after all category one applications have been funded.

• Category 3: This is a system that failed by causing the backup of sewage into the structure served. This type of failing system is not eligible for assistance.

If the system is causing a backup into the structure, you may still be eligible if the system meets the criteria under Category 1 or Category 2 listed above.

See the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website for other water and wastewater funding sources.