Many municipalities are looking for ways to keep their communities safe by adding automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public places. These devices can save lives during a cardiac emergency, but finding the funds to purchase and maintain them can be a challenge. This resource brings together funding opportunities that can help your municipality plan, budget, and apply for support. By exploring these options, you can take practical steps to improve emergency response and protect the health of your residents.
Consult program-specific guidance for additional information. Links to other sites offered in this document are provided to assist municipalities. The inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement or approval of the linked site or product.
Funding Opportunities
CPR Savers AED Grant Programs – Must submit a written proposal. Letters of support can be helpful. Application available on website and submitted via fax.
Hopey’s Heart Foundation AED Grant Program – Next grant cycle in May 2024. They have given grants to Vermont schools and organizations. Application submitted online.
AEDGrant.com – This program is a buy down package. Manufacturers offer discounts on the purchase price of an AED. This site can be used to determine what discounts (grants) are available from manufacturers. It’s unclear whether associated accessories, like batteries, are included.
In A Heartbeat AED Donation Program – in 2026, donations are limited to Connecticut. Has donated in other states and to municipal emergency management entities in the past. Can submit applications to have In A Heartbeat create a fundraising campaign to help you acquire an AED.
The Walmart Foundation – Grant amounts range from $250 to $5,000. Three application cycles.
Firehouse Subs Foundation – Applications accepted quarterly. Application portal closes after 600 applications are received, so submit early in the quarter. Maximum request is $40,000, but $15,000 to $25,000 is the general giving range. Eligible applicants are fire departments, EMS, law enforcement, public safety organizations, non-profits, and schools. Awardees must wait 3 years before reapplying.
Civic Groups – Check whether you local civic groups, such as Lions Clubs, Moose Lodges, Elks Clubs, Kiwanis, Rotary Clubs, Masonic Temples and Optimist Clubs, donate AEDs. Churches also often ask their congregations for help.
Where to Find Help
Municipalities are welcome to use VLCT’s Ask a Project Pro service to discuss potential funding sources for a project or for project development advice. Through this service, VLCT narrows funding opportunities to those most pertinent to a project, saving municipalities time and resources. We also provide coaching for project development and grant management.
Many municipalities lack capacity for grant writing and administration. VLCT published a resource, Increasing Municipal Capacity for Grants, that offers ideas for assistance with grants.