Apply for Firewood Bank Funding
October 8, 2026 UPDATE
The 2026-2027 grant application will open November 1, 2026!
Application
Overview
Application
Form & Eligibility
More details, along with a draft application, will be posted here in late October.
Application
Requirements
A. Wood Sourcing
Provide supporting documentation that the firewood bank currently source, or have a documented plan to source, some or all firewood from federally managed lands.
B. Safety
Accepting funding for your firewood bank involves having a liability waiver and making some safety and operational commitments that your bank may not already have in place.
C. Bank Account
In order to receive federal funds to support your firewood bank, a bank account is required to be set up in the name of the organization or a non-profit fiscal sponsor. Requirements may vary by state for opening a bank account for an unincorporated organization, but some instructions can be found here for Bank of America and here for Wells Fargo. Note that monthly banking fees may be waived by meeting a minimum balance or spending a certain amount periodically, though it depends on the bank.
If your bank requires an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to set up a bank account, you can easily apply for one from the IRS in minutes. Instructions can be found here. Note that the online portal is only open from 7am – 10pm Monday to Friday, Eastern Standard Time.
D. Unique Entity Identifier
All businesses or organizations awarded federal grants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). This is a 12-character, alphanumeric value assigned by the federal government that identifies your organization’s name and address. This identifier is free to get and can be received after making an account on sam.gov and following the steps to receive your UEI. Beware of third parties that require payment for creating a UEI. While their service might be successful, it is not necessary. You’ll have the option of registering your entity or getting a unique entity ID.
Select “Get Unique Entity ID” to receive a UEI. For more information see this Quick Start Guide for getting a UEI. A list of valid documents can be found here. The following video from the General Services Administration has more information and explains in detail how to obtain a UEI.
Eligible Expenses
In general, federal grant funding cannot be used for lobbying, entertainment, or food. Many things that are critical to a firewood bank's operation are eligible expenses. We list many of the most common items below. Keep in mind, all equipment above $10,000 requires additional reporting (See our Guidelines document for more information). All supplies and equipment purchased with grant funds are to be used exclusively for operating the firewood bank. Here is our grant budget template.
Examples of eligible expenses include:
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Log length wood from federally managed land
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Equipment (i.e. chainsaws, log splitters, conveyers, firewood processors)
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Rental or lease costs for equipment
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Trailers under $10,000
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Smaller equipment: (wheelbarrows, peaveys, hooks, fire extinguishers)
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Personal protective equipment (i.e. chaps, work boots, helmets, gloves, logger first aid kits)
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Safety training (ex. chainsaw certification)
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Equipment maintenance or repair
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Moisture meters and smoke/CO detectors
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Labor (up to 10%)
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Liability insurance for firewood bank
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Warranty/insurance for equipment
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Supplies for temporary wood shed building
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Contracted hauling costs
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Fuel (up to 10%, ex. Mileage reimbursements, gas cards, gasoline)
NOTE: Skid steers and trucks may not be purchased but can be rented (rental costs are an allowable expense).