Apply for Firewood Bank Funding

Application Opens November 1st, 2026.

Grant Guidelines

Before beginning the application process, please thoroughly review the grant guidelines.

Application
Overview

A total of $900,000 in grant funding is available this year. Grants will be up $50,000 to enable programs to acquire more wood and larger processing equipment. The level of funding is scaled based on the number of cords processed (both federal and non-federal).

Under 20 cords: Not eligible
20–49 cords: Up to $10,000
50–99 cords: Up to $15,000
100–149 cords: Up to $20,000
150-199 cords: Up to $25,000
200-249 cords: Up to $30,000
250-299 cords: Up to $35,000
300+ cords: Up to $50,000

Before filling out your application, it would be helpful to review our application scoring rubric.

Application
Form & Eligibility

Firewood banks must currently source, or have a documented plan to source, some or all firewood from federally managed lands. It is also acceptable if a firewood bank has logs on site that were previously sourced from federally managed lands. Applicants may meet this requirement by harvesting firewood through an existing agreement with a federal agency, or a partnership with a logger who sources from actively managed federal lands.

Many different types of organizations can apply including: Tribes, non-profits, volunteer groups/clubs, faith-based or mutual aid organizations, and state or local governments. All organizations receiving federal funding must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) with an active registration and a bank account. Businesses can only apply if they have created a separate non profit to run the firewood bank. Specifically they must: (1.) apply in the name of the separate firewood bank; (2.) the firewood bank must be a state or federally recognized nonprofit; and (3.) the firewood bank has to have a separate UEI and bank account.

All grantees that previously received funding from the Firewood Bank Assistance Program will be able to apply for the 2026-2027 grant cycle as long as past grant reports were completed.

Open Office Hours

Online Google Meet sessions will be held three days a week in November for application assistance at the days and times below. All times are in Eastern Time. You can access these sessions by clicking the relevant date and clicking the "Video call link."

View 2026-2027 Draft Application

Event Title

Event Time

Event Date

Change the event description to include your own content. Adjust the settings to customize the style.

October 2026

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

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:

Log length wood from federally managed land
Equipment (i.e. chainsaws, log splitters, conveyers, firewood processors)
Rental or lease costs for equipment
Trailers under $10,000
Smaller equipment (i.e. wheelbarrows, peaveys, hooks, fire extinguishers)
Personal protective equipment (i.e. chaps, work boots, helmets, gloves, logger first aid kits)
Safety training (ex. chainsaw certification)
Moisture meters
Labor (up to 10%)
Liability insurance for firewood bank (up to $1,000)
Warranty/insurance for equipment
Drying sheds: Storage/shipping containers, totes or supplies for temporary wood shed building
Fencing/security cameras
Contracted hauling costs
Fuel (up to 10%, ex. Mileage reimbursements, gas cards, gasoline)
Repairs and maintenance of firewood bank equipment (up to 10%)

NOTE: Skid steers and trucks may not be purchased but can be rented (rental costs are an allowable expense). Permanent structures are not an eligible item for this grant, per USFS guidelines.